Recordings of Debussy playing some of his own works, both on piano rolls and acoustic records.
Playlist:
1. Danseuses de Delphes
This piece is number one in the first book of Préludes.
2. Le vent dans la plaine
This piece is number three in the first book of Préludes.
3. La cathédrale engloutie
This piece is number ten in the first book of Préludes.
4. La danse de Puck
This piece is number eleven in the first book of Préludes.
5. Minstrels
This piece is number twelve (the last) in the first book of Préludes.
6. La soirée dans Grenade
This evocative work is from the set of pieces called Estampes, composed in 1903.
7. La plus que lente
This work, "La plus que lente", is a very slow waltz of sorts, composed in 1910.
8. D'un cahier d'esquisses
The recordings above are 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.
9. Mes longs cheveux
10. Green
11. L'ombre des arbres
12. Il pleure dans mon coeur
Nos 9 to 12: "Ariettes Oubliées" (forgotten airs).
He made no solo piano acoustic recordings, only piano rolls. However, he was recorded as accompanist to the soprano Mary Garden, in 1904, performing some of his own vocal music.
