The Art of French Piano Music: Debussy, Ravel, Faure, Chabrier
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An essential resource for scholars and performers, this study by a world-renowned specialist illuminates the piano music of four major French composers, in comparative and reciprocal context. Howat explores the musical language and artistic ethos of this repertoire, juxtaposing structural analysis with editorial and performing issues. He also relates his four composers historically and stylistically to such predecessors as Chopin, Schumann, Liszt, the French harpsichord school, and Russian and Spanish music. Challenging long-held assumptions about performance practice, Howat elucidates the rhythmic vitality and invention inherent in French music. In granting Fauré and Chabrier equal consideration with Debussy and Ravel, he redresses a historic imbalance and reshapes our perceptions of this entire musical tradition. Outstanding historical documentation and analysis are supported by Howat’s direct references to performing traditions shaped by the composers themselves. The book balances accessibility with scholarly and analytic rigor, combining a lifetime’s scholarship with practical experience of teaching and the concert platform
List of Illustrations viiAcknowledgments ixIntroduction xivPart 1 The exactitude of musical 'Impressionism' 11 Painting in sound 32 Painting in musical structure (1): Debussy's Preludes 183 Painting in musical structure (2): Ravel's Gaspard de la nuit 294 Shapes and forms 385 'Reflets dans l'eau', Hokusai, Edgar Allan Poe and Leonardo of Pisa 51Part 2 Musical roots and antecedents 616 Chopin's legacy 637 'Musique adorable': a la decouverte d'Emmanuel Chabrier 838 Debussy and the Orient 1109 The Exotic via Russia and Spain 12610 The Clavecinistes 14511 Romanticism 159Part 3 Fresh perspectives 17312 Rhythmic games in Ravel 17513 Rhythmic games in Chabrier 18714 Repertoire discoveries 198Part 4 At the keyboard 20715 What do we interpret? 20916 Editions and what they can't quite tell us 22717 Rhythm, tempo, dance and humour 24618 A fresh look at Gabriel Faure 26319 Orchestral thinking and the pedals 27920 Body language and the piano 29421 The composer as pianist 309Appendices 3251 'Facilement, facilement': finding technical ease 3272 Glosses on titles and musical allusions 3343 Composers' surviving instruments and recordings 3354 Brief summary of critical editions 3405 Locations of musical manuscripts discussed 342Notes 344Bibliography 376Index 388
