Check out my EASY ARRANGEMENT of this piece: sonatasecrets.gumroad.com/l/debussy-arabesque 💲 Get 15% off with the discount code: "secretseeker" More SIMPLE SOLUTIONS arrangements: sonatasecrets.gumroad.com/
You have this quite unique way of explaining masterpieces - here on RUclips it is rare when a musician actually plays the instrument himself while explaining the features, like a perfect teacher we lack at music schools. Thank you very much for your work!
This was the one that turned me on to classical music. Before I was listening and studying The Beatles and The Beachboys ect...Arabesque 1 blows my mind for it's floating beauty.
Thank you Henrik. I played this in recital in 1962 in Hawaii at Universiy of Hawaii music school. I had a good teacher for whom I was happy to learn and practice. Debussy had heard Indonedian gamelan and must have been influenced by the 5 tone and 6 tone sonorities. I also played in a gamelan orchestra at University of Hawaii. nothing was written we had to learn by ear. We had a good teacher, of course.
If there's anything this piece brings to mind, it's beauty. In my mind, I see a couple on a tandem bike in a luscious park in spring time filled with flowers, picnickers, and kites flying. As they pedal through the park, they find a shady area to rest for a while and chat about the goings on in life. They realize it's time to go, and they mount their bike, and leave. Arriving at their front door just as the piece ends. It's just serene how music can capture the imagination so fully. I'm so grateful to have enjoyed this.
I am LOVING your analysis videos! They are soo good!! And i very much appreciate the guide on the right side of the screen when you are playing the piece in the end. It really helps, and honestly as someone who doesn't have that much experience with classical music, i would like to have something like that during live classical concerts as well :D
I just now discovered your videos, and this is the first one I have listened to. I love it! As a piano teacher myself, I look forward to sharing your videos with my students. Bravo! Keep up the good work!
Just found your channel. Keep up the good work, man! Definitely got yourself another subscriber! The way you describe the music is so nice and refreshing, especially with your insight into what makes the piece Arabesque, I can tell you have a deep appreciation for music. Can't wait to continue going through your channel.
Any tips on how to play the flourish upwards to rare the 4minute mark in the video? I find little strength in my 4-5 fingers running up that parallel 3rds motif.
This is brilliant. I have played this song on and it's on my channel. But I don't think I could do it as well as you did. It was the second piece I learned when I was starting. The first was Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata, the 1st movement. You did a great job breaking it down.
I would love you to analyze Reverie by Debussy or Beethoven's Pathetique Sonata. When I listen to the Pathetique Sonata, I hear a narrative involving a threat, an injured person who eventually defeats the threat(but with the cost of painful injuries), and a group of people defending the injured person as he recovers. And it roughly breaks down into this: Mvt 1: Not wanting to move due to pain(Grave), but having to run for life(Allegro di molto e con brio) Mvt 2: A mostly peaceful recovery with the only tense moment really being when it is in Ab minor Mvt 3: Try and try again to defeat the threat(Main theme is trying to defeat the threat, episodes represent increasing confidence that the threat is defeated, only for it to come back in the retransitions), Triumph over adversity when the supposed Ab major ending comes, Pain of injury when it actually ends in C minor And as for Reverie, I always feel as though the piece is in Bb Lydian rather than F major, because Eb is a rare note, yet Bb feels like the home note up until the cadence in F(perhaps because of the Bb pedal at the beginning).
Thanks for your comment, I love to see your idea of the Pathetique! I will play that sonata in concerts next year so I will definately do videos on the movements then (March or later). I think I agree with you on the "running for your life" part, at least as a general character to the music for that part. I do exactly the same analysis in the Moonlight sonata 3rd movement, if you have seen that? Also the Beethoven sonata in Ab major, Op 110, has a similar structure of someone (Beethoven) falling ill and suffering from illness, and then recovering and coming to health again. I mention that in the video on Chopin's Nocturne in B major Op 62 no 1 (of all pieces!).
@@SonataSecrets I have indeed seen your Presto agitato analysis, and in fact, all your Moonlight Sonata analysis videos and quite a few of your Chopin and Debussy videos as well.
I don´t know how I got this place...This is fantastic!!! I love Debussy and with this explanation I love him more as well as Arabesque 💖 Congratulations 👏👍
I know I'm a little late to the party. Your playing is simply immaculate!! That upright you're playing on sounds absolutely gorgeous, tell me, what is it? I just have to know! Excellent playing, my friend. Your phrasing really tugged at my heart.
