Debussy

Join Share

4 members| 6 shouts

Leader: syater
Join Policy: Member Approval
Created on: 22 Feb 2010
Description:
A group appreciation of Claude Debussy, virtuoso pianist, musical critic, celebrated composer and one of the greatest, most influential musical artists of all time.

  • Approval by members simply in an attempt to stay focused on music of this era and with any luck our group radio will reflect this.
    • Hoping to get around to listing performances, influences, some biography - possibly to include a section "If you like X you may also like Y".
      • Putting his era and contributions into a bit of context.
        • Hoping others will want to contribute ideas, information.

          • His parents ran a shop that sold china. He wanted to be a painter but began piano lessons at age nine. Mme. Mauté de Fleurville, the mother-in-law of the poet Paul Verlaine, took an interest in young Debussy's ability at the piano. A former student of Frédéric Chopin, she instructed Debussy well enough that he was accepted into the Paris Conservatoire in October 1873, at age 11.

            • At the Conservatoire Ernest Guiraud taught Debussy composition. From the start Debussy showed a taste for unusual chords, rhythms and harmonies. Richard Wagner's 'Tristan und Isolde' was very much in vogue with the younger students at that time and although he closely studied the work of Johann Sebastian Bach, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Frédéric Chopin, plus many other Classical and Romantic composers, Debussy spent long hours studying the score of Tristan und Isolde, playing it on piano. He was intrigued by the free moving, slowly resolving harmonies for which Wagner was duly famous. Not many of Debussy's teachers were open to these new musical developments.

              • Achille, as he was then known, won the 1884 'Prix de Rome' (at age 22) for a cantata based on Édouard Guinand's poem 'L'Enfant Prodigue'. In later years Debussy wrote of the absurdity of musical competitions but as a result of this award he lived at the Villa Medici in Rome 1885-1887. In general he did not like life in Rome in spite of the many advantages and friendships that resulted while there. He seems to have had difficulty composing during his two year stay, at the end of which he went directly back to Paris, the natural atmosphere in which his musical idiom could continue to develop.

                • To be continued.

                Recent Journals

                Weekly Top Artists

                1 Play
                2
                2 Play
                1
                3  
                1
                4  
                1
                5  
                1
                6  
                1
                7  
                1
                8  
                1
                9  
                1
                10 Play
                1

                Connected Artists

                Shoutbox

                Leave a comment. Log in to Last.fm or sign up (it’s free).

                • syater

                  For the Etudes consider Pierre-Laurent Aimard. Possibly Mitsuko Uchida's recording of the Etudes as well. I also have a video of her playing and later discussing them. Interesting to hear her views. But remember Aimard.

                  March 2010

                • syater

                  At the level of these pianists, it's about emphasis. Clarity of of line, pedal use, romantic or modernist... etc.

                  March 2010

                • syater

                  Sorry to be a bit pressed for time at the moment. I will skip the 'discussion' box. Going way back the Italian Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli and the American Paul Jacobs were for a long time favorites of mine. You may want to check listings on Wikipedia or elsewhere to get a general idea about them. I don't know about their availability, but you should hear them if you can. Maurizio Pollini's recordings (one of Michelangeli's students) are highly touted but I have not heard them for years. Currently I return to Alain Planès mostly, sometimes Pascal Rogé. I was not impressed with a Rogé recital I attended last year, a mix of Debussy, Ravel, Poulenc, Chopin, his playing, at least that night, was a bit dull. The Bavouzet recordings have been getting great reviews, I have not heard yet, if you hear them please let me know what you think. I wanted to get into the reasons for preferences but I cannot right now. I hope this might be at least a little helpful to exploration.

                  March 2010

                • syater

                  Yes, piano recordings, live performances. Obviously many pianists have been attracted to Debussy's work so there is a lot to consider. I will start a "Discussion" this week.

                  March 2010

                • Denysbougalou

                  Hi Syater, could you tell us about your favourite performers, as for Debussy's piano music ? I recently discovered Jean Efflam Bavouzet's performances (Chandos) and I have to admit I was expecting worse! Actually I liked his playing the Images very much! I heard his Debussy on the occasion of a recital in a very small concert hall a few years ago and I thought he was very far from bad within French piano music (his Ravel is very good too).

                  March 2010

                • syater

                  A welcome to new members. Thanks for joining. I started it because it seemed to me the other Debussy group had wandered away from Debussy mostly - I didn't see any point in joining. Anyway, I'll be adding features as time allows. It seems the group radio is the trickiest part of group endeavors on Last.fm. It's an experiment, possibly useful.... let's see where it goes.

                  March 2010
                See all 6 shouts
                Debussy’s Group Radio

                Newest Members (4)


                Recent Activity