Claude Debussy piano works

[a1]

   hi, who love about Debussy piano musics ? Let talk and discuss  about it ?
 i admire Debussy since  3 years ago . i love Debussy works such as                                     Clair de lune, Arabesque 1 and 2,doctor gradio ad panassum , suite bergamask,
reverie ............................................... .But i don't have enough skill or technique .                   

[leucippus]

I'd recommend starting with Book I Prelude #8 "The Girl with Flaxen Hair" simply because it's probably one of the easiest pieces, and it's only 2 pages long. I'm currenly learning this piece myself along with Clair de Lune.  But Clair de Lune is much harder plus it's 6 pages long.  I just nibble away at them a few measures at a time.  I'm not a great pianist either. 

[a1]

 You are a great pianist !!!
I also think same as you to start the "La Fille au Cheveu de lin " first.
But unfortunately I have piano e/am.(  / my computer keyboard damage ) . So , I have to quit  Debussy's Clair de Lune.( My favour.. )
Luckily now the e/am over ( horray ) but I also busy somethings until Disember.               
Thank for your suggestion I really appreciated .                   

Can anyone teach my how to use the pedals in the first page  of Clair de Lune .
I think should press in the first beat both pedals left and right . But the melody I cann't
found.The E major part I dunno whether i should accent in the left hand part OR NOT !
But my playing  just don't sound as beautiful as all other pianist in DISC . I am very
dissappointed  . 
I will do all my best to play it but PLEASE HELP ME   !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[moi_not_toi]

Estampes is one of my favs. It's soooooooo strange in a really cool, Debussy-ish way.

[a1]

  Thanks For Voting and Suggession
 

[a1]

  Any words that you want to say about the piece you choose.

[kreso]

Pour le piano-such beautifull melodies and virtuoso piece and great music!

[Waldszenen]

Suite Bergamasque.

[ilikepie]

I second estampes. His petite suite is quite good too.

[a1]

 Suite bergamasque are better than petite suite a lot.
 I thinks suite bergamasque are the best suite in this world.
 AGREE !!!!!!!!!

[nanabush]

Estampes, and both books of Images:

From these I reallllly like:  Jardins sous la pluie, Mouvement, Poissons d'Or, Hommage à Rameau!

[lichristine]

Jardin Sous La Pluie.

pardon the silly slang, but it owns. (in my opinion)

[arbisley]

I love the Clair de Lune because it is simply so atmospheric. As a piece I've played, I absolutely love "Jardins sous la Pluie",  it's actually far easier to play than most people think it is in my view, but that's maybe because I acquired that certain technique quite early on, but then, who does not have right hand technique? that's really what it is all the way through, but it's still an amazing piece to perform.

Otherwise I just love any of Debussy's music really, so it's difficult to vore really!

[imbetter]

that island of joy thingy its not on there though

[verywellmister]

I just heard Clair de lune for the first time a couple of months ago and I can see why it's so popular.

my favorites are L'isle Joyeuse, Poissons d'or, Mouvement, Reflets dans l'eau Pagodes, Dr. Gradus ad Parnassum, my favorite of all, the Toccata!

[a1]

  Beside Clair de Lune , it seem Passepied also very popular from the
     poll. I fell strange because no one choose Reverie ( Day dream ).
    Many of you seem interested in Clair de Lune just like me.


   
    Clair de Lune number 1#  !!!


   

[ccnokes]

Beside Clair de Lune , it seem Passepied also very popular from the
     poll. I fell strange because no one choose Reverie ( Day dream ).
    Many of you seem interested in Clair de Lune just like me.


   
    Clair de Lune number 1#  !!!


   

I really like Reverie and learned to play it awhile back.  Its not really Debussyish like his other works.  Its not as suprising, surreal and much more straight forward. 

The entire Suite Bergamesque and the Arabesques are great.  I like Ballade a lot, which wasn't on the list.

[nanabush]

I can't stop listening to 'cloches a travers les feuilles', it completely immerses you.  Midway through, when the 'bell' sound starts comin in, it's absolutely amazing, the beginning of the piece is so lonely, melancholic, and when the bells come in, oh man you just have to listent to it urself 

[moi_not_toi]

I can't stop listening to 'cloches a travers les feuilles', it completely immerses you.  Midway through, when the 'bell' sound starts comin in, it's absolutely amazing, the beginning of the piece is so lonely, melancholic, and when the bells come in, oh man you just have to listent to it urself 

Yes!!!!!
Amen!
I remember the first time I heard it on the radio. I was in a trance until I got the music...
lovely piece.
Gardens in the Rain still pwns all, though.

