Debussy’s early piano works
SCRIPT
TRACK 1:
Danse
Bohemienne
Welcome to Classical Break. I’m Rupert Kirkham. We opened
today’s programme with Danse Bohemienne, by Claude Debussy, played by Monique Haas.
Born 102 years ago, Monique Haas started her career at the Paris
Conservatoire in the 1920’s. She was one of the world’s finest exponents of
French 20th century piano music, especially that of Debussy, whose
early compositions for piano we are to hear her play today. Debussy had
attended the Paris Conservatoire too, in 1872, at the age of ten, and he spent
eleven years there.
Monique Haas died in 1987 and today’s music comes from a CD
which has been hailed as one of the best recordings of Debussy’s piano music
ever.
Next, 2 Arabesques composed between the years 1888 and 1891,
when Debussy was still in his twenties. (28)
TRACK 2 & 3:
Two Arabesques
Historically, Debussy is known for being something of a
rebel in composition. In the second part of his career, after 1900, he
challenged the previous generation’s concepts of tonality and structure and
became an enormous influence on those classical composers who followed. The
piano works in today’s programme come from his early period, before he became
famous and really started to rattle his cage! Here are 3 more compositions, all
written in 1890, when he was 28.
Reverie, Tarantelle Styrienne and Valse Romantique.
TRACK 4, 5, 6:
Reverie,
Tarantelle Styrienne, Valse Romantique
The next two pieces, played by Monique Haas, Nocturne and Mazurka, come
from the same period as the music we just heard – around 1890.
The Nocturne has hints of Liszt in the opening, and of Massenet
and perhaps even Fauré, in its thematic lushness.
The Mazurka shows the strong influence of Chopin, Debussy's
piano teacher was a student of Chopin, and it could be that the Mazurka was
intended as an homage.
TRACK 7, 8:
Nocturne, Mazurka
The Suite Bergamasque is one of the most famous piano suites by Claude
Debussy. Although Debussy commenced the suite in 1890 – he certainly did a lot
of work in 1890 - but he didn’t finish or publish it until 1905 by which time it
had been significantly revised.
It seems that by the time a publisher came to Debussy in
order to cash in on his fame and have these pieces published, Debussy loathed
the earlier piano style in which these pieces were written. While it is not
known how much of the Suite was written in 1890 and how much was written in
1905, we do know that Debussy changed the names of at least two of the pieces.
In this recording, the pieces are, Prelude, Menuet, Claire
de Lune and Passepied.
TRACK 9, 10, 11 & 12:
Prelude, Menuet, Claire de Lune and
Passepied.
Our final piece today is taken from Debussy’s 1901
composition, Pour le Piano. It’s the final movement of three, Toccata. The
piece is poised and energetic, extroverted and graceful, demanding unflappable
technique and poise on the part of the pianist.
It has been said that this piece gives us the message that
Debussy has mastered the piano's unique language on his own terms. It certainly
points to his later work and was first performed as the composer finally became
a real celebrity in the world of classical composition.
We hope you’ve enjoyed today’s programme of Debussy’s early piano
music, played by the French pianist, Monique Haas. Until next time, I’m Rupert Kirkham and this has been Classical Break, Goodbye.
Pour le Piano – Toccata
58m
ends
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