Wonderful explanation, only a question... Did you played a wrong note in your left hand in 2:15 (the second bar of the analysis) I think you played C sharp but is a B Sorry for my English, I'm Italian Have a good day
I was introduced to this very happy song from a very sad movie called 'All About Lily Chouchou'. Safe to say, i was feeling all sorts of emotions from watching that film :') (And I'm so glad you made this analysis video about the song ^^)
Nice video again. I noticed in bar 11 left hand you play cis in stead of b in the 3rd beat. Also in the repetitions of this bar later in the piece. You might want to change that.
I know! Realized it after I had made the video... I kind of read it as a chord and when I started practicing more without the score my hand just chose that note instead. But I play correct now :)
@@SonataSecrets Yo he notado también este error de la repeticion del Do# ( C#) no entiendo porque lo toca así quizás porque el Re# (D#) dura demasiado?😕
Thank you for the video. Very good explanation of the tones and moods. I feel like you know the piece too well: you can slow down a little bit when you play it. It’s more like a limpid brook than white water rapids.
Yes; don't ;) I'ts much harder than it sounds, but it's a very uneven balance in the hand to get a lot of weight on the melody notes and very light tuoch in comparison on the moving lines beneath the melody notes.
Timothy Doyle practice the main theme starting with the left hand alone, try and keep it as soft as possible and seeming as if it’s happening by itself. Then when you are ready, bring in the right hand melody at a slightly louder level. For everything else I would just play very slowly and exaggerate the RH LH balance, with the melody forte and accompaniment as soft as possible. Don’t practice with tension in the hands/wrists, that’s usually the main issue in everything technique related. Play as slow as you need to :)
It's bassed on islamic architecture. However, Debussy's arabesque sounds east Asian to me. I don't know why (maybe cuz I'm Asian myself) but it's very beautiful and flawless.
I admire your musicianship but by « harmonic analysis » I was looking for detailed annotations on roman numeral degrees, modulations, etc, a « where is this goin?... it’s going down » is not a harmonic analysis per say. However beautiful and virtuosity at play for sure!
Thank you for this analysis! I disliked Debussey when I was younger, preferring music with more melody like Beethoven or Mozart. Thankfully I can appreciate his music now. It's not too intense or emotional. It's lighter, like a floating cloud or a trickling stream.
Check out my EASY ARRANGEMENT of this piece:
sonatasecrets.gumroad.com/l/debussy-arabesque
💲 Get 15% off with the discount code: "secretseeker"
More SIMPLE SOLUTIONS arrangements: sonatasecrets.gumroad.com/
You have this quite unique way of explaining masterpieces - here on RUclips it is rare when a musician actually plays the instrument himself while explaining the features, like a perfect teacher we lack at music schools. Thank you very much for your work!
omg so true!!! a serious pianist for once is a gift from the algorythms cruel ways. (i cant spell sory)
Henrik, I've only just come across your videos. You're underappreciated.
Thank you David :)
Agreed!
This was the one that turned me on to classical music. Before I was listening and studying The Beatles and The Beachboys ect...Arabesque 1 blows my mind for it's floating beauty.
Thanks for video, nice playing and explanation
Thank you for playing this and explaining how to develop an expression of this piece!
I'm glad you liked it! :)
This channel deserves more views
Thank you Henrik. I played this in recital in 1962 in Hawaii at Universiy of Hawaii music school. I had a good teacher for whom I was happy to learn and practice. Debussy had heard Indonedian gamelan and must have been influenced by the 5 tone and 6 tone sonorities. I also played in a gamelan orchestra at University of Hawaii. nothing was written we had to learn by ear. We had a good teacher, of course.
ever spend time at the law school? meet saul goodman?
If there's anything this piece brings to mind, it's beauty. In my mind, I see a couple on a tandem bike in a luscious park in spring time filled with flowers, picnickers, and kites flying. As they pedal through the park, they find a shady area to rest for a while and chat about the goings on in life. They realize it's time to go, and they mount their bike, and leave. Arriving at their front door just as the piece ends. It's just serene how music can capture the imagination so fully. I'm so grateful to have enjoyed this.
that descending melody kills me every time
Underbart tack. Både för förklaringen och framförandet.