[alwaystheangel]

le petit Negre. 
I love the cakewalk theme in it and I dunno, I don't like golliwog's as much

Debussy's rhapsodie pour saxophone is excellent as well

[rach n bach]

Golliwog all the way!!!   Sure, le petit Negre and the others are great, but they just can't beat the calkwalk theme in this!      

RnB

[alwaystheangel]

I dunno,  Negre is nice and easy to just sight read and is just so cute. I always play it when Im sad. It just makes my day a little brighter and a little political incorrectness doesnt hurt either, sometimes. lol jk.

Golliwog's meh.

[rach n bach]

Yea, for me Golliwog has more expression, particualrly in coming back from the minor section, and I don't deal well with pieces which are only so-so on expresson!   

Don't get me wrong, I like Negre, but Golliwog is better... then again, I aso like L'isle Joyeuse... yea, I know, they're a bit different, but still...   

[wotgoplunk]

I'd recommend starting with Book I Prelude #8 "The Girl with Flaxen Hair" simply because it's probably one of the easiest pieces, and it's only 2 pages long.

Le Petit Negre is a good little piece, and is probably the easiest Debussy. And of course, you can't go wrong with the Children's Corner.

[phil13]

I love the Clair de Lune because it is simply so atmospheric. As a piece I've played, I absolutely love "Jardins sous la Pluie",  it's actually far easier to play than most people think it is in my view, but that's maybe because I acquired that certain technique quite early on, but then, who does not have right hand technique? that's really what it is all the way through, but it's still an amazing piece to perform.

Otherwise I just love any of Debussy's music really, so it's difficult to vore really!

How difficult are the other two pieces in Estampes compared to Jardins Sous la Pluie?

Phil

[arbisley]

I don't actually know, I haven't tried to play them myself yet, but what I meant mainly about the Jardins sous la Pluie is that most of the difficult bits are in the right hand, so are easier to learn than for some pieces with more left hand technique. Sorry I can't help.

[a1]

  Anyone want to add pieces just say and i will add it as soon as i can !!!
    Now i know that Debussy has so many great pieces from all of you,
    and , by Jove life is good with Debussy !!!

    I sincerely hope that all of you enjoy Debussy music....

[imbetter]

l'isle of joy is my favorite

[ihatepop]

Arabesque 1

Clair de Lune is wonderful as well.

ihatepop

[diminished2nd]

I didn't vote, because I really just love ALL of Debussy's music. I guess a couple of my favourites though would be La Terrasse Des Audiences Du Clair De Lune, Feux D'artifice, Suite Burgamasque (sp?), L'isle Joyeuse, and "the fairies are exquisite dancers", however you say it in french (I forget?)...

[arbisley]

"Les fees sont d'exquises danseuses" 

[Nightscape]

I think that the Etudes constitute his greatest work for piano.  A close second would be his second book of preludes or the second book of images.

I think that his greatest piece, however, is the sonata for flute, viola, and harp.  Also I am also very partial to La mer.

[G.W.K]

I have always enjoyed Clair de lune...it is also my mum's favourite tune. I don't know why I like it...but it always has a calming effect on me.... 

G.W.K

[etudes]

etude for arpeggio...

[pianochick93]

You are a great pianist !!!
I also think same as you to start the "La Fille au Cheveu de lin " first.
But unfortunately I have piano e/am.(  / my computer keyboard damage ) . So , I have to quit  Debussy's Clair de Lune.( My favour.. )
Luckily now the e/am over ( horray ) but I also busy somethings until Disember.               
Thank for your suggestion I really appreciated .                   

Can anyone teach my how to use the pedals in the first page  of Clair de Lune .
I think should press in the first beat both pedals left and right . But the melody I cann't
found.The E major part I dunno whether i should accent in the left hand part OR NOT !
But my playing  just don't sound as beautiful as all other pianist in DISC . I am very
dissappointed  . 
I will do all my best to play it but PLEASE HELP ME   !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just experiment a bit. If it starts sounding too muddy, just change what you are doing. I very rarely follow pedal markings on a piece if there are any, I just play what sounds good.

