Interpreting Debussy: Clair de lune (tutorial)

Searching for the right sounds to evoke the magic of this music.

[@rodrigoefren7532]

Here I am, at 2am playing and watching to understand you, master. New sub from Mex.

[@JATP_]

I'm so happy that your channel popped in my recommendations. Thanks for pointing out the importance of showing the melody of the left hand too.

[@brendahunt4125]

Thanks so much, finally understand what I’m doing wrong now that I see you play it

[@profsjp]

Wonderful insights capturing the ‘sense’ of this special piece and technique for tackling it. Thank you.

[@coconutmilch2351]

Thank you very much! I’m excited to try out your tips :)!

[@magc3520]

Thank you for tutoring and sharing beautiful interpretation of Debussy's masterpiece. Very helpful pedaling tips!!

[@fionanogawa1730]

Thank you for such a helpful lesson - really great combination of technical advice and inspiration to bring out the beauty of the piece - thank you!

[@einaudienjoyer]

You’re a phenomenal instructor. I will be subscribing and watching more! Thank you

[@celderson734]

Awesome master class. Thank you for sharing.

[@Chris-xy9lm]

Only a genius could write a piece of music like this and you have to be pretty talented to play it

[@jbishoprwc]

That’s a really great tutorial for me. I am learning this piece, and this was extremely useful.

[@valvofolife]

I now have beautiful new insight into this piece. I will never listen to it the same again.

[@pianoinsights6092]

Thanks, John.

[@matthewgardner8034]

Finally someone breaks down 22:55. I appreciate it! This part has been killing me.

[@roxannecheatham57]

Absolutely! I had a heck of a time learning that section of the piece. Never fully mastered it. But I loved playing this piece. I prepared it for my college jury presentation, many years ago. Very challenging rhythms and fingerings. Still my all time fav.!

[@georgeclayton7466]

Really great video here! I’ve spent the last few weeks tackling it and the fingering tips really helped!

[@pianoinsights6092]

Thank, George. Much appreciated.

[@jgamez5023]

This is fantastic sir, thank you!

[@pianoinsights6092]

You're very welcome!

[@amyhood6562]

Thank you for this. I’m trying to pick the piano back up and can’t do actual lessons right now. I’ve started working on this and was unsure about my pedaling.

[@samshopp6245]

Thanks Clive! Really appreciate your approach, it's almost like sitting in a lecture on the subject. On top of that, I was specifically looking for some instruction on how to use the pedals, so it was a great relief to find you!

[@pianoinsights6092]

Thanks Sam. I'm glad you found me.

[@aatsw]

This popped up exactly one year plus 2 months after you published it, and I can do with some tuition on it in locked-down England. Perfect timing. Thanks! Would you please consider doing a tutorial on that Liszt transcription of Schubert Staenchen(serenade)?

[@pianoinsights6092]

Greetings back to England! Long may the lockdown NOT continue!! I'll look into the Liszt transcription.

[@bifeldman]

Very thoughtful.

[@tanyastephens3187]

Very informative....thank you.

[@luck-dono5205]

Thank you for the video! Do you have any tips on making the left hand appergios softer?

[@tetyanachorna8139]

❤️thanks

[@pianoinsights6092]

You're welcome, Tetyana

[@verandahpoly4773]

You can hear exactly what Debussy thought. Listen to his piano roll that he claimed was a perfect reproduction. It’s available. People now play it very differently.

[@nuscyg]

Thanks Clive for making this tutorial. I discovered it while learning this piece, and its helping me to make it sound nicer. If you don't mind, how do you play those rolled chords in the left hand against the notes in the right hand in measures 55 and 57? Are the chords rolled just on or just before the beat with the right hand following? Please help.

[@pianoinsights6092]

Before the beat sounds best, but you need to hold the fingers down until after the pedal change on the beat, otherwise you'll get fresh air instead of nice harmony!

[@Powerslider]

Great videos! Just 1 question, what is that clicky sound coming from your E-flat?

[@chrrycandy4669]

Hi this is a great video. Do you have any tips on how to play the arpeggiated chords (19:49) my hands are pretty small and I'm struggling with the chord on the left hand

[@pianoinsights6092]

Thanks, Mehak. Two things to think about : 1. as long as you catch the first two notes of the LH chords in the pedal, you don't have to hold all the notes down, only the top few, or even, none at all, the pedal will hold them all. 2. Get used to the distances between the notes by practicing them slowly. You are asking your fingers to place themselves in unusual and unfamiliar angles and positions, but they will get used to it with this slow 'programing' strategy. Think one finger at a time and scroll them up slowly. It will increase the flexibility of your fingers.

[@diegob-aimarketer]

Will you upload more videos? We miss you

[@pianoinsights6092]

Yes I promise, and thank you, that means a lot!

[@juliankeller5030]

How are you pedaling during the fast section...Just with the harmony? What about bar 33 and 37? And do you pedal for the quarter rest at the end of bar 30? Any help with pedaling would be wholly appreciated!

[@pianoinsights6092]

With the harmony mostly, but in bar 33 the texture needs to be clearer (ped changes on each note) for the 2nd and third beats where the melody appears in treble and bass in an ethereal string quartet-like sound. Measure 30 could be in one pedal (I like this), but you may prefer changing out on the last beat - either is good. In m. 37 I like to change on each beat because of the treble and bass moving up in parallel motion. Changing pedal emphasizes this wholesale melodic ascent, whereas leaving the pedal down would merely build up a harmonic sonority, which is an effect one often wants, but not here. Leave that to mm 41 and 42 where you can have one pedal only for each measure and enjoy harmonic saturation.

[@juliankeller5030]

Piano Insights thank you for that detailed response Clive, you are most helpful! I subscribed to your channel

[@ericcolacino1825]

At what points of the piece are you using the soft pedal? Is it only during the beginning before the big crescendo?

[@pianoinsights6092]

On a brightly voiced piano you can use it all the way to the 16th note section and then again after it. On a more mellow instrument you may have all the muting you need without soft pedal. But remember, use it for color and not dynamics. Some people make the mistake of playing quieter when using soft pedal. You want the more muted sound, but it still needs to have presence and warmth, and not sound surfacey.

[@ericcolacino1825]

@@pianoinsights6092 Thank you! I love your interpretation videos.

[@eduardomoran7757]

Now make a new video and play the whole piece without interruptions please please please !!! Thank you very much, sir. By the way thanks for the good pedal tutorial.

[@maquina7002]

paul barton?

[@nulieh6210]

Heyyy can you make something for begginers?

[@pianoinsights6092]

I might in future but not now. Try 'Jane', or search for other channels which specialize in beginners.

[@user-tn7yi9go6b]

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