L’isle joyeuse

oana

Continuing posting pieces from the concerts at Conservatorium E.F. Dall’Abaco here in Verona, Italy, where I was teaching in 2007.

Debussy’s L’îsle joyeuse (1903-1904) was inspired by Watteau’s painting Embarkation for Cythere. Debussy’s work is a single movement in a highly modified sonata form. Using a technique similar to Chopin’s alteration of sonata form in his ballades, the lyrical second subject returns at the brilliant conclusion as a fortissimo paean. L’îsle joyeuse has an almost orchestral quality, as well as an unrelenting choreographic rhythmic drive. The cumulative effect is perfectly calculated and overwhelmingly successful. A number of hallmarks of Debussy’s mature style — parallel sonorities, whole-tone structures, multiple layers of sound, atmospheric effects, melodic fragmentation — are in full evidence.
A short analysis of this work is here.

Claude Debussy – L’isle joyeuse (1904) – Oana Dancescu, pianoforte

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