Debussy - Pagodes (timing issue!)

[vespertine]

Hi all.

I'm currently learning Debussy's Pagodes, the first movement from Estampes and I'm having difficulty playing the two bars highlighted red. I can't seem to quite get the timing right, playing the triplets underneath the demisemiquavers. I end up splitting the group of 8 into 3:3:2 which is obviously incorrect, I can't get the triplets to play evenly with the right hand.



Can anyone give me a hand?
Thanks!

[theholygideons]

ignore the fact that they're demisemiquavers, what's more important is the more general division, which is that the pulse for the right hand is in quavers, while the left hand is in triplets. Just think of it as a standard 2 beats on 3 beats polyrhythm, with the demisemiquavers as just fillers.

alternately, just let the 2 hands play out independently and in the correct rhythm, but making sure that they fall on every crotchet beat of the bar. Piece of cake, you'll get it in no time.

[gvans]

The triplets are the important thing, they should match the triplet rhythm in the preceding measure. Just fit the right hand in so that at the beginning of each triplet, the top note of the right hand filigree coincides.

This passage is one that plays better at tempo than slowly.