Liszt and Debussy

[dnephi]

Besides the obvious influences of pianistic style and Liszt's late works, I have one real thought concerning Liszt and Debussy.

Play Liszt like Debussy. 

Discuss.

[arensky]

For me it's the other way around; play Debussy like Liszt. In his late works Liszt is more interested in the tone color possibilities of the piano than it's ability to play many notes. Playing works such as Nuages Gris and Le Jeux d'Eau de le Villa d'Este with a Debussyan approach will work wonderfully since these are among the first "impressionistic" piano works. If you apply this approach to the Grand Galop Chromatique or the friska portions of the Hungarian Rhapsodies, you'll have a muddy mess. The same is true of most of his earlier music, which is mainly melodic rather than texture oriented. While there are many atmospheric episodes in his early music, they serve as a contrast to the main material.

OTH many pianists play Debussy in such an overly refined way that it becomes insipid. Much of Debussy is not impressionistic at all (notably the Etudes) and not all impressions are moist and misty. I like my Debussy to have an edge to it.

[Kassaa]

Play Liszt and shoot Debussy.

Discuss.

[mike_lang]

Play Liszt and shoot Debussy.

Discuss.

Enshrine both and ban Kassaa.

Discuss.

[thalbergmad]

Why not play Liszt like Liszt and Debussy like Debussy?

Oh, and shoot Kasaa.

Thal

[mike_lang]

OTH many pianists play Debussy in such an overly refined way that it becomes insipid. Much of Debussy is not impressionistic at all (notably the Etudes) and not all impressions are moist and misty. I like my Debussy to have an edge to it.

I agree - much of the heart of Debussy is lost when his work is generalized as being associated with an art movement, rather than examined for what it specifically is.  I find a lot of sarcasm in his work that is not always rendered by pianists.  I agree particularly with your statement that "not all impressions are moist and misty."  The same care in preparation is necessary for a Debussy prelude as a Beethoven sonata!

Best,

ML

[kitty on the keys]

I like the comments on both Liszt and Debussy-----very true on how to approach them. and yes shoot  Kassa


Kitty on the Keys

[thierry13]

Debussy himself said it was very stupid to call him impressionist ... so you have your answer here.

[dan101]

I think that both composers should be played as themselves. Interesting topic, though.

[cygnusdei]

Shot-put, javelin, hammer throw.

Discus.

[dnephi]

Now that the topic has run its course:

Debussy is not a composer who can be typed:  Essentially, each piece has a concept which must be conveyed by very careful, planned, and controlled use of the keyboard.  That level of inventiveness, artistry, and focus on that dimension of the music is what I feel Liszt needs as much as Debussy.  For example, the tumultuous waves of sound in the Mazeppa or Chasse-Neige can make many different sounds, and one must choose what one thinks is best.

This is my explanation, and this my claim.

Cheers!

Daniel

[indutrial]

Why not play Liszt like Liszt and Debussy like Debussy?

Oh, and shoot Kasaa.

Thal

Why not play them in one's own god-damned way?!?

[thalbergmad]

Even better

[shadow88]

Some pieces of Debussy and Liszt are really similar. But you can't say play Liszt like Debussy or otherwise because: Take a look at some hungarian rhapsodies and compare them with Debussy's preludes. Is there any similarity? Can you play hungarian Rhapsodies just like Deb. PreludeS?? I dont think so

[dnephi]

Oh, but what of the 12th Hungarian Rhapsody?  Much of the musical value comes from imitation of the sound of bells.

[shadow88]

Oh well, I didn't listened them all yet. Maybe there are exceptions, but i think there is still a difference beetween the other rhapsodies and the debussy preludes