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Topic: Fingering for Debussy's 'Les fées sont d'exquises danseuses'  (Read 4419 times)

Offline russ

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So it's those blessed (but gorgeous sounding) trills that are getting my nickers tied. If someone would care to help untie them that would be tremendous!

Currently, from bars 5-12, I'm practicing with thumb on the 'held' note and 2 and 3 for the higher trill. All of the trills... I have a feeling this is not practical. Particularly in the 11th and 12th bar where the trills move quickly; I may not be able to jump to them in time.

Many thanks!
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Offline nanabush

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Re: Fingering for Debussy's 'Les fées sont d'exquises danseuses'
Reply #1 on: December 22, 2009, 06:54:33 PM
Hey,

I tried it out a few ways.  2-3 seemed the most obvious for each trill.

I also tried 2-4 or 3-4 for the uppermost trill (end of bar 11) then 2-3 for each other one.  Gives a bit of a rest for the third finger and not so drastic of a jump.  I think there are going to be jumps unless you can do 4-5 trills VERY fast and even. I wouldn't suggest that. Listen to some recordings; in a few the performer holds back slightly at the beginning of m11, maybe to prepare for it  ;)

I'm playing preludes 3,5, and 7 from book 1; I still have yet to learn any from book 2, but if I do, this'll be the first one I look at.  The harmonies and little trills, and pretty much everything about it fascinates it.

Edit:  2-3 seems the most comfortable finger-wise; I played around with this for a few more minutes, and I end up fumbling my fingers when I try changing up the fingering.  Because it's such a small passage (the trills add up to around 10-15 seconds), I'd just stick with 2-3.  The quality of my trills change when I change up fingers so quickly, especially when there's a held note lower.  In a trill in something like Beethoven or Mozart, like a loooooong trill passage that doesn't jump around everywhere, changing fingers is more practical.  I find it too risky for this one; just my opinion, I also have damn long fingers and little intricate trill work like this isn't my cup of tea  8)
Interested in discussing:

-Prokofiev Toccata
-Scriabin Sonata 2
 

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