Debussy and Rameau: EMS 18 March

[doversoul1]

As part of the commemoration of the hundredth anniversary of Debussy's death, Hannah French asks what it was about Rameau that inspired the composer's "Hommage a Rameau".

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09vz5br

[ardcarp]

Really looking forward to this. Firstly, I enjoy Hannah French's informed style of presentation; and secondly, it's an interesting 'take' for EMS to throw a bridge across a couple of centuries.

This coming Sunday at 2pm

Can we have another one doing the Ravel/Couperin thing? And then there's Stavinsky/Pergolesi....oh stop me someone.

[MickyD]

Yes, this should be fascinating. I always remember the story of the revival of 'Castor et Pollux' in 1918 in Paris. Poor Debussy was on his deathbed and it was apparently one of his last regrets that he couldn't be at the performance, saying to a visiting friend: "Say goodbye to Mr. Castor!"

[ardcarp]

Excellent programme, documenting Debussy's veneration of Rameau for embodying a true 'Frenchness'. Some wonderfully sensitive playing by Alexandre Tharaud.
There was no melodic, harmonic or rhythmic link to Rameau in Debussy's Hommage. I found it difficult to perceive even Hannah's suggested emotional or conceptual affinity. It is strange that Debussy, who one thinks of as disregarding any musical 'rules', should have revered Rameau, who wrote a much acclaimed Treatise on chords and their invertions! If anything, a certain fluidity of expression is shared by both. Link or no link, I enjoyed the music played immensely.

[ardcarp]

Micky D, I meant to add that Debussy's [near] final words were quoted on the programme. Coincidentally, there was an item about Debussy just now on R4's Start the Week programme. (Nothing we didn't know already tho!)

[Nick Armstrong]

Excellent programme, documenting Debussy's veneration of Rameau for embodying a true 'Frenchness'.

Agreed - I'm part way through the programme. The Debussy piece is one I attempt to play through (on my 1911 Bechstein - Debussy sounds especially good on it) and being an ardent Ramellian, I've always been puzzled at not being able to detect anything specific to Rameau - like you ardcarp, not even the mood or form. A very welcome programme.

There was one Rameau interlude played during the first half of the programme which did give a glimmer of similarity and I want to listen to it again, and the comments made about it.