Debussy piece suggestion!

[megadodd]

Hello everyone, I searched the forum for quite some time, and it seems I couldn't find any "suggestion for Debussy pieces threads" here.

So, what's a great Debussy piece? It's his 150 year anniversary this year, and I figured, since I've never listened to him, much or at all really. This is a great time, to play something by one of the French.

Considering my current repertoire list (in my, forum...description, tag, info, whatever it is).

Would you be so kind to give me some tips on pieces that may aswell fit my capabileties and also, keeping in mind, I've never played Debussy, Ravel and so on. Except one impressionistic piece by Arthur Lourie, never really seriously though.

So, keep em coming, if not something to play- just something to listen to!

[49410enrique]

this piece should be approachable with diligent practice at the undergrand/collegiate performance track level (within first two years)
love this prelude, on my eventual hit list (it was a suggestion from my previous college piano professor but we went with another and i need to come back to this)
from the second vol of the preludes, general lavine 'eccentric'

i particularly like this interpretation

[costicina]

A very unusual Debussy, almost jazz: absolutely beautiful, I LOVE it!!! Thanks for the suggestion..
The most challenging piece I've learned of this composer were Jardin sous la pluie and Cathedral engloutie, but this Prelude  much better!!!

P.S: OMG there are so many pieces in piano literature I'd like to learn  
With my sloth  pace, I would need an extra life...
marg

[starstruck5]

This is one of the few Debussy pieces I can listen to.

[megadodd]

Wow, I had no idea Debussy could sound like that Enrique ! Unfortunatelly, I don't feel the piece

Pour le piano was actually really nice, I'll fall asleep to it tonight ^^.

[drkilroy]

First, Debussy is one of my favourite composers.

You may search through the preludes, there are many nice compositions here. My favourites (Gieseking is my favourite interpreter, but you might like someone else's playing better, of course):

I like General Lavine, too.

This is more impressionistic approach of music by Debussy - you might like his earlier, more romantic music. There is the famous Suite Bergamasque, as well as Children's Corner (with a bit jazzy Golliwogg's Cakewalk). They are worth trying, I think you should be able to tackle them. Other pieces that I recommend are Deux Arabesques (with the first one obscuring the latter, although both are very nice), Danse, Nocturne and La plus que lente.

Etudes, Images, Pour le piano and L'isle Joyeuse are very interesting compositions, but they might be challenging for you.

At the end, there are some short and not very hard Debussy pieces, like Morceau de Concours, Les soirs illumines par l'ardeur du charbon, Elegie and Piece pour le Vetement du blesse (or Page d'album/Album Leaf). All are pleasant sounding and should be good for starting with Debussy.

By the way, the second piece was one of Debussy's last compositions, the manuscript was found recently.

I hope this will be of use.

Best regards, Dr

[megadodd]

This was very helpful, thank you Kilroy! 

[b_nghiem]

Perhaps you would also be interested in the Ballade.
It is a very beautiful piece (like all of his pieces) and is from his "earlier" period.

Very charming, no?

Good luck,
-Brian

[costicina]

What about Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli's  Debussy? One of the finest interpreter of this composer, IMO...

[fftransform]

[werq34ac]

Perhaps you would also be interested in the Ballade.
It is a very beautiful piece (like all of his pieces) and is from his "earlier" period.

Very charming, no?

Good luck,
-Brian

Ah the ballade, I like that piece a lot.


Not enough people play Les Collines D'Anacapri in my opinion.. and Poisson D'Or

[megadodd]

Yes, I must say the Ballade is certainly very interesting! But so are alot of his other pieces, I'm leaning more towards the ballade now, but I don't feel the "itch" to go play it right away. Perhaps I just havn't found my Debussy yet.

[taoo]

My favorite from Debussy:

Passepied! such a shame he didnt write anything more like that piece

otherwise im not that impressed by Debussy. He did compose some rather cool stuff but i miss the strong emotions i get from other fantastic music.

[49410enrique]

of his early works and 'sound' i've always preferred this little mazurka. just plain lovely!

[megadodd]

Wow Enrique! That Mazurka was not something I expected from Debussy, indeed superb!

[thorn]

I am surprised in mentioning Debussy interpreters that no one has mentioned Ogawa. She's amazing! She gives his works a breath of fresh air after decades of everyone trying to sound like Gieseking.

Anyway, pieces...

Someone already mentioned the Nocturne. Wonderful piece of music.

Images: Hommage à Rameau, Et la lune descend... (the latter is gorgeous) oh, or the first piece of Images oubliées!

Estampes: La Soirée dans Grenade (and actually Jardins sous la pluie isn't as difficult as it sounds)

Preludes- think you've had enough suggestions, but listen to Zimerman playing them on youtube, hands down best interpreter of them for me.

I don't remember anyone mentioning Children's Corner, but anything but the first and last piece is good.

The Etudes are a different side to Debussy and, in my experience, not a lot of people's cup of tea. But Etude 10 is manageable, and although I think it would be too difficult for you at this stage, listen to Etude 11- it's the most popular of the set.

Finally, the solo piano arrangement of the Épigraphes antiques are worth a listen (can't tell you how difficult they are or guess if you'd be able to manage any because I've never seen the score).

[megadodd]

Thorn, there was a lot of gems in your list.

I like Zimmerman too, he and my teacher studied at the same conservatoire actually, so I have to like him.

There's to many pieces that are interresting.
Jardins sous la pluie had pretty much the exact same structure like the Arthur Lourie piece I played, but I liked it alot. And the Images are very remarkable pieces! Interresting harmony in Debussy's music.

[thorn]

I'm glad you enjoyed!

You don't HAVE to like him =P But he is bloody good!

I think my particular favourites of the ones I suggested are Et la lune descend (Images II), the first 'Image oubliée' and the two Etudes ^^

[werq34ac]

Did I mention Poisson D'Or? I LOVE THAT PIECE! but it's kinda hard...


Have you heard the Danse? quite joyous.

Ah, surprised no one mentioned La Plus que Lente, that's worth posting a vid

[mussorgsky]

L'isle joyuese! A beautiful peace! It's perfect for a good repertoire!