debussy and the hammer quote

[Tash]

i want to put the quote where debussy says the thing about the piano having no hammers into a context- can anyone tell me when he actually said it? direct me to a book or something...thanks!

[pianistimo]

all i found was 'music is the silence between the notes.'   

another 'in opera there is too much singing.'

[Tash]

what's that got to do with debussy?

[nicco]

Therefore, Debussy's approach to piano was totally different from any other composers where he aimed at freeing the piano from its percussive sound. For him, the piano should sound as if it was instrument as if it has no hammers; the fingers should "penetrate the notes"; and the pedal should give the power for the piano to "breath".

Couldnt find any quotes from him though

[prometheus]

If there is such a quote it is obscure since I can't find it. Let alone find the context.

[Tash]

'one must forget that the piano has hammers' that's the quote it's in like every single debussy book on the planet except they don't reference it and that's the annoying thing that's getting me stuck!

[nicco]

Take a look at this site

http://www.djupdal.org/karstein/debussy/method/m08.shtml

Marguerite Long also emphasizes this:

'One must forget that the piano has hammers,' was one of his most frequent sayings. [Long p. 13]

[Tash]

excellent that's what i wanted thankyou! now just have to find long's book cos our uni library's a piece of crap...woohoo the con's got it now i'm happy:)