Grading Debussy pieces

[Daniel_piano]

Could someone please grade these piece by Debussy:

Arabesque n.1

Arabesque n.2

Suite Bergamasque:

1) Prelude
2) Menuet
3) Clair de Lune
4) Passepied

Reverie

Danse

Ballade

Pour le piano:

1) Prelude
2) Sarabande
3) Toccata

D’un cahier d’esquisses

Estampes:

1) Pagodes,
2) Soirée dans Grenade
3) Jardins sous la pluie

Mazurka

Valse Romantique

Masques

L'isle joyeuse

Images 1:

1) Reflets dans l'eau
2) Hommage à Rameau
3) Mouvement

Images 2:

1) Cloches à travers les feuilles
2) Et la lune descend sur le temple qui fut
3) Poisson d'or
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Thanks a lot
Daniel

[Alde]

I think L'isle Joyeux is probably Debussy's most difficult piano piece.

[BuyBuy]

Here is a technical grading (always very subjective, but hey, you asked) from easy to hard (and additionnaly I divided them in 3 groups):

Early Intermediate :

Reverie
Pour le piano 2 - Sarabande
Images I 2 - Hommage a Rameau
Images II 3 - Et la lune descend sur le temple qui fut
D’un cahier d’esquisses
Arabesque 1
__________________________________________

Late intermediate :

Estampes 2 - Soirees dans Grenade
Suite Bergamasque 1 - Prelude
Suite Bergamasque 3 - Clair de lune
Suite Bergamasque 2 - Menuet
Mazurka
Valse Romantique
Ballade
Arabesque 2
Danse
Masques
Suite Bergamasque 4 - Passepied
__________________________
Early Advanced :

Estampes 1 - Pagodes
Images I 1 - Reflets dans l'eau
Images II 1 - Cloches a travers les feuilles
Pour le piano 1 - Prelude
Estampes 3 - Jardins sous la pluie
______________________________
Late advanced :

Images I 3 - Mouvement
Images II 3 - Poissons d'or
L'isle joyeuse
Pour le piano 3 - Toccata

OK, that's about it. I have only played a couple from those, and I don't have the scores with me right now, so it's from memory and there might be some mistakes. Does the rest of the people agree with that list ?

[Rockitman]

I've only played 3 of the aforementioned,  Clairdelune, Arabesques 1 and 2.

Arabesques 2 is definitely harder than the other 2.  And I wouldn't say that Clair de Lune is harder than Arabesques 1. 

[pianowelsh]

Hi Daniel    I have not played all of these pieces but as a teacher I have waded through many many syllabuses so will give you what i ve got!

Arabesque no 1 (most commonly placed between gd 8 and advanced cert of ABRSM)
Arabesque no2 (not so often cited but gen considered to be harder)

Suite bergamasque    prelude (gd 7/8 ABRSM)
                                   menuet (easier)
                                   Clair de lune (gd7/8 - i would place it nearer 8, but with diff      boards crops up all sorts of places)
                                   passapied (circa

Reverie (nice piece - not so often done) circ gd8

Danse (don't know this one sorry!)

Ballade (again nice one  - haven't played it myself but consensus = circ advanced certificate level) - just above gd 8

Pour le piano - prelude ?
                        sarabande gd7/8
                        Toccata gd 8/adv cert

D'un cahier d'esquisses ?

Estampes: pagodes LRSM diploma

[pianowelsh]

Wow! me and technology  - don't know what happened there sorry!

Estampes: Soiree LRSM
                  Jardin  LRSM
I believe London College LCM set the whole of Estampe for their Fellowship diploma. The whole set is quite a play!

Mazurka ?

Valse Romantique ?

Masques - bits have been set from grade 6 upwards (never played myself)

L'isle Joyeuse - LRSM - it's jolly hard and at least Licentiate level if not a bit more to play it well.

Image bks 1 & 2 each of these are between advaced cert and LRSM level (Reflets and Poisson d'or are the most pop for exams and are amongst the hardest to bring off. they are all quite taxing in one way or another. To play as a set they are definately Fellowship level.)

The etudes of Debussy are also great fun and are a reall musical challenge as well as finger benders they all weigh in at circ LRSM level although I believe the new trinity syllabus reccommends them at ATCL - I can only say good luck as they are serious repertoire.

hope this is helpfull