Debussy's sublime summer prelude, 'La Fille aux Cheveux de Lin'.

The indicated 'Très calm et doucement expresiff' (Very calm and gentle in expressiveness) is quietly asserting tranquility. This is a piece to be savoured and experienced like a summer's gentle breeze; incentivised by the source for the prelude - the poem that bears the identical title of the prelude, written by Charles-Marie-René Leconte de Lisle in the mid-19th century (published in 1874). It is said that Debussy found the inspiration for the prelude within the poem, but for me, the prelude is almost a musical transcription of the poem. I include both the English translation (Laura L. Nagle, 2007) of Lisle's poem, and the original French version as well, below. Read the poem whilst listening to the recording and you will find more than a serendipitous likeness!  
____________________

The girl with the flaxen hair

Who sits upon the blooming lucerne,  
Singing from the earliest morn?  
It is the girl with the flaxen hair,  
The beauty with cherry-red lips.

Love, in the bright summer sun,  
Sang with the lark.

Your mouth has divine colours,
 My dear, and is tempting to kiss!
  Do you wish to chat upon the blooming grasses,  
Girl with long lashes and delicate curls?

Love, in the bright summer sun,  
Sang with the lark.

Do not say no, cruel girl!
  Do not say yes! I shall better understand  
A long gaze from your large eyes  
And your pink lips, o my beauty!

Love, in the bright summer sun,  
Sang with the lark.

Farewell to the deer, farewell to the hares  
And the red partridges!  I wish 
To kiss the flax of your hair,  
To press upon the crimson of your lips!

Love, in the bright summer sun,  
Sang with the lark.
  ____________________

La fille aux cheveux de lin

Sur la luzerne en fleur assise,  
Qui chante dès le frais matin?
  C'est la fille aux cheveux de lin,
  La belle aux lèvres de cerise.

L'amour, au clair soleil d'été,  
Avec l'alouette a chanté.

Ta bouche a des couleurs divines,  
Ma chère, et tente le baiser!  
Sur l'herbe en fleur veux-tu causer,  
Fille aux cils longs, aux boucles fines?

L'amour, au clair soleil d'été,  
Avec l'alouette a chanté.

Ne dis pas non, fille cruelle!  
Ne dis pas oui! J'entendrai mieux
  Le long regard de tes grands yeux
  Et ta lèvre rose, ô ma belle!

L'amour, au clair soleil d'été,
  Avec l'alouette a chanté.

Adieu les daims, adieu les lièvres  
Et les rouges perdrix! Je veux
  Baiser le lin de tes cheveux,  
Presser la pourpre de tes lèvres!

L'amour, au clair soleil d'été,
  Avec l'alouette a chanté.
  ____________________  
Charles-Marie-René Leconte de Lisle (1818 - 1894), "La fille aux cheveux de lin", from Poèmes antiques, in 'Chansons écossaises'
illustration: Monet - Monet - 'Woman with a Parasol, facing right', 1886, Musée D'Orsay, Paris

Claude Debussy - Prelude in G flat major - no. 8 from Book 1: 'La Fille aux Cheveux de Lin'

Claude Debussy: Rêverie

Kreisler-Rachmaninoff: Liebesleid played by Rachmaninoff 1923, on Ampico piano roll 62103. which scanned and converted into a digital form by Terry Smythe et al,, and audio-recorded (by permission)in 2015 by VViljanen, and the rec. updated 19 May 2017 from the digitized copy of the original reproducing piano roll.
ANY KIND OF COMMERCIAL USE PROHIBITED.
Photo: Sergei Rachmaninoff 1873-1943
Info* of the original roll:
LIEBESLIED (LOVE'S SORROW) "alternating roll with silent sections Weiner Tanzweisen" (Old Viennese Dance Melodies) No. 2
Roll Number: 62103, 62103H
Composer/Creator: Kreisler, Rachmaninoff
Pianist: Rachmaninoff
Roll System: Ampico
Country: US
Date: June, 1923
Category: classical, popular
Original Price: $2.00
* source: from The Piano Player Group web page (by permission)

Kreisler-Rachmaninoff: Liebesleid. Sergei Rachmaninoff in 1923, on Ampico 62103

Nuit d'etoiles - Claude Debussy

This is a track we help promote because we find it pleasant! https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0J7EFptNh6K6Qebrsrcx8d?si=ae32df247fdd4a1d


Alexander Scriabin - Étude op. 8 no.12

My attempt at this challenging piano piece by Chopin! By no means perfect, but I hope you enjoy this anyway! :)

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Originally practised for the <a href="http://soundcloud.com/groups/classical-challenge/tracks">Classical Challenge</a> (Fantasie Impromptu Challenge) created by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/the-awakened-soul">Apo Malo</a>  in <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/pianocloud/">The Piano Cloud</a> Facebook group that is hosted by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/keyquest-music">Andrew Eales</a> (Wow that was a mouth full!) :P

Performed on my Roland FP-7F digital piano
Recorded using Audacity

Chopin's Fantasie Impromptu - Luke Freeman

Liszt Un Sospiro

Franz Liszt-Liebestraum No. 3 in A-Flat Major

Frederic Chopin: Ballade No. 1, Op. 23

I produced this track using midi and EW Gold Pianos in order to perfection the performance as I imagine it.

Liszt Un Sospiro

aimeesong