A wonderful review in of my new Debussy album on Amazon: Debussy – Hal Freedman – Music Review By Bob Sherman Claude Debussy (1862-1918) was the Charlie Parker of his time. Both artists felt compelled to break free from the musical style and structure that defined their eras. “Bird” established Bebop, which did away with traditional four and eight bar phrasing, and introduced dissonance as a new vocabulary. Debussy dispensed with the diatonic scale, and presented whole tone, chromatographic, and pentatonic scales as new musical frameworks. As a result, both artists were subjected to intense criticism for “breaking the rules” and for taking music into uncharted territory. But such is often the case with innovators. And, as with all great pioneers, neither artist was dissuaded from pursuing his progressive path by the disapproval of lesser minds. “Debussy: Nature Myth Legend” is an album of piano works that was released in October of 2013. The performer is Hal Freedman, a pianist of consummate technical ability and interpretive capacity. In this album, Hal presents 15 pieces that span 22 years of the maestro’s career, thus providing us with considerable insight into Debussy’s development as an artist. The collection opens with “Clair de Lune” (moonlight) - from Suite Bergamasque - one of the composer’s most well known and loved creations. Midway through this compilation, you will find a suite of 6 pieces - “Children’s Corner” - which Debussy dedicated to his beloved daughter, Claude-Emma. His pet name for her was “Chouchou” which means “Little Pet”. While not written specifically for children, this collection reflects the whimsy and unbridled imagination that we associate with the very young. “Jimbo’s Lullaby” was inspired by Claude Emma’s toy elephant, and here Debussy takes the pretend pachyderm on an imaginary journey through a make-believe jungle. “Golliwogg’s Cakewalk” is a nod to the (then) new ragtime music of the United States. This piece sparkles with the enthusiasm and syncopation that is the essence of this American art form. “Golliwogg” was the name of Chochous toy marionette, a black minstrel doll that was popular at that time. The album ends with three “Preludes” that present Debussy’s creative abilities at their height. “Ondine” is an excellent example of the composer’s use of non-traditional scales and induced visual imagery to create a magical world of sound. Hal Freedman’s considerable musical talents are the key to this album’s success. His ability as a virtuoso pianist is clearly evident in “Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum” and Deux Arabesques, No. 1”. But equally important is Hal’s ability to breathe life into this collection. His performances feel alive and organic, and give a clear indication that he truly loves – and innately understands - this music. If you listen to “Reverie”, you will be delighted by his carefully crafted and emotional presentation. It is quite beautiful. And in “Nocturne”, Hal accurately conveys the power and passion that the composer wanted to impart to this piece. I highly recommend “Debussy: Nature Myth Legend” to both Debussy fans and to those who want to become more familiar with this composer.
Posted on: Thu, 14 Nov 2013 20:08:12 +0000
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