Track Listings

1	Préludes (12) for piano, Book I, L. 117: Danseuses de Delphes
2	Préludes (12) for piano, Book I, L. 117: La cathédrale engloutie
3	Préludes (12) for piano, Book I, L. 117: La danse de Puck
4	Préludes (12) for piano, Book I, L. 117: Minstrels
5	Préludes (12) for piano, Book I, L. 117: Le vent dans la plaine
6	La plus que lente, waltz for piano (or orchestra), L. 121
7	Estampes, for piano, L. 100: La soirées dans Grenade
8	Children's Corner, suite for piano (or orchestra), L. 113: Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum
9	Children's Corner, suite for piano (or orchestra), L. 113: Jimbo's Lullaby
10	Children's Corner, suite for piano (or orchestra), L. 113: Serenade for the Doll
11	Children's Corner, suite for piano (or orchestra), L. 113: The Snow is Dancing
12	Children's Corner, suite for piano (or orchestra), L. 113: The Little Shepherd
13	Children's Corner, suite for piano (or orchestra), L. 113: Golliwog's Cake Walk
14	D'un cahier d'esquisses, for piano, L. 99
15	Pelléas et Mélisande, opera in 5 acts, L. 88: Mes longs cheveux
16	Ariettes oubliées (6), song cycle for voice & piano, L. 60: Green
17	Ariettes oubliées (6), song cycle for voice & piano, L. 60: L'ombre des Arbres
18	Ariettes oubliées (6), song cycle for voice & piano, L. 60: Il pleure dans mon coeur

Product details

Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.61 x 0.45 x 4.99 inches; 3.52 Ounces
Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ Pierian
Original Release Date ‏ : ‎ 2000
Date First Available ‏ : ‎ January 8, 2007
Label ‏ : ‎ Pierian
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00005IC03
Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1

Best Sellers Rank: #44,508 in CDs & Vinyl (See Top 100 in CDs & Vinyl)
- #34 in Classical Character Pieces
- #129 in Classical Suites
- #810 in Chamber Music (CDs & Vinyl)

Customer Reviews:
4.6 31 ratings

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4.6 out of 5

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John Thoren

Excellent audio quality brings the composer to life

Reviewed in the United States on July 1, 2023

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Debussy's rendition of his own works here is quite different from how other masters have played his work. He is much more matter-of-fact, a bit quicker, and does not dwell on making the music sound "romantic" or "impressionistic". A fascinating CD, and knowing it's the composer himself ads "something special" to the experience of listening to it.

Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2009

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I had known that Debussy had performed a few piano rolls before he died, shortly before the victory against the German's during World War One. It was sad to know that he passed before the knowledge of that inevitable victory for his country.
Piano rolls was the only source close to any composers treatment of actual performances of their own compositions. The special thing about piano rolls over transcriptions is that it can be applied to new and current technology so that it sounds like it was recorded yesterday on the finest concert grand piano.
There is a new CD of Debussy's entire piano roll performances, similar to this. But this CD is slightly superior in sound quality in that the microphone placement is slightly closer to the soundboard, making the overall sound up close and a little more intimate that the current release, which almost has the sound of it being in a high school auditorium. The fault here is that you don't really hear the richness of the piano as apposed to the distant and interfering acoustics of wherever the recording was made.
There's a new technology out only in the past few years where you can now take a scratchy, old and even worn recorded disc and transfer that information into a computer software and then take the next step and translate that information onto what can only be described as a brand new piano roll that can be applied to whatever grand piano the producer of this technology wants. Thus old recordings of solo piano performances can sound absolutely brand new. This was recently done with an Art Tatum performance from 1948 that was released originally as an old and worn record. Now it sounds brand spanking new as if Art was around today, around over a half century after his death. What's more amazing about this technology is that the next step may be to actually take a multiple instrumental recording, anylize and break down the frequencies of the various instruments and re-mix them into new and even stereophonic recordings. It would be nice to see this in my lifetime and I hope it happens. I'm 56.
Debussy is my favorite classical composer and very underated compared to the other masters like Bach,, Beethoven, Mozart and the other more accepted standard artists. Someday he'll get his due. Fortunately for now we have these recordings of the piano rolls. Invaluable.

23 people found this helpful

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feather pen

Beautiful

Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2012

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How eerie to hear him play his own music. Found this startling recording by chance, as he died in 1917? 1918? and who thought anyone had recorded anything by him! Warmth of tone, smooth and emphatic dynamics, the mastery confirms what I have read how he sight read 'The Rite of Spring' to play with Igor, when Stravinsky brought the score to try out. The ease and command of the instrument come through in an inspiring way. Too bad the Prix de Rome was such an ordeal for him, though all that study developed his astonishing abilities for composition. Did you know he worked for Mme von Meck, ~ Tchaikovsky's erstwhile patron~to play piano with her children ? Luckily her daughter was too grand for young Claude, and he went back to Paris. I have read master musicians state his 'Pelleas and Melisande' is one of the finest and most innovative pieces of the 20th C, though I have yet to appreciate it, as the piano music takes me away.
This is from another world. Don't expect edited perfection of recording you get in digital nowadays, but this is the heart and soul.

