Fingering a la Debussy

[celticqt]

My teacher assigned me Clair de lune last night (I feel like a cliche - it is such a common piece, and I've played it before, but not with this teacher).  I have the Dover edition, and there are no fingerings for the arpeggio in m. 29. 

I am just doing what's comfortable for me right now (5-3-2-1-4-2, 1-2-1-2-3-5, 1-2-3-5-2-4), but I'd like to make sure I'm doing it right before I really cement it in my head.  Does anyone use a different fingering?

Also, re: mm.42: My hands are pretty small (I can stretch to a ninth),  and there's no way I can sustain that low F# under the arpeggio.  Should I just pedal it?

Thanks guys.

[jlh]

Absolutely you should pedal it... give it some color! 

[jlh]

Debussy didn't write fingerings in his piano works.  He left it up to the performer to figure out.  Do what feels most efficient to you when played at speed and HT. 

An alternative to your fingering could be:

5-3-2-1-4-2, 1-2-1-2-3-5, 3-1-2-4-2-4

or

5-3-2-1-4-2, 1-2-1-2-4-5, 3-1-2-4-2-4.

Best wishes!

Josh