Tack Kristina!
Great piece, wonderful performance and a very interesting analysis
Thanks so much! :)
Well explained! Most of all, I like how you smile throughout your lessons. Such a possitive vibe, subscribed!
I am LOVING your analysis videos! They are soo good!! And i very much appreciate the guide on the right side of the screen when you are playing the piece in the end. It really helps, and honestly as someone who doesn't have that much experience with classical music, i would like to have something like that during live classical concerts as well :D
I just now discovered your videos, and this is the first one I have listened to. I love it! As a piano teacher myself, I look forward to sharing your videos with my students. Bravo! Keep up the good work!
Many thanks. Your comments are very interesting, accessible and talented when analyzing any work. Very useful work.
Thank you so much Olga, I'm happy you like it! :)
Amazing video, thank u so much for bring us this incredible content free.
Great work men! Congrats from Argentina.
First of your videos I have seen, a beautiful analysis of the first piano song I ever learned
Just gorgeous, beautifully explained and played. I love Debussy's music; I can play Clair de Lune and now thinking about this stunning piece.
This is quality content. Keep up the good work!
Thanks Philippe, glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks you for this excellent vídeo!! Love both this music, your interpretation and the great analysis!❤
This account is great, exactly what I have been looking to. Keep the videos coming! It will help me in my own compositions that I write. Cheers!
Thank you Lin, welcome to the channel!
Love your videos, Henrik, great job!
Just found your channel. Keep up the good work, man! Definitely got yourself another subscriber! The way you describe the music is so nice and refreshing, especially with your insight into what makes the piece Arabesque, I can tell you have a deep appreciation for music. Can't wait to continue going through your channel.
Thank you so much! I hope you enjoy the rest of the videos as well :)
One of my absolute favorites! I've nearly finished learning it and it's such a beautifully delicate piece of music.
Thank you beautifully played and the perfect analysis to get me started with learning this piece ☺️
Very nice, would also love to see an analysis of "pagodes" and "reflets dans l'eau".
Any tips on how to play the flourish upwards to rare the 4minute mark in the video? I find little strength in my 4-5 fingers running up that parallel 3rds motif.
love the analysis and playing as always, have you thought of doing the rach prelude in c# minor?
December.
amazing analysis
This is brilliant. I have played this song on and it's on my channel. But I don't think I could do it as well as you did. It was the second piece I learned when I was starting. The first was Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata, the 1st movement. You did a great job breaking it down.
I would love you to analyze Reverie by Debussy or Beethoven's Pathetique Sonata. When I listen to the Pathetique Sonata, I hear a narrative involving a threat, an injured person who eventually defeats the threat(but with the cost of painful injuries), and a group of people defending the injured person as he recovers. And it roughly breaks down into this:
Mvt 1: Not wanting to move due to pain(Grave), but having to run for life(Allegro di molto e con brio)
Mvt 2: A mostly peaceful recovery with the only tense moment really being when it is in Ab minor
Mvt 3: Try and try again to defeat the threat(Main theme is trying to defeat the threat, episodes represent increasing confidence that the threat is defeated, only for it to come back in the retransitions), Triumph over adversity when the supposed Ab major ending comes, Pain of injury when it actually ends in C minor
And as for Reverie, I always feel as though the piece is in Bb Lydian rather than F major, because Eb is a rare note, yet Bb feels like the home note up until the cadence in F(perhaps because of the Bb pedal at the beginning).
Thanks for your comment, I love to see your idea of the Pathetique! I will play that sonata in concerts next year so I will definately do videos on the movements then (March or later). I think I agree with you on the "running for your life" part, at least as a general character to the music for that part. I do exactly the same analysis in the Moonlight sonata 3rd movement, if you have seen that?
Also the Beethoven sonata in Ab major, Op 110, has a similar structure of someone (Beethoven) falling ill and suffering from illness, and then recovering and coming to health again. I mention that in the video on Chopin's Nocturne in B major Op 62 no 1 (of all pieces!).
Regarding the Reverie I have only performed a version for piano and cello, but it's a lovely piece and I could definately do a video on it!
@@SonataSecrets I have indeed seen your Presto agitato analysis, and in fact, all your Moonlight Sonata analysis videos and quite a few of your Chopin and Debussy videos as well.
