Raymond James Bishop, Jr., Ph.D. 1987

Advisor: James Haar

Dissertation Title: The Operas of Alfred Bruneau (1857-1934)

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Dissertation Abstract:

In this dissertation, I present a detailed examination of the operas of Alfred Bruneau (1857-1934). This relatively obscure artist, a pupil of Jules Massenet, was at one time considered a highly original and innovative composer. Contemporary critics, in fact, heralded him as a leader of new French school, a group of young artists who reacted against the gentle sweetness of Massenet’s highly successful opéra-lyrique. Although not actually a founder of a school, Bruneau was among the first to attempt a dramatic fusion of a modified Wagnerian motivic system with the more direct and powerful narrative style influenced in part by the Italian verismo composers. The difficulties of this task posed great problems for Debussy, Bruneau and all their contemporaries. An examination of Bruneau’s operas and those of many of his contemporaries, has led me to conclude that Bruneau’s works are among the best of his generation. The strengths and weaknesses of his operas reveal a great deal about the problem of musical style in this complex period.

The first chapter of this dissertation traces Bruneau’s long and distinguished career, discussing the major influences on his musical development, particularly his relationship with the distinguished writer, Emile Zola. The next two chapters consider the literary aspects of French opera libretto in the 1890s and the relationship of Bruneau’s operas to contemporary works. The remainder of the dissertation presents a detailed stylistic analysis of the operas with occasional mention of contemporary works. The stylistic elements considered are: motives, melodic types, harmony, tonality, orchestration, a brief discussion of four late operas, and a short conclusion. Hopefully, the ideas presented here will stimulate further research and discussion of this inadequately researched field.