Rika Zayasu - Debussy & Takemitsu (2011/2025) [Official Digital Download 24/192]

Debussy composed four sets of works under the title of Images of which three composed for piano are featured in this album. The first set of Images (oublides) of 1894, composed about the time Debussy was working on Prélude a I’après-midi d’un faune and the first draft of Pelléas et Mélisande, was not published until 1977. It is dedicated to the daughter of Debussy’s friend artist Henri Lerolle, Yvonne, with an elegant dedication. Debussy’s introductory notes explain that the pieces are ‘conversations between the piano and oneself and would ‘shun the brilliantly lit salons.’ The main theme of the untitled opening piece is initially presented by a sole melody without accompaniment, until the harmony is spelt out by arpeggios in bar 4 in like the opening of Prélude a I’après-midi d’un faune. The second piece, written in a ‘rhythm of a Sarabande… with a slow and solemn elegance’ later appeared as Sarabande, in the suite Pour le piano (1901) with a few harmonic and phrasing alternations. The first motif of the final piece relates to his String Quartet (1983) and the piece makes a use of an old round dance tune, Nous n’irons plus au bois. An exuberant piece, the effect of the clanging bells which lasts 54 bars is especially noticeable, evoking the bell motif of Mussorgsky’s Boris Godunov. The piece was reworked and appeared as Jardins sous la pluie in Estempes (1903).

TRACKLIST

1. Rika Zayasu - Debussy: Debussy_Images - 1re Série pour piano: Reflets dans l’eau
2. Rika Zayasu - Debussy: Debussy_Images - 1re Série pour piano: Hommage à Rameau
3. Rika Zayasu - Debussy: Debussy_Images - 1re Série pour piano: Mouvement
4. Rika Zayasu - Debussy: Images - 2e Série pour piano: Cloches à travers les feuilles
5. Rika Zayasu - Debussy: Images - 2e Série pour piano: Et la lune descend sur le temple qui fut
6. Rika Zayasu - Debussy: Images - 2e Série pour piano: Poissons d’or
7. Rika Zayasu - Debussy: Images oubliées - Lent: mélancolique et doux
8. Rika Zayasu - Debussy: Images oubliées - Lent: Dans le mouvement d’une Sarabande
9. Rika Zayasu - Debussy: Images oubliées - Lent: Très vite – Quelques aspects de Nous n’irons plus au bois
10. Rika Zayasu - Takemitsu: Les yeux clos
11. Rika Zayasu - Takemitsu: Les yeux clos II
12. Rika Zayasu - Takemitsu: Rain Tree Sketch
13. Rika Zayasu - Takemitsu: Rain Tree Sketch II – In memoriam Oliver Messiaen



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