Debussy - Arabesque, No. 1 in E Major (Pouishnoff, 1923)

Arabesque, No. 1 in E Major · Claude Debussy

Claude Debussy Plays His Finest Works

℗ 2013 Bringins Music

Released on: 2013-03-07

Composer: Claude Debussy
Pianist: Leff Pouishnoff

#debussy #arabesque #pianoroll #piano #clairdelune #historicrecording #authentic

Piano rolls were first introduced in the late 19th century, and they quickly became a popular way to reproduce music at a time when phonographs and other recording technologies were still in their infancy. Piano rolls are essentially rolls of paper that are perforated with holes that correspond to specific notes on a piano keyboard. When the roll is passed over a device called a player piano, the holes activate a series of mechanical levers that play the notes in sequence, effectively "performing" the piece of music that is recorded on the roll. Piano rolls were a significant development because they allowed for the mass distribution of recorded music, which in turn helped to popularize the piano as an instrument and bring classical and popular music to a wider audience. Piano rolls also enabled the preservation of performances by pianists who were no longer alive, and they remain a valuable historical resource for studying the interpretation and style of pianists from the past.

Leff Pouishnoff was a Russian pianist who had a strong connection to the music of Claude Debussy. Pouishnoff was born in 1891 in what is now Ukraine, and he began studying the piano at a young age. In the early 20th century, he moved to France to further his studies, and it was there that he became interested in Debussy's music. Pouishnoff was particularly drawn to the impressionistic style of Debussy's piano works, and he soon established himself as one of the leading interpreters of Debussy's music. Pouishnoff's performances of Debussy's piano works were noted for their sensitivity, subtlety, and technical brilliance. He was especially renowned for his ability to convey the delicate colors and textures of Debussy's music, and his playing was often compared to that of the composer himself. Pouishnoff's relationship with Debussy was one of admiration and respect, and his interpretations of Debussy's music continue to be celebrated by music enthusiasts and critics today.

[subplantant]

This is not Debussy playing - no piano roll of him playing this piece exists. If this is from the "Masters of the piano roll" album, then the pianist is Lev Pouishnoff

[akadetrorjk]

This piece has such a nostalgic feel to it, Debussy certainly plays some passages differently than I would've expected

[nohaylamujer]

I'm surprised at the amount of rubato.

[skrz]

Sounds like me when I had enough of practicing and just wanna get this one piece over with... Pretty sad to hear the composer play his own piece like that. But I get it, i think i would get tired of playing my own pieces for the 1000th time too...