Claude Debussy - Etudes No. 4 & 6

Dear All,
Please find attached two more Etudes by our great "Claude de France". No. 4, "Pour les sixtes (for the sixths)" is one of my favorites. Beautiful harmonies, much expression and sometimes a feeling of regret and nostalgia, still keeping this very demanding rule, for the composer, of using only sixths at both hands. No.6, "Pour les huit doigts (For the eight fingers)" is a trial to write a kind of single note trajectory using alternatively each hand, playing with all their fingers except the thumb. I am not too satisfied of how I play that one - I would prefer it lighter, faster, as a continuous line with more dynamics. But each one has to cope with its own technical limitation... I hope it can nevertheless give an idea of how it should sound ! Thank you for your feedback,

 

Hi Francois, these are some way from being my specialist area, though I have seen no.6 being studied in a masterclass. Nice sound in both; maybe there are a few signs of stress in no.6 but my recollection is that there are considerable difficulties caused by the unique requirements of the etude!

 

Thanks Andrew! Yes, we are not used to play fast, light and equal, with a large range of dynamics, crossing the hands and omitting the thumbs! But Debussy is a so great magician of the sound that we try to face the challenge...