On the topic of Debussy's pieces. Claire de Lune rules over all else!
Passepied and Souvenir De Louvre (sarabande) are good as well.

I have tried to learn Golliwog's Cakewalk, but the jumps in the laft hand are beyond my skill, at least at the moment.

For now...Claire de Lune, Piano version first, orchestra is ok..., I heard one for 2 guitars as well, and that sounded pretty good.

[dnephi]

Poissons d'Or, Dr. Gradus, The Snow is Dancing, Qu'a vu le vent d'ouest, and La Plus Que Lent are my favorite Debussy.  I like his 5 finger etude and 8 finger etudes too.

[thorn]

i love the 2nd set of Images- they are pure genius.

all of the Preludes are favourites of mine too- although im sure that will change after my college auditions when i will have until March to memorise them all for a concert *sighs*

i like Cahier d'esquisses as well, and 'Pour les arpeges composes'

 

[notturno]

I love the Preludes, especially "Des pas sur la neige", which I am currently learning.  It's very hard to pick a favorite though.  This piece, in particular, shows his ability to communicate a great deal with simple and delicate ideas.  I love the way he allows colorful chords and melodies to simply drift without the compulsion to resolve them.

[houseofblackleaves]

I like the "Interrupted Serenade," because the guy gets owned.

Really.  It's such a hilarious scene; a guy trying to seduce a woman sitting at her window by playing his guitar, and then all the sudden he breaks it.  It's so hilarious.  You can hear him trying the fix it going "No please!  Don't close the window! *she closes the window* DAMMIT."

The Isle of Joy is just gorgeous.  The melodic structure is just amazing. 

Another favorite of mine is "The Little Shepherd" from Children's Corner.  It's just so... peaceful.

An interesting idea for a recital program is playing the Girl with the Flaxen Hair, then right after it play the Kurtag version of the same girl enraged. 

[amelialw]

Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum and L'isle Joyeuse

[sheena]

Estampes rules! I haven't played any of the pieces in the suite though... I like Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum too. And La cathedrale engloutie, it has such awsome chords.

[a1]

   Finally,I back. To busy this whole year , but thanks to all of you opinion.
     They are very useful to me.

      Now i have a BIG HOLIDAY and wish to play some (maybe 1 or 2 or more )
 Debussy nice music .What MOST BEAUTIFUL  pieces would you suggest for me?
 i hope to get some of you precious suggestion.
 
 
 - For me ,  i think that one can only find paradise and hell  in Debussy's music.

[pianistimo]

You don't hear the nocturnes as much, perhaps.  Sometimes, it's good not to just think of what you will play for one composer - but how you plan to put a program together and how it will fit.  I love Ravel's Jeux d'eau.  I could see it paired with Debussy's 'Reflections on the water.'  One you have fountains, and the other still water.  I think.  I haven't studied either piece - but I like to listen to them.

The second half of the program could be all nocturnes.  Chopin, Debussy, Faure.  Faure wrote some beautiful ones!  The fourth nocturne is my favorite partly because I've played it and have the fingering.  The fingering to these things is everything - or most of the ease of playing.

[shingo]

- La Fille aux cheveux de lin

- Arabesque No.1

- Rêverie

- Clair De Lune

- Valse Romantique*

- Children's Corner: Golliwogg's Cakewalk

[gymnopedist]

Three pieces that go fantastically together, are "Masques", "D'un cahier d'esquisses" and "L'isle joyeuse". If i remember correctly, D. originally planned them as a suite, but changed his mind for some reason. "Masques" is really underrated, it's such a spectacular piece.

[swim4ever_22]

Here's a question. Why, in the sheet music section of this website, do nearly all of debussy's preludes show either level's 8 or 8+ when clearly not all of them are that difficult (La Fille aux Cheveaux de Lin, for example)?

[gerryjay]

 debussy is such a wonderful composer. it's impossible to me choose just one work but at the time i'm working on the children's corner suite so that's my vote now!
 anyway i really really want to play at least the estampes and if possible to me all the preludes in the future. 
 and if it interests anyone the first piece that draw my attention to him was reverie. what a beautiful music! 

[communist]

jeax deux

[soderlund]

Currently learning Jardins sous la pluie. It is an amazing piece! Definitely my favourite 

[communist]

jeax deux

never mind thats ravel  and i also spelled it wrong