Claude Debussy : just curious - do you prefer his piano or orchestral works?

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Debussy was one of 'those' pianists, gold medal at conservatoire, etc.

The body of literature for that instrument is intense, the preludes, especially the later batch, though 'temperamentally' some are light-humored.

The heavy duty and monumental piano opus, however, far less 'pretty' suggestive or popular, are the ETUDES - a full equal and counterpart / comment on the Chopin Etudes, they are remarkable, amazing, and generally a tour-de-force. Ignore them to your detriment.:

The orchestral works, though, are equally stunning

La Mer, of course, that monument of a true symphony hiding behind a red-herring title.

the Trois nocturnes, Nuages especially / The images for orchestra / the remarkable and abstract later work, the ballet "Jeux"

Prior the 1950's the composer was slightly dismissed within the hallowed halls of the music 'institution' and in tomes on music and great composers. The incredible craft and genius were later recognized - the music so outwardly 'pretty' and not seemingly driving a wedge into the conventions of the day that it was thought of as just 'pretty.'

His compositional strengths are now part and parcel of studying the best of early 20th century classical. It's calculated 'vagueness' now seen as a brilliant composer making some giant leaps in planning and manipulation of musical material - as prescient and genius as Beethoven planning his musical 'strategies.'

All 'Pop' sentiments aside, the composer thought of himself as a 'musical chemist,' who was constantly working in the lab discovering new harmonic formulae. All the vaporous and emotional gushing in reaction, the mistaken thought all the music is pictorial / illustrative, well, Bah! La mer may as well been a scientific essay on fluid dynamics, vs. a set of three postcards from the coast. It was composed while Debussy was ensconced deep inland, high up a mountain. The only 'ocean' he ever clapped eyes on was the Mediterranean....

Piano-biased as I can be at times, the orchestral music wins out overall, but those Etudes, my God!

If it is still floating around, Boulez and the New Philharmonia recorded the complete orchestral works, which I prefer over the second Boulez conducted complete orchestral works.

Do not miss out on the amazing early string quartet, nor those fantastic late sonatas, especially (imho and my taste) the Flute, harp and viola sonata and the 'cello and piano sonata.

Very strong composer, 'hidden' perhaps, like Chopin, behind an outwardly lovely and sensual aural canvas. IMHO, right up there with the other 'big boys' and just as high up on Olympus as Bach, Rameau - name your uber-composer hero - that's where Debussy belongs as well.


Best regards.

P.s. a link to the complete Janacek mass, original version, Maestro Boulez and a handful of Brits.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGNN-Cm3jig...Show more

Only because I'm an orchestra geek, I listen more to the orchestral works. I've never been a huge fan of solo piano music and don't listen to it as much as orchestral and chamber music (or even choral music).

Having said that, some of Debussy's piano works are remarkably original and I enjoy them enormously.

Primarily, though, it's ORCHESTRAL for me.

And, referring back to your accidentally-deleted Bartók question a while back, I listened to (and watched) his 3rd Piano Concerto from the Proms last night with András Schiff as soloist (eagerly awaiting the Janáček Sinfonietta). It only served to convince me that, to my ears, this is easily the composer's weakest and least characteristic work.

Mephy: The trumpets in the Sinfonietta were under-recorded and, therefore, not nearly as effective as they should be. However, all Mancunians should be proud of their fine international orchestra :-) And Mark Elder STILL remains somewhat underrated in my book....Show more

It's like asking me whether I prefer chocolate or chocolate. It both tastes the same. His music has such a light, tangy flavor. Like whipped lemon yogurt. I'm pretty hungry right now.

His orchestral works kind of feel like they float. It seduces you quietly. It's just so goddamn French, I cannot get enough of it. He has a personality. You can immediately tell it's Debussy when you hear one of his preludes, one of his choral works, one of his sonatas. I really love his chamber music - I wish you'd given that as an option. I think of the third movement to his Petite Suite for four hands whenever I hear a perfect fifth. I also enjoy his cello sonata. So majestic. Like Pegasus. And the fifth prelude from book 1 is my favorite of his solo piano works. It sounds like feathers. And flying. And hot air balloons. I enjoy weird similes....Show more

Definitely his orchestral works; but then I'm very biased in this way - even though Wagner's my favorite of all composers, I look upon his operas/music dramas as basically orchestral scores: the human voices or just another form of instruments.

My favorites of Debussy's compositions for orchestra, are his "Three Images/Nocturnes".

Alberich...Show more

I am an orchestra fan so I thoroughly enjoy Debussy's orchestral works such as "Le Mer", "Nocturnes", "Images" etc. How I wish he had orchestrated more of his piano compositions. Andre Caplet, a contemporary of his, orchestrated some with the approval of the composer. Niels Rosing-Schow has orchestrated 14 of Debussy's piano preludes. I hope to purchase the disc sometime soon so I can enjoy more of his works in colorful orchestral garb....Show more