How difficult is Debussy's Arabesque?

[refugepiano]

My piano teacher is thinking in giving me this piece to learn. The thing is that this teacher is a new one, and when I asked my previous teachers they said I wasn't ready for it.

My question is, how hard would it be for me?
I expect it to be hard on the musical side, but I have played these pieces before, performing them in front of an audience:

Rachmaninoff's Prelude No. 2 in C# minor
Norwegischer Bauernmarsch, Lyrics Pieces Book V, Op.54 by Edvard Grieg
A Polish dance by Xavier Scharwenka
Invention Number 1, 8, 13 and 14 by J.S. Bach
Piano Sonata no.20 in G, Op.49 no.2 by Beethoven.

Any thoughts on the matter?

Note: I'm also learning the Prelude and Fugue No 12 BWV 881 by JS Bach. Already have the Prelude near performance wise, the Fugue I still need to learn it, I've only had one week with it.

[cranston53]

Which Arabesque? First or second?

If you've played the pieces you listed, you should be absolutely fine. They're around ABRSM Grade 7 / 8.

You might find Debussy a little different to play. Balance is key and bring out the overall melodic lines, but you would certainly enjoy the pieces.

Alternatively, you could try 'The Girl with Flaxen Hair' or 'Beau Soir'. Both easier, and both beautiful.

[carl_h]

Hello refugepiano,

The first Arabesque might look/sound a bit difficult but don't let the cross-rhythm scare you, it's not that difficult once you get the 'flow'. Judging from your post I'm not entirely sure if it is a piece that you really want to play, if you don't love it and don't have an urge to play to play it yourself I would leave if it be for when the time comes.
And for the musical side, looking at what you played, your doing great.

Hope this helped a bit

Have fun studying,
Carl H

[asiantraveller101]

It should be fine for you. Either Arabesque will be great. Your teacher probably meant No. 1 since it is more commonly played. Perhaps you can even tackle both, since they are both quite different in term of style, sound, and character. Will be great to be able to play both in a recital.
Good luck and drill on those upward and downward patterns and runs. 

[refugepiano]

Which Arabesque? First or second?

If you've played the pieces you listed, you should be absolutely fine. They're around ABRSM Grade 7 / 8.

You might find Debussy a little different to play. Balance is key and bring out the overall melodic lines, but you would certainly enjoy the pieces.

Alternatively, you could try 'The Girl with Flaxen Hair' or 'Beau Soir'. Both easier, and both beautiful.

First one, although maybe the second later on. Also, around what grade are each of my pieces? I used to study in the Conservatory of Music of the Sate of Chihuahua in Mexico until April this year as I was forced to leave. The Conservatory did not include any grading measure that I can remember of.

Hello refugepiano,

The first Arabesque might look/sound a bit difficult but don't let the cross-rhythm scare you, it's not that difficult once you get the 'flow'. Judging from your post I'm not entirely sure if it is a piece that you really want to play, if you don't love it and don't have an urge to play to play it yourself I would leave if it be for when the time comes.
And for the musical side, looking at what you played, your doing great.

Hope this helped a bit

Have fun studying,
Carl H

Several pieces that I want to play hace cross-rythms, so I would need to face them either way. Also, I really do want to play it and it's a beautiful piece. I am just not sure if I could play it well enough, much less with the constant change of teacher (4 teachers in 2 years. Not a good thing).

Thanks.

[nanabush]

Try it out!  It's in a nice key to play, and the modulations will prepare you for some of Debussy's other stuff.

There are a lot of arpeggios and interesting scale-ish bits.  It's a great piece for fingerwork (without being a technical warhorse etude)