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Topic: debussy and the hammer quote  (Read 8956 times)

Offline Tash

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debussy and the hammer quote
on: August 07, 2006, 08:18:10 AM
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!
'J'aime presque autant les images que la musique' Debussy

Offline pianistimo

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Re: debussy and the hammer quote
Reply #1 on: August 07, 2006, 04:47:32 PM
all i found was 'music is the silence between the notes.'   

another 'in opera there is too much singing.'

Offline Tash

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Re: debussy and the hammer quote
Reply #2 on: August 08, 2006, 06:39:58 AM
what's that got to do with debussy?
'J'aime presque autant les images que la musique' Debussy

Offline nicco

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Re: debussy and the hammer quote
Reply #3 on: August 08, 2006, 10:16:44 AM
Quote
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
"Without music, life would be a mistake." - Friedrich Nietzsche

Offline prometheus

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Re: debussy and the hammer quote
Reply #4 on: August 08, 2006, 11:36:15 AM
If there is such a quote it is obscure since I can't find it. Let alone find the context.
"As an artist you don't rake in a million marks without performing some sacrifice on the Altar of Art." -Franz Liszt

Offline Tash

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Re: debussy and the hammer quote
Reply #5 on: August 09, 2006, 10:35:13 PM
'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!
'J'aime presque autant les images que la musique' Debussy
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Offline nicco

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Re: debussy and the hammer quote
Reply #6 on: August 10, 2006, 09:04:47 AM
Take a look at this site

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

Quote
Marguerite Long also emphasizes this:

'One must forget that the piano has hammers,' was one of his most frequent sayings. [Long p. 13]
"Without music, life would be a mistake." - Friedrich Nietzsche

Offline Tash

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Re: debussy and the hammer quote
Reply #7 on: August 11, 2006, 07:09:05 AM
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:)
'J'aime presque autant les images que la musique' Debussy
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