Thank you for watching! :)
Thank you so much for the video! I had to analyze this piece for my music class and your insights were very helpful to me 😊
Thanks, I'm happy it was helpful! :)
Very well explained & gorgeously played. Thank you, sir!
Excellent master class of harmony and interpretation, regards from Ecuador
I don´t know how I got this place...This is fantastic!!! I love Debussy and with this explanation I love him more as well as Arabesque 💖 Congratulations 👏👍
Thanks Raul, I'm happy you found the channel :)
Thank you
it is a so beautiful masterpice, I listen it agin and agin, I wish that I play it so well as you. thank you again and greeting from Germany.
Thank you so much. Learning this piece now. 💕
Amazing and very detailed analysis!!! Thanks!!!
I know I'm a little late to the party. Your playing is simply immaculate!! That upright you're playing on sounds absolutely gorgeous, tell me, what is it? I just have to know! Excellent playing, my friend. Your phrasing really tugged at my heart.
Thank you so much!
It's a 100 year old German Rönisch upright piano, I like it a lot too :)
@@SonataSecrets Beautiful! Keep up the great work!
You make it look so easy. It would be interesting to know how long it took to get to your level, and how long to commit that piece to memory.
Wonderful explanation, only a question...
Did you played a wrong note in your left hand in 2:15 (the second bar of the analysis) I think you played C sharp but is a B
Sorry for my English, I'm Italian
Have a good day
I also noticed that one. Everything else sounds right to me
Gracias
I was introduced to this very happy song from a very sad movie called 'All About Lily Chouchou'. Safe to say, i was feeling all sorts of emotions from watching that film :')
(And I'm so glad you made this analysis video about the song ^^)
Duuude that movie was sick
10/10…. Fire 🔥 video
Gracias!!!
Nice video again. I noticed in bar 11 left hand you play cis in stead of b in the 3rd beat. Also in the repetitions of this bar later in the piece. You might want to change that.
I know! Realized it after I had made the video... I kind of read it as a chord and when I started practicing more without the score my hand just chose that note instead. But I play correct now :)
@@SonataSecrets Yo he notado también este error de la repeticion del Do# ( C#) no entiendo porque lo toca así quizás porque el Re# (D#) dura demasiado?😕
❤❤❤wonderful
Thank you for the video. Very good explanation of the tones and moods. I feel like you know the piece too well: you can slow down a little bit when you play it. It’s more like a limpid brook than white water rapids.
Are there other scales used in Arabesque no. 1 beside Pentatonic scale?
One thing that seems obvious but which is never discussed is how to keep the moving lines from overtaking the melody. Any comments?
Yes; don't ;)
I'ts much harder than it sounds, but it's a very uneven balance in the hand to get a lot of weight on the melody notes and very light tuoch in comparison on the moving lines beneath the melody notes.
Timothy Doyle practice the main theme starting with the left hand alone, try and keep it as soft as possible and seeming as if it’s happening by itself. Then when you are ready, bring in the right hand melody at a slightly louder level. For everything else I would just play very slowly and exaggerate the RH LH balance, with the melody forte and accompaniment as soft as possible. Don’t practice with tension in the hands/wrists, that’s usually the main issue in everything technique related. Play as slow as you need to :)
This piece is sumptuous but devilishly difficult with its polyrhythms and its large movements of hands.
I do miss the real theoretical analysis, although you did mention the pentatonic scale
The melody, although full of appoggiaturas, is not a string of ornaments and the notes should be cantabile, fully sounded.
It's bassed on islamic architecture. However, Debussy's arabesque sounds east Asian to me. I don't know why (maybe cuz I'm Asian myself) but it's very beautiful and flawless.
I admire your musicianship but by « harmonic analysis » I was looking for detailed annotations on roman numeral degrees, modulations, etc, a « where is this goin?... it’s going down » is not a harmonic analysis per say. However beautiful and virtuosity at play for sure!
Where are the Roman numerals :/
Thank you for this analysis!
I disliked Debussey when I was younger, preferring music with more melody like Beethoven or Mozart.
Thankfully I can appreciate his music now. It's not too intense or emotional. It's lighter, like a floating cloud or a trickling stream.
there is a note you play wrong in the 10th bar’s arpeggio, check it out😉
Lovely technique but for me, too speedy... this frequently can get a bit hysterical sounding in some performances
Nice, but slow down. If the notes you are playing were bullets, your piano would be a machine gun !