Part Two: The beginning of Debussy’s “sensualism” in Ariettes Oubliées (Forgotten Songs)
The Virtual Piano Master Course is a series of videos from Steinway Artist Claire Wachter, the creator of the Virtual Piano Pedagogue.
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The fourth topic in the Virtual Piano Master Course is a nine-video series titled The Fantastic Sound-World of Claude Debussy, with Claire Wachter and Dean Kramer as presenters and pianists. In this series, Claire and Dean explore the fantastic sound-world of Claude Debussy.
Video 2: Debussy returns from his Prix de Rome residency in Italy. He ends his relationship with his “muse,” the soprano Marie-Blanche Vasnier. Unhappy personal consequences but extremely positive creative consequences. Debussy is free to compose music “his way.” The inspiration of the Symbolist poet Paul Verlaine. Ariettes Oubliées (Forgotten Songs), the beginning of Debussy’s “sensualism.” Chord-planing and Debussy’s sound-ideal. The transformation of a chord into a sonority. Debussy meets the challenge of Wagner. Chromaticism in C’est l’extase. Impressionism? Sound-images as a key to Debussy’s sound-world.
This video includes a complete performance of “C’est l’extase” (“It is ecstasy”) by Katie Harman Ebner, soprano and Claire Wachter, pianist.
“It is ecstasy,” poem by Paul Verlaine (1844-1896), translation/paraphrase by Dean Kramer
It is ecstasy…
This is love’s languor, amorous fatigue.
Your touch, like the breeze that makes the pale limbs of the trees tremble in the woods,
Sends shivers through me - the thrilling vibrations of an unseen choir.
Your intimate whispers are like the rustling of the grass in the field.
Oh! Your cries of delight can be as soft as the rush of water over the riverbed.
What is this languid, plaintive lament? Tell me!
Is this our souls entwining, yours and mine -
Singing a gentle hymn so quietly in the fading afterglow of the evening?
About the Artists: Pianist Claire Wachter has performed in some of the world's most prestigious venues, including Steinway Hall in New York, the National Recital Hall in Taiwan and the Qingdao Grand Hall in China. She has given solo performances in the U.S., Canada, Spain, and Austria. She has presented recitals, lectures, and master classes in the U.S., Chile, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, China, and South Korea. Claire's Virtual Piano videos “The Essence of Chopin,” “The Genius of Domenico Scarlatti,” “The Imagination of Robert Schumann,” “The Power of Beethoven” (with Dean Kramer) and “Secrets of Russian Piano Playing” (with Alexander Tutunov) have been viewed throughout the United States and in more than 100 countries.
Katie Marie Harman Ebner is an American classical vocalist and actress who is best known as Miss America 2002 and former Miss Oregon 2001. She is the first and only contestant from the Pacific Northwestern United States to hold the title of Miss America. After her pageant career, Harman has worked as a singer and actress, appearing in various stage productions in the United States, as well as having a guest role on the HBO series Big Love in 2010. Katie has performed with the Boston Pops Orchestra, Denver Philharmonic, Tuscaloosa Symphony, Shreveport Symphony, Oregon Symphony, among many others. She was also hand-selected to participate in Master Classes with opera legends Renée Fleming and Deborah Voigt, and is a regular guest performer with Thomas Lauderdale and Pink Martini.
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