Final answer:
Claude Debussy, based in Paris, was an Impressionist composer focusing on timbre and atmosphere, while Gustav Mahler, from Vienna, was a late Romantic composer who emphasized grand structures and emotional depth. Their respective cities greatly influenced their contrasting styles.
Step-by-step explanation:
Claude Debussy (1862-1918) and Gustav Mahler (1860-1911) were both prominent composers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, yet their compositional styles reflect different musical philosophies and the environments in which they worked. Debussy, based in Paris, is considered one of the most important figures in Impressionist music, with a composition style characterized by a focus on atmosphere and timbre, innovative chord structures, and a general avoidance of the traditional Germanic musical development. In contrast, Mahler, who worked primarily in Vienna and other cities in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, was rooted in the late Romantic tradition, emphasizing grandiose structures, emotional depth, and complex orchestration in his symphonies.
While both composers sought to expand the boundaries of orchestral music, they approached this task differently. Debussy's works often evoke visual images and explore the nuances of orchestral color and light, as seen in 'Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune' or 'La Mer.' Mahler, on the other hand, sought to capture the full range of human experience, from the celestial to the grotesque, as demonstrated in his expansive symphonies like the Symphony No. 2, 'Resurrection.'
The cities where they composed further influenced their styles. Paris during Debussy's time was a center for artistic innovation, with exposure to non-European music at exhibitions, leading to a more eclectic and non-traditional approach. Mahler's Vienna, although also artistically vibrant, was heavily steeped in the Austro-German tradition, contributing to his more expansive and complex symphonic forms with deep roots in established musical philosophy.