Debussy - De pas sur la neige

[Nightscape]

Such a sad composition from Debussy.  One of my favorites though.  I played Book I of the preludes last year, yet this is the only one I can still play!  I've decided that I'm just not technically ready for the harder preludes, like no. 5 and 7 and it's best to wait a few years before tackling them again.

Anyways, if you could give me some interperative comments on this that'd be great.  Thanks!

[teresa_b]

Lovely!  You capture the desolate, sad quality very well.  I don't have much to suggest.  My personal preference is to play it at maybe one metronome marking faster--just enough to make it flow slightly more, especially in the more animated section at top of second page. 

There's a fine line here between expressing the sort of "getting nowhere" this piece seems to intend, and a feeling of some movement so you don't feel as though it's never going to end!  I think you could bring out your sustained bass lines more, to keep the "footsteps" a little more connected with each other.

It already sounds great--I would like to hear your other Debussy pieces. 

Teresa

[pabst]

I like this piece slow and slower, and you can insert some sense of movement by adding more shades of dynamics rather than upping the tempo, maybe. Very enjoyable.

[Nightscape]

Thanks teresa_b and pabst.  I agree that there should be a bit more dynamic shading, which will make this sound a little less 'empty'.  As far as the tempo though, I am taking the metronome marking in the score, but I think the reason why is sounds a little slow, as pabst mentioned, is that there needs to be a little more dynamic shading.

Thanks again!

[pedroarvy]

Awesome playin'. ah' love yo' touch, it be considered and dought out, ya' are one uh my favourite pianists on dis site.  What it is, Mama! ah' gots' some Claudio Arrau reco'din' uh dis piece but prefa' yo' version.  Right On! 

I  duzn't agree dat it sounds too slow cuz' yo' interpretashun be consistent and artistically solid. Dis be a real difficult piece t'realise but ya' gots' succeeded 

[Nightscape]

Thank you! What a nice compliment.

[axewarrior20]

I will throw in my two cents.

Let me first say your overall performance was great! I played this piece last spring and really fell in love with it.

Secondly, you may want to play with the tempo some. Your overall tempo is perfect I think, but (this being my own personal opinion while playing) you may want to take some time when play some of your notes. Enjoy savoring some of the tones. Don't allow it to become completely mechanical, but these are honestly just my own personal views with how I took on the piece so you probably shouldn't take to heart anything I am saying other than my compliments.

I will review over the piece and put up a recording to show you what I mean if you want.

[ramseytheii]

I like most of this, especially the consistent sound you get with the ostinato.  Though the recording seems a little subpar, what did you use to record this?

I think my main complaint is with the triste et tendre regret part near the end.  In my ear, that should sound totally different than the rest of the piece, as if we are entering another world.  in fact we are, the world of memory.  The falling third prevalent through so much, becomes a warm, colorful thought, outside of the immediate environment; something sad, but not sad because of what it is, but because it is lost.  The music should strive to enter another plane there, and I don't feel it in this recording.  Much more magic.

Then, after the ostinato returns in the upper octave, the memory - expressed by the falling third motif - turns to ice.  Reality takes over, and the endless path through the frozen present conquers all.  The last chord especially should feel more desolate; work on the voicing to find a more interesting way to play it.

So in sum, the triste et tendre regret should have a sound quality that is reserved for those bars alone; there should be a melodic connection between that and the following bars (when ostinato is in upper octave); and the voicing for the last chord could be much more suggestive.

Overall nice job.

Walter Ramsey