Claude Debussy (1862-1918): "La danse de Puck"

The composer Claude Debussy needs little introduction. As a pianist, he was noted for his avoidance of the crisp, dry and articulated style which typified French pianism of the nineteenth century. His style of playing was simple, highly tone-conscious and completely uncluttered by over-expressive angst.

This piece is number eleven in the first book of Préludes. The recording is a piano roll recording made by Debussy for Welte in 1913 (just three years after the work was composed). The piano rolls for Welte are amongst the most accurate we have, conveying the original performed dynamics, attack and pedalling rather faithfully, and when a good roll is played on a properly conditioned piano, the problems of dubious rhythmic bumpiness which infect many roll playbacks can vanish. This rendition seems as fine as we could hope for.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Claude
• Debussy
• piano
• recording
• classical
• La
• danse
• de
• Puck
• Préludes
• Book
• no.11

[ipmoic]

Obviously the speed is correct because the pitches are! Debussy's playing is full of spirit and color. Nothing languid or overly self-indulgent.

[d60944]

No - it is possible to play a piano roll back at any speed you like, without altering the pitches. However, these Debussy rolls seem to be quite accurate in their specified speeds in general, and there is no real reason to worry about the tempo being used here.

[NancyGorman]

=D did you read that in Midnight?

[Nexodaedalus]

I think it's phenomenal that we have access to such historical treasures. It's almost as good as having the composer standing right in front of you.

[angile7]

@NancyGorman Yep! :D

[FindingNemoRox]

I could say that I know every word you guys are talking about, but I honestly have no idea....(rolls? pitches?)

BUT,

I like this song. It's pretty.

:P

[NancyGorman]

Me too X}

[kirstyasher2]

love that book :)

[ASirensSoliloquy]

Beautiful.

[marcxopoco]

A beautiful atmosphere comes through.

Wonderful use of the pedal, use of dynamics, and constant small changes of momentum based on what each phrase is doing.

Notice the variety of tonal quality (sonority, loudness-softness) he can get on single melodic notes, depending on what he wants to do at any moment.

[BohemianRelapse]

Beautiful!

[ipmoic]

Thank you so much d60944 for clarifying the ability to speed up piano rolls without changing pitch. I still don't understand how it's done but I'm fairly mechanically challenged.

I adore these piano rolls. There is so much of his personality and musical intention that comes through regardless of the far from perfect medium.