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Topic: Debussy Toccata (Read 6493 times)

akonow

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Is this toccata from Pour le Piano significantly more difficult than the prelude (I think this because it is called Toccata and doesn't look like the easiest piece of the Pour le Piano suite for sure)? I would really like to learn an impressionist suite and I like all three pieces from Pour le Piano the most so basically help me please.

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sharon_f

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Re: Debussy Toccata

Reply #1 on: September 05, 2008, 03:45:24 AM

I played the Prelude many, many years ago and just recently thought about learning the rest of the suite. After reading through the Toccata I decided to wait awhile. It is signicantly more difficult than the Prelude.

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nanabush

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Re: Debussy Toccata

Reply #2 on: September 05, 2008, 04:46:15 PM

Funny because I just looked through this the other day out of interest. I'm looking for a possible Debussy piece (or suite) to learn for a competition in April. I was thinking of the entire Pour le Piano Suite. I've played the Prelude before just on the side, and it wasn't too bad. The Toccata from what I've heard doesn't have alot of pedal. When I tried it there were a few parts where both hands sweep up in 16ths; found that pretty damn tough to play at the speed required. There's nothing terribly difficult, just a lot of head scratching parts that you gotta sit with for a bit

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Interested in discussing:

-Prokofiev Toccata
-Scriabin Sonata 2

akonow

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Re: Debussy Toccata

Reply #3 on: September 05, 2008, 10:22:22 PM

Quote from: nanabush on September 05, 2008, 04:46:15 PM

Funny because I just looked through this the other day out of interest. I'm looking for a possible Debussy piece (or suite) to learn for a competition in April. I was thinking of the entire Pour le Piano Suite. I've played the Prelude before just on the side, and it wasn't too bad. The Toccata from what I've heard doesn't have alot of pedal. When I tried it there were a few parts where both hands sweep up in 16ths; found that pretty damn tough to play at the speed required. There's nothing terribly difficult, just a lot of head scratching parts that you gotta sit with for a bit .

Well it might be easy for you but what other pieces are you playing?

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pianistavt

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Re: Debussy Toccata

Reply #4 on: June 25, 2024, 02:42:41 PM

This is an old thread but I think it makes more sense to continue it, than start a new one.
Wondering if anyone here has worked on this, what their experience was / thoughts are...

I'm working on this piece ... the suggested metronome is quarter = 120, which I think is too fast. And I doubt I will be be able to play it (well) at that tempo. Also wondering if there should be a tempo change at the second theme (arpeggios in rh, melody in left) (measure 78), seems appropriate, especially if the piece was opened with something near 120.

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skari123

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Re: Debussy Toccata

Reply #5 on: July 23, 2024, 10:50:30 PM

Quote from: pianistavt on June 25, 2024, 02:42:41 PM

This is an old thread but I think it makes more sense to continue it, than start a new one.
Wondering if anyone here has worked on this, what their experience was / thoughts are...

I'm working on this piece ... the suggested metronome is quarter = 120, which I think is too fast. And I doubt I will be be able to play it (well) at that tempo. Also wondering if there should be a tempo change at the second theme (arpeggios in rh, melody in left) (measure 78), seems appropriate, especially if the piece was opened with something near 120.

I played this two years ago and can safely say that the piece is no walk in the park. The urtext edition has no metronome mark but is marked as vif which is approximately 130, but is often played much faster and is often better that way. I don't think 120 is too fast but rather too slow if you ask me. The second theme should definitely be more relaxed than the beginning in order to maximise the singing quality in that section. This piece should definitely not be played at an absolute metronomic pace, but with some flexibility. Please note I'm not really talking about rubato like in the romantic repertoire, which is all about stretching the beats but rather leaving some space between the beats, which is sometimes notated in impressionistic music in various ways f.x. double bar lines (for instance in m 78, 136 197, 205 and 228 in the toccata).
I do remember struggling a bit with this piece and do share your pain. If you can't by any means play it in the full tempo, don't. This is a piece that needs to simmer a bit before you can play it the way you want it. Don't push yourself too much and you will be fine.

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