Debussy : Children’s Corner (Ivan Moravec)

[@sean_michael_kenny]

My initial thoughts when Dr. Gradus ad Parnassum started: "wow, this is slower than I expected". And what a great choice it was, the clarity and reservedness REALLY made the finale work in a way I've never heard before. What a payoff.

[@prototropo]

Yes--I always raced through it, such that the gorgeous harmonies were a blur.

[@ced1401]

By far my favorite rendition of those pieces. The slow tempo can be surprising at first, but after a few seconds you quickly understand that this choice allows Moravec to express each note and each indication absolutely perfectly. His expression here is unmatched in my opinion. Thanks for sharing.

[@user-ob6oc6kx6g]

Dr. Gradus Ad Parnassum is so so beautiful.. The arpeggios sounds very delightful. Smooth and relaxing. That's the impressionist. I can see the light when I listen to these interpretations.

[@understandingmusic6620]

That Wagner quote from around 15:15 with the sarcastic "avec une grande émotion" is hilarious. Really special recording, too

[@leonardosilva6669]

Thanks for pointing that out!1 ❤

[@m.a.g.3920]

He hated German music, he was indeed sarcastic. In my opinion is the genius of the XX century. Ravel, Skriabin, Messiaen, and others built some more or in a different direction the harmonic cathedral, but Debussy innovated in all areas including Melody and rhythms

[@blackmage1276]

@@m.a.g.3920 Satie too

[@LightSearch]

​@@m.a.g.3920Scriabin followed his own path, it's not easy to find hints of Debussy influence in his music.

[@timotheuspeter734]

Mostly true, and this instance here is certainly a parody of Tristan. However, Debussy did love Wagner‘s Parsifal and even called it “one of the most beautiful monuments to have ever been erected for the eternal glory of music.”

[@ADayWithoutYesterday]

The best Children's Corner I've heard.

[@arsmelancholiae]

Definitely!!!

[@carmenfonseca1270]

l totally agree

[@axelx4770]

Meaningless comment. Because you haven’t said how many you’ve heard.

[@ADayWithoutYesterday]

@@axelx4770 I've listened to about a dozen or so. The above rendition speaks to me. It may not speak to you if your tastes are different.

[@archgod_yt2431]

The Serenade by Moravec...........gave me another reason to love the piano. To think one can create magic from just his fingers.......I think I can die happily having heard this performance. Although a bit on the slow side from the other recordings I've heard, Moravec's touch is simply out of this world. The Serenade For The Doll evokes a vivid colourful imagery in my mind, like a cascade of colours swirling in a dense fog. Ah, words can't describe the rest that comes after, because it's simply a transcendental experience. Thank you.

[@lucas__machado]

Your comment really touches me because I feel the same about this serenade. The mood inspired by this little piece is indescribable by words, there's so much atmospheres that appear throughout it. And Moravec is absolutely marvelous here. Sharing your thoughts and feelings

[@MuseDuCafe]

Just Wonderful! The choice of tempi is really superb. Claudio Arrau often, too, took a slower tempo in a lot of rep, allowing the music to breathe, time for a greater depth of tone, and somehow, with masters like these, there is really no feeling of loss of a forward momentum.

[@Don-md6wn]

For those who are new to Ivan Moravec, the Supraphon label put out a box titled "Portrait" that has 11 CDs and 1 DVD. Some of the recordings were originally on Supraphon, others like his Connoisseur Society recordings from the 1960's were licensed. Composers include Beethoven, Mozart, Chopin, Schumann, Brahms, Debussy, Ravel, Franck, Janacek, Smetana and Martinu (on CD, the DVD also has a performance of Prokofiev's first piano concerto). Sound quality is extremely good, remarkable on the Connoisseur Society recordings given their age. The box includes this recording of Children's Corner. It does not include Moravec's superb recording of Chopin's Nocturnes, but they are available on a 2 disc set from Supraphon that is still in print.

[@musicfanBRA]

Great tempo, neither too slow nor too fast. And many thanks for the score.

[@ronl7131]

Moravec, some very good recordings. High level Artistry

[@Cubanbearnyc]

Logical and musical..... most of the other recordings sound like finger exercises by Hanon, Bravissimo !

[@bertrandheraud8566]

c'est bien,sensible...difficile de dire a quel tempo le dr gradus se promene le mieux....

[@theunknown617]

Moravec and Michelangeli have the best interpretation of this piece

[@lucas__machado]

I agree with you. May I advise you listening to Samson françois as well :)

[@justins4996]

Thank you

[@litoboy5]

Great

[@user-ro4ct9ds5k]

❤

[@rainchen7846]

Is this a good piece for a beginner to work on?

[@abcrtzyn]

I would say no. Debussy creates so much texture in these small pieces that it can be hard for a beginner to make it sound especially good. I played through the pieces a few days ago after not having touched them in a year and noticed a lot of stuff that I could have done better. Besides dynamics, articulation and pedal textures, Debussy provides several sections where one has to play staccato and legato at the same time with one hand, sometimes to contrast two melody lines. Those can be especially hard.

[@SoundRoshi]

Depends on what you mean by beginner, but probably not. I would say these pieces are at least mid-to-late intermediate in difficulty, and are nuanced enough to make even master pianists have to think hard.

[@luden6794]

I think Debussy created this piece mostly by an impression of Mussorgsky's music..

[@lucas__machado]

Interesting statement, I've always found this piece to be particular in Debussy's legacy. It is very unique in sonority, form and inspiration

[@Whatismusic123]

that explains why it's so poorly composed.

[@tedbo1819]

Piano needs tuning.

[@juicedelemon]

no you’re used to your out-of-tune piano

[@bloodgrss]

I think your brain did...

[@WinrichNaujoks]

Everything too quiet and too slow.

[@solarean]

Yeah, uhhh go back to la campanella mate.