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Ravel playing Ravel, Debussy playing Debussy true or not?

5K views 9 replies 9 participants last post by  crispi 
#1 ·
Can anyone kindly help confirm if there are any recordings available of Ravel playing Ravel, Debussy playing Debussy, the actual composers playing their own compositions with proof of authenticity? thank you
 
#2 ·
Well since it was before recording equipment. Not so true. There is one piano roll of Debussy playing his "sunken cathedral" which is quite interesting to look at because of his very free metric style. I have not heard of anything from Ravel (Ravel did not play later in his life).
 
#4 ·
I don't know about how to give proof, but I own a record of Ravel playing Ravel on a player piano. It's got the standard Ravel piano stuff: something from the tomb of Couperin, the hangman movement from Gaspard de la Nuit, and the pavane, along with some other things. It's really great to listen to.

As for Ravel not playing in his later years... I though he was touring pretty close to his death? I'm not sure if memory serves me well here...
 
#5 · (Edited)
That is fascinating. So you're saying that these are real, legitimate recordings and not just piano rolls? Because we all know that Ravel did a few piano rolls. If you talk about a real recording (that most likely has heavy amounts of static), I would love to hear more about this. How did you obtain such a recording? I would assume it is very rare, is it not?

EDIT: Ah, just realized you said "player piano" which is most often associated with piano rolls. Of which Ravel recorded quite a few.
 
#8 ·
I have the Debussy, but some of it won't play as the record sustained a crack during its journey. From what does play, you can tell that Debussy was a great pianist. Not a world-class concert pianist, but extremely accomplished. As you would expect, from his incredible output for the instrument. One of his secrets was that he kept the dynamics low most of the time, so that the climaxes could stand out. And of course there is his unique use of the pedals, and how he played as if his fingers went into the keys, not just over their surface. As if they directly contacted the strings of the piano. No one had ever played the piano quite like that. He certainly was a unique fellow.
 
#9 · (Edited)
#10 ·
Great thread. Thanks for letting us know these exist. I had heard of them before but never thought of checking them out.

I guess the improvisational way Debussy plays these pieces hints towards the way pianists from Alfred Cortot’s era would play, taking a lot of liberties with the score. It’s something I like. Every musician who does that nowadays gets blasted for it. But then again, on the other hand, some people criticise musicians for sticking TOO much to the score, thus apparently making it sound bland. Damned if they do—damned if they don’t.
 
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