How did Indonesian gamelan music influence Claude Debussy?

Claude Debussy was significantly influenced by Indonesian gamelan music after first hearing it at the Paris Exposition in 1889. This exposure to the brilliant quality of the gamelan orchestra—which features tuned percussion instruments like metallophones and gongs—served as a key source of inspiration for the French composer.1

The encounter with this "exotic" music contributed to Debussy’s departure from traditional Western harmonic practices. By incorporating elements inspired by non-Western sounds, Debussy helped move away from functional tonality, favoring a style where chords were often used for their coloristic value rather than their traditional harmonic function. This influence, alongside his interest in Impressionist painting and folk music, allowed him to develop a highly original musical language that defined his seminal role in 20th-century music.23