Faure, Nocturne, Op. 63 in D flat

[rachfan]

This is my favorite of the Faure nocturnes.

[hugosanti]

Thank you very much!!!
Beautiful piece!!!

Hugo

[rachfan]

Hi Hugo,

I'm so glad you liked this nocturne!  Thanks for letting me know.  Probably the recording is not as good as my playing the piece live, but many pianists have the same complaint about their own recordings.  If you are a Faure fan, I also posted an impromptu and a barcarolle farther down on the forum.  I hope you'll enjoy those as well. 

I believe that Faure, somewhat eclipsed by Debussy and Ravel during his lifetime, was underappreciated as a composer.   If memory serves, he was director of the Paris Conservatoire, published a lot, yet died penniless.  His music is unmistakeably in the best French tradition, yet often not exactly impressionistic in my opinion.  It has romantic moments, creates moods, and is sometimes more akin, as a parallel, to representational rather than impressionistic painters.  Some of his late works have a very dark quality.  The first time I listened to his 13 Barcarolles, like to many others before me, I was a bit overwhelmed and they all blended together and sounded alike!  But as I listened more, they quickly became differentiated and I was astonished by their variety.  I'm surprised they are not more frequently played.  My sense is that Faure was one of France's greatest composers.   He deserves more credit than he receives.

[rafant]

Beautiful piece, very well played. I find absolutely lovely the first six Faure's Nocturnes, this one being my favourite. I listen often to the David Lively's recording of the complete series. Thank you.

[rachfan]

Hi Rafant,

Thanks very much for your kind comment on my playing.  I agree with you that the earlier Nocturnes have immediate high appeal.  The late ones take a little getting used to.  I also posted a Faure Impromptu and a Barcarolle here as well, if you're interested. 

[hugosanti]

Hi Hugo,

I'm so glad you liked this nocturne!  Thanks for letting me know.  Probably the recording is not as good as my playing the piece live, but many pianists have the same complaint about their own recordings.  If you are a Faure fan, I also posted an impromptu and a barcarolle farther down on the forum.  I hope you'll enjoy those as well. 

I believe that Faure, somewhat eclipsed by Debussy and Ravel during his lifetime, was underappreciated as a composer.   If memory serves, he was director of the Paris Conservatoire, published a lot, yet died penniless.  His music is unmistakeably in the best French tradition, yet often not exactly impressionistic in my opinion.  It has romantic moments, creates moods, and is sometimes more akin, as a parallel, to representational rather than impressionistic painters.  Some of his late works have a very dark quality.  The first time I listened to his 13 Barcarolles, like to many others before me, I was a bit overwhelmed and they all blended together and sounded alike!  But as I listened more, they quickly became differentiated and I was astonished by their variety.  I'm surprised they are not more frequently played.  My sense is that Faure was one of France's greatest composers.   He deserves more credit than he receives.

Hi!!! , I really love the piece and your playing, I cant say I am a Faure fan but I always thought he was underappreciated as a composer or at least not as known as he deserved, I dont know to much works of him but I love his songs (spetially "Tristesse"),  I remember I was surprised the first time I listened to his Requiem, it is so beautiful, intimate and delicate, it is the oposite as Requiems in general use to be (so noisy and pretentious) I think he really understood the concept of a Requiem ("rest in peace") I do need to listen to more works of him, I will look for them.
Any advice, or recomendations?
Thank you

Hugo

PD: Sorry about my english..... but I am argentinian

[rachfan]

Hi Hugo,

Your English is far superior to my Spanish, so don't worry about it!     As to recommendations, Faure wrote two string quartets with piano, No. 1, Op. 15 and No. 2, Op. 45.  They both show a lot of originality.  You'll be struck by how much of the string writing is in the lower middle registers.  The reason is that Faure was somewhat deaf, and it's thought that he was better able to compose for strings within a tonal range where he could actually hear the music.  Despite that handicap, he did a wonderful job with these pieces.

[dreamplaying]

Dear Rachfan:

My name is Gonzalo, I'm a very strong fan of Fauré, and was very interested in attentively listen to your recording, besides it was abut my favourite nocturne too. 
I have some comments on you playing which come as follows. Regrettably your rhythm  is very chronometric and the bas marks the tempo constantly like a German watch. Dynamic is often cut as well as your phrases. This nocturne is highly deep and listener does not feel lines music and deep, but one feels tempo all the time. I think that this nocturne is extremely difficult in term of interpretation and you are on a very good track however need more analysis and to hear to your self as you play.

Good work and congratulations for such an excellent choice.

Dreamplaying

[rachfan]

Hi Gonzalo,

Thank you for your critique.  I very much appreciate your insights.  I haven't played this piece in a long time, but perhaps someday will reactive it.  When I do, I'll try to "let go" a bit, knowing that the rhymic integrity is already in place, and give more attention to shaping the phrases to make the piece more expressive.  I agree, this a indeed a very deep piece.

David