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An early (1891) piece by Debussy: Rêverie

Recorded 4 May, 2020, Estonia 190

Debussy; Rêverie

Rather too fast for my liking. It sounds like a very busy mind rather than relaxed daydreaming.

It's not faster than most of the professional recordings on YT.

That's twice now that you've seemed to take offence at my opinion on tempo.

My point is that the title Reverie has a contemplative, dreamy connotation to it. It's marked as Andantino (in my copy at least) and my metronome suggests that's around 80 bpm. I think the piece has so much more to offer when approached with less haste.

I also think bars 26 - 29 really only make any sense when played quite a bit slower.

I don't think he was offended, he was just making a point. I think it was played really well, I like your choices with the rubato. Nice work Bruce.

I think the choice of tempo and rubato is highly personal, and while I do agree with Katman that a slower tempo could match the dreamy contemplative character of the piece, i do think that Bruce's tempo works fine as well, and i enjoyed the performance as a whole.

One advantage of a slightly faster basic pulse is that it allows for more flexibility and rubato (especially slowing down at spots) without it sounding 'draggy'. I have played this piece myself with a more or less similar basic pulse as Bruce, but perhaps with a different sense of rubato.

As with the Liszt Consolation, my only comment would be that a softer, mellower left hand in particular, would convey that 'dreamy' feeling even more effectively. Perhaps the dreamy feel could be enhanced by the use of the una corda pedal as well, and careful damper pedalling to allow for a little 'blur' to emerge. Again, i know all of this is easier said than done, and a good regulation and voicing is a luxury in times of lockdown.

Overall, nice sensitive touch and pacing, and an enjoyable performance to my ears. Thanks for this.

I really enjoyed listening to your recording. I thought the choice of tempo worked well. Nice colour change at m. 88 - that's always been one of my favourite moments in this lovely gem by Debussy.

Thank you, all.

Regards,

I really like your sensitive interpretation of Rêverie, Bruce, which I'm currently learning for my ABRSM grade 8 exam in the UK. I've listened to several professional recordings of this lovely piece, some of which - to my mind, ears and heart - are played too fast. I think your rendition would please Monsieur Debussy himself!

I find the tempo just fine. It gives just enough drive without being too fast. There are much faster versions like Grimaud (a very particular interpretation). The whole piece is well balanced and sensitively played. Nice job.

My personal take would be that i would not put any emphasis on the downbeat on the left hand arpeggios and play them as linear as possible to create a completely fluid mouvement before the entry of the melody. Maybe in the middle section, 2.00 to 3.00 some more articulation and rubato to make it more dynamically marked would work better, something that would put a little more animation before the soft reentrance of the theme. It is just ever so slightly mechanical at times, same for the reentrance of the theme between 3.07 and 3.20, but it gets much better after that.

Lovely. Sensitive. Rubatos are delicate and appropriate. I'd like it a tiny bit slowly but that's my opinion. Wonderful playing, Bruce!