Debussy

Claude Debussy - La puerta del vino, No. 3 from Preludes, Book 2

La Puerta del Vino (The Gate of Wine) refers to the traditional meeting place of the Romani people of Granada - one of the entrances to the Alhambra Palace. The composer had received a postcard of the famous gate, supposedly from Manuel de Falla, and told Alfred Cortot, “I will do something with that.” Debussy responded with a colourful work overflowing with Spanish sentiment, including an incessant habañera rhythm and flamenco-like melodies, “with sudden contrasts of extreme violence and passionate tenderness.” Performance Video lesson ... Read >>

Debussy - Page d’album, L133

ABRSM Grade 6 – B2

Debussy’s exquisitely crafted late miniature calls for delicacy of touch and sensitivity to the frequent changes in tempo (effectively written-out rubato). The player who chooses this piece will find the piece growing on them as they finesse it - an eye and an ear for detail are absolute requirements. Resources & links Piano Exam Pieces 2021 & 2022, Grade 6 is available from the ABRSM online shop here. Click here to view open domain editions for these works (external link). ... Read >>

Debussy - Arabesque No. 2 (from Deux arabesques, L. 66)

ABRSM Grade 8 - C2

Debussy’s two arabesques are from his early period, before he became influenced by Impressionism. Arabesque No. 2 requires a certain deftness (lightness) of touch to bring out the balletic qualities in the piece. The pedalling is too subtle for the player to notate in the score (Debussy famously didn’t even try), calling for light touches here and there to add colour and resonance. Certain spots (bars 42 and 82, for example) call for longer pedals to sustain the harmony, the rests are not to be taken literally here but instead indicate to play the surrounding notes lightly. ... Read >>

Claude Debussy - La cathédrale engloutie, No. 10 from Preludes, Book 1

La cathédrale engloutie (The Sunken Cathedral) from the first book of Preludes, is one of Debussy’s most popular and well-known works. Inspired by a Breton legend where a sunken cathedral rises above the ocean before receding, Debussy created a piece filled with grandeur, mystery and majesty. Pentatonic and modal scales, dynamic extremes, and playing of sevenths and chords with open intervals all contribute to the engrossing landscape of this extraordinary piece. In this video lesson, Fred Karpoff shows how to create a wide tonal palette, interpret the composer’s oft-misunderstood meter markings, pedal imaginatively and much more! ... Read >>

Claude Debussy - Feux d'artifice, No. 12 from Preludes, Book 2

Feux d’artifice (Fireworks) is the final piece of Debussy’s second book of Préludes, and the most overtly flashy. Paul Roberts asserts that “virtuoso music should sound and look daring,” and that Feux d’artifice “is audacious in every sense, musically, technically, and theatrically.” Indeed, the music seems to not only depict actual fireworks but also embodies the notion of pianistic fireworks. In this video lesson, Fred Karpoff demonstrates how to clear the many hurdles of Feux d’artifice with ease, ranging from imaginative retaking of notes to facilitate jumps, arpeggios, and glissandi to producing sparkling sound, clarity, and daring sonic and pedalling... Read >>

Debussy - The Girl with the Flaxen Hair

La fille aux cheveux de lin (The Girl with the Flaxen Hair) is among Debussy’s best-loved works for the piano. Despite its apparent simplicity, it is deceptively difficult to bring off. This walkthrough with accompanying annotated study edition gives practical solutions to the numerous problems the pedalling in the work... Read >>

Claude Debussy - Clair de lune (No. 3 from Suite bergamasque, L. 75)

Preview (please log-in or subscribe to see full video) Resources & links Click here to download a Fred's marked score for this work or Click here to view open domain editions. ... Read >>

Claude Debussy - Brouillards, No.1 from Preludes, Book 2

Brouillards (Fog) opens Debussy’s second book of Preludes in a murky mist of sound. The composer accomplishes this with bitonality, evident from the outset with the juxtaposition of both C and C-Sharp as key centers. The piece offers a wide range of possibilities to employ the damper pedal to create exotic sonorities and effects. Alternating between 'foggy' landscapes and flashes of brilliance, Brouillards offers interpretive and technical challenges, yet Debussy’s writing—even of rapid arpeggios—is always pianistic! Performance Video lesson Preview (please log-in or subscribe... Read >>

Claude Debussy - Bruyères, No.5 from Preludes, Book 2

Bruyères (Heather) is the 'sister' prelude of The Girl With the Flaxen Hair from Debussy’s first book of Preludes. Both pieces are highly accessible for audiences; some might even describe them as 'easy listening'. A pastoral character is apparent from the outset in each, using mostly diatonic elements. Performance Video lesson Preview (please log-in or subscribe to see full video) Resources & links Click here to download Fred's marked score for this work or click... Read >>