Claude Debussy arabesques in E major.

[zheer]

   Sheesh, i recorded this over a year ago, about the same time that i started playing the piano again, it's not to bad so comments are welcome.

[zheer]

                   








                                                                                                       

[counterpoint]

Oh, I see, the file was downloaded 45 times, and nobody has made a comment on it.
What a shame.

zheer, I like your playing in the faster parts, where it has this fresh Debussy sound. But I don't understand, why you play the first bars of this piece (and some other parts as well) that slow and static? It's signed with "Andantino con moto", so some fresh movement is required just from the beginning. I understand this piece as a sort of "fairy dance", a light footed and  elegant piece of music. Just for entertainment and fun. No real dramatic, not too serious - it's french music    (btw. I like french music  )

Would be interesting for me, how you play it today... 

[pianistimo]

agreed with counterpoint!  there are many beautiful places here.  the only changes i would make are the ones suggested - where there isn't enough movement to get a sort of 'momentum' for the piece to 'take off' on.  a 'fairy dance' is rather apt.  i like your ability to play 'lightly' - and i like the contrast in the middle section.  the fast part was a little muddled with the pedal (after the mid-section).  sometimes it's knowing what notes to hold out above the others and not let any others get muddled with it.  also, to take your time whenever it's allowable.  not to rush phrasing together.  generally you don't - but sometimes you do.

i think you are very manly debussy player.  sometimes too light is just boring because it's the way everyone plays it.  i like the contrast you gave between the 'light' parts and the middle section.  like you're discussing things with the clouds.   then, back to the clouds floating.

[zheer]

. But I don't understand, why you play the first bars of this piece (and some other parts as well) that slow and static?

    Good point, i will change that. Pianistimo made the same point (static).
I need to work more on musical sensativity. Tanx for your constructive comments.

[lostinidlewonder]

Too evenly played in my opinion. There is no breath growing and fading, the melody does not always have to come together with the support. I felt the recording was a little too harsh, it would have been nicer if you did not play too loud, you are not trying to fill a concert hall, so imagine you have a listener next to you next time you record and be a little kinder with your volume to our ears ! Because of the harshness of the tone there are very nice bass lines which are blurred and chordal progressions. The melody also suffers from the harsh tone. Not bad though notewise.

[zheer]

, so imagine you have a listener next to you next time you record and be a little kinder with your volume to our ears !.

  Ok good idea will do that .
Tanx for your helpful comments.

[rachfan]

Hi zheer,

Considering that this was an early recording after having just started playing again, this is a creditable performance!  If you were to revisit the piece, you might want to work more on the dynamic shadings and contrasts, develop more of an ebb and flow to the phrasing, give more attention to nuances, and bring more clarity to your pedaling.  On the pedaling, remember that this piece was one of Debussy's late Romantic works before his composing evolved to Impressionism.  There are some spots where you could keep the harmonies cleaner by using half or quarter pedal releases to good effect.  Again, all things considered, you did well. 

[amelialw]

maybe you could shape your hands to fit the piece like kind of glide it...move your hands more, make it seem like it's effortless. that's how this piece is supposed to sound.

[zheer]

Hi zheer,

, you might want to work more on the dynamic shadings and contrasts, develop more of an ebb and flow to the phrasing, give more attention to nuances, and bring more clarity to your pedaling. 

   Yes thats true , that will require musical sensativity.


   

...move your hands more, make it seem like it's effortless. that's how this piece is supposed to sound.

   True it's an arabesques.

[ganymed]

i love this piece aswell. I looked on wikipedia but i didnt find much. Can anyone explain me what an abareske actually is and what typical for this musical form is ?


thanks in advance

[amelialw]

look on answers.com