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Hi everybody!

A few months ago, I've presented my recording of the "Menuet" from Debussy's Suite bergamasque. Now another part of this early masterwork is ready: the "Passepied"! Thank you for listening and maybe even commenting!

I enjoyed this very much. I like the tempo, although I might go a little more "non troppo" than you (maybe that's because I was never able to get it quite up to your tempo!), but it certainly works in your interpretation. You have, I feel, a good sense of Debussy's style of writing in this piece: crisp and clear.

Thank you for sharing.

I always enjoy your performances.

Regards,

very good, I enjoyed it very much.
I would like more if it could have more emotional contrast

Nice interpretation. The tempo is just fine for me, you could even give it a little more punch if you like at the beginning. Soon you can play the whole suite end to end ....

Very nice. A few quick comments.

Opening in LH a bit flat. How about a tiny accent on the first of each quadruplet to give it a bit more bounce?

You have a lovely light touch - can you make it clearer what you're playing as staccato or legato? And when the LH is staccato, try to play any legato in the RH without pedal to provide the contrast.

You keep losing momentum, sometimes almost coming to a stop. Maybe it's how you feel it but it doesn't work for me at all. It's a dance after all! There are only one or two places in the piece where I would put a slight rallentando.

I love the tempo, but there are several passages where you run away a bit. Be aware of these.

Bravo! (excuse the nit-picking)

Thank you BruceD! The question of the "right" tempo is a very interesting one! I think more and more, that everybody has to find his or her own tempo, the one in which the player can express his or her feelings. Maybe one person sounds perfectly in a certain tempo, but somebody else needs more time in order to create a similar atmosphere? Just go for it Music has something to do with freedom of speech, doesn't it?

P.S. You also wrote: "I always enjoy your performances." – Thank you so much

Thank you, zonzi!

I see a certain conflict of goals between strong emotional contrasts and steadiness which is also required in this piece. But you certainly made a very interesting suggestion, I'll have to think about it!

Thank you, Sidokar! Yes, I'm very close now There is just the most famous Clair de lune missing I'm working at it, but I always need some time until I think: Now I can show what I did.... About the "punch": Thank you for the suggestion, I wanted to begin in a very relaxed way, but there could also be a different approach. Who knows how I'll begin this final piece when it is preceded by the whole Suite? This will make a big difference for sure!

Don't worry, stephen22, I'm fine with it

– About the tiny accents: I'll have to try, I simply ask myself how I should go on as soon as the right hand joins in? I think, then these accents would disturb the flow?
- About staccato and legato: This is a nice idea worth thinking about! Let me just say that staccato can also be very nice while using pedal, the different touch can still be heard....
- About losing momentum: Of course there shouldn't be too many places where the music slows down. But Debussy indicated quite a few of them, according to my Bärenreiter Urtext Edition: I see such indications at bar 43, 80, 87 and 142, and when "premier tempo" is required at bar 106, there must be a certain rallentando before, even though it's not indicated
- Of course running away is never a good option, accelerating should always take place in a controlled, voluntary way

Anyway: Thanks a lot for all your hints, I'll certainly think about them!