8 people found this helpful

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rw24

sublime

Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2021

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fabulous collection; L O V E it & quickly becoming a Top 3 favorite.

Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2013

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For years I have heard this music played by so many wonderful interpreters (Gieseking, Michaelangeli, Roge, Entrement, and my personal favorite, Ivan Moravec). I have a great personal attraction to Debussy's music, but especially his piano music: to finally hear a recording played by the hands of the composer, is truly a revelation. There is an intangible something in these recordings that simply can't be found in any other recorded version. (Side note: the fidelity of the recording itself, is remarkable.)

10 people found this helpful

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sixty something

... how Debussy played his own piano music is quite wonderful!!

Reviewed in the United States on July 2, 2018

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To hear how Debussy played his own piano music is quite wonderful !!!

One person found this helpful

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Sören Unge

Just historical and not necessary for interpretation.

Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2015

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It was interesting to listen the mechanical recording, which probably not is how Debussy really played.
Another thing: the CD-case was destroyed, probably by the handling by the post.

2 people found this helpful

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art enthusiast

Impress your friends!

Reviewed in the United States on September 17, 2007

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I was the hit of the party. My friends were highly impressed by hearing the master himself play. I think I went up three steps on the social ladder with this one. Dale Carnegie would have been proud of me. Now I want to try out the Ravel. Anyone out there heard that one?

2 people found this helpful

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Antonio Ronchi

Tutte le esecuzioni su rullo di Debussy correttamente riprodotte

Reviewed in Italy on November 22, 2017

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Le registrazioni Pierian costituiscono quanto di meglio possa essere reperibile per questo genere di prodotto. Come prima cosa la scelta dei migliori rulli Welte, il metodo di registrazione più evoluto del periodo, in grado di riprodurre ogni sfumatura di tocco e dinamica dell'esecutore. Inoltre, la riproduzione del rullo non utilizza un autopiano ovvero un apparato da applicare alla tastiera di un pianoforte qualsiasi come la maggior parte di queste incisioni, ma usa un Freulich, costruttore di fiducia di Welte, dei primi anni del '900 in piena efficienza, completo di apparato originale di riproduzione integrato nello strumento. Infine la tecnica di registrazione è di alta fedeltà e utilizza tecniche di presa del suono e apparati di vecchia scuola che garantiscono una fedeltà assoluta. E' come essere accanto a Debussy mentre incide il rullo con le sue composizioni.

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Boronali

Comment s'approcher de Debussy au piano.

Reviewed in France on May 1, 2012

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Enfin, peut-être, un disque qui donne un aperçu de la manière de Debussy. La différence est importante entre celui-ci et les autres utilisant le système reproducteur Welte Mignon. Une notice technique très détaillée, fort bien faite, donne l'explication: tout est dans le réglage délicat du système Welte Mignon, dont un vrai travail historique a permis de retrouver la science. On a l'impression de comprendre enfin un peu ce que voulait dire Marguerite Long en parlant de la manière très particulière qu'avait Debussy de manier son clavier.
Disque qui n'intéressera pas le grand public, mais que tous les passionnés de piano de Deussy devraient avoir entendu.
Les quelques dernières séquences chantées sont par contre mauvaises et ne présentent qu'un intérêt historique.

2 people found this helpful

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BM

This CD is absolutely amazing. On get to hear the actual composer on ...

Reviewed in Canada on July 14, 2014

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This CD is absolutely amazing. On get to hear the actual composer on the piano just as if he were in your living room. The sound is intimate, not the kind you would get from a concert hall or a recording studio. It feel real. It also provides the real intent of the composer in the interpretation of his own music. Quite refreshing, and sometimes quite different from we are used to hear from modern pianists for the same pieces.

I simply love it and recommend it to anybody!

One person found this helpful

ＬＩＮ

まとまっているのがよい

Reviewed in Japan on February 14, 2021

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いずれも既発であるが、ピアノロールと録音が両方入っているのがありがたい。

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Luc P.

Passionnant

Reviewed in France on July 14, 2015

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Bien évidemment, la fidélité des rnregistrements ouleaux est sujette à caution,notamment pour ce qui est de la restitution du rythme et de la dynamique un oeu limitée. Mais quand il s'agit de Debussy lui-même interprétant ses propres oeuvre, il y a toujours quelque chose à découvrir.
Et on découvre dans ce disque une certaine liberté de tempos et surtout cette recherche d'une sonorité moelleuse qui fait oublier les marteaux du piano et restitue atmosphère si particulière de l'univers sonore de Debussy. Passionnant.

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Claude Debussy: The Composer as Pianist The Caswell Collection, Vol. 1

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