How Hamelin overcame his fear of Debussy 🫢 | Marc-André Hamelin

Pianist Marc André Hamelin shares a tip for how to play Debussy's Reflets Dans l'Eau, from Images Book 1.
tonebase gives you instant access to knowledge from the world's greatest classical musicians, performers, and educators. Learn more by visiting tonebase.co/piano
Facebook - / tonebasepiano
Instagram - / tonebasepiano
Questions? Contact us: [e-mail]

[@SessionsWithMike]

"Whatever kind of instrument you're presented with, you'll make it work." What a quote and affirmation!

[@donaldaxel]

I wish he would assess my piano, and I wish I could get a pro piano tech to improve it just a little. But honestly, I think March-André Hamelin would have some trouble to make it work in Debussy's "Reflets dans L'eau". Perhaps not so much that he would give up but there are pianos which are easier to play on. I noted that Valentina Lisitsa could play some of rapid repeating notes on an old upright piano. They can be tuned and regulated so that they are fit for playing "good music". However, when Hamelin talks about "whatever kind of instrument", I think he is firmly in the world on concert prepared grands.

[@Danilo8208SS]

As a life long musician and vintage instrument dealer, I’ve owned so many “holy grail” pianos, synthesizers, and guitars. I can tell you from experience, it’s almost never the instrument that make the music special.

[@JerryEboy69]

Sometimes I prefer Fazioli over Steinway (concert grands) depending on the composer and ultimately the piece

[@tabor503]

@@JerryEboy69I hate Steinway

[@JerryEboy69]

@@tabor503 Alr thanks for your opinion ig… steinway is my fav after testing a ton

[@ciararespect4296]

I love steinway bluthner Baldwin bosendorfer bechstein mason and Hamlin grotrian steinweg fazioli some yamaha grands. But now I play concerts on a Casio dp ​@@tabor503

[@michellemonet4358]

Agreed.

[@vodkat07]

Hamelin can make anything work!

[@DVindoge]

Using the left hand to help out with phrasing and shaping for the melody is genius

[@j.davidtaylor2565]

I was never afraid of Debussy but I definitely didn't know the stakes the way he does. So insightful

[@DaMonster]

This is so beautiful, it got me 🥺 I love this piece. They are like reflections

[@nezkeys79]

Still blown away with his Un Sospiro

[@fredericom.8965]

Esse "desenho" na partitura em arcos das ligaduras de expressão... faz a partitura em si linda... e é caracteristica de Debussy... Arabesque... Claire de Lune... e Reflects... lindo trabalho de Debussy... esse especificamente me lembra pedras sendo jogadas num lago e criancas brincando na agua também

[@JakubLebioda]

His voice is matching to D-flat major chord on words: "very interesting TO see" 😊 the whole video he is generally in D-flat major, which is funny

[@ALF8892]

Images set I. Very nice

[@oxoelfoxo]

what kind of instrument do you need for Debussy?

[@DavidEzequielPerez]

Good question☝️

[@kellybblair]

As Marc-Andre Hamelin said in the video, “Whatever kind of instrument you’re presented, you make it work.”

[@chillmemes5865]

A harmonica

[@chillmemes5865]

And don’t forget your bassoon as well

[@pacifist1360]

Piano

[@cornboy7424]

deboooosey

[@hcab14]

As a french musician, I can tell you his prononciation was almost perferct x)

[@BlueSteve]

I never knew Debussy's works are that abstract

[@tomt3956]

The pianist is good with Debussy...

[@pianistsdream]

Agree, but the grand piano with missing pedals was a really big challenge. Luckily I was a student at the time and thought I could do anything.

[@yuk_notkim7658]

Ngl I'm still scared of Debussy lol. I've only played his Golliwog's Cakewalk

[@theamaturepro]

I wonder if anyone actually knows how to pronounce Debussy correctly, or as he himself said it? There's nothing wrong with how anyone says it, his name isn't why he's remembered, but everyone seems to find their own unique way.

[@keman4913]

What's the name of the piece?

[@cbooth2004]

“Reflets dans l’Eau” from _Images_, Book I, by Claude Debussy. It means “Reflections on the Water,” from a group of compositions intended to evoke images through music-a sort of musical Impressionism.

[@keman4913]

@cbooth2004 Thanks so much for your answer! Have a great day

[@bolshevi3187]

Which piece was he playing?

[@vcupiano]

Images book 1 Reflets Dans L’eau

[@user-yt3uh3qp6z]

From which video is this taken from?

[@tonebasePiano]

This comes from Hamelin’s course on Tonebase called “5 Little Epiphanies”! You can find it in the link in the video description!

[@RudyCouto]

This subtitles style is a disgrace. It literally made my eyes hurt. Just our normal subtitles like in the movies and not this nonsense

[@ChanceBloodstoner]

I for one am a huge fan of da bussy

[@MarketGarden87]

Sounds like a cat walking on a piano…

[@tonebasePiano]

That’s one elegant cat!

[@Earaem]

Ποιος είναι αυτός;

[@Jartious]

Τον λένε Marc Andre Hamelin

[@allanjmcpherson]

From every US state? Marc-Andre Hamelin is from Canada ....