Ariel Lanyi plays Debussy Images, Book 2

  / arielfans   Debussy's second book of "Images" is a prime example of his impressionist style of and how impressionism sounds on the piano. The first movement, Cloches à travers les feuilles (Bells Through the Leaves), shows the influence of Javanese "Gamelan" music, a style that Debussy had heard at the Paris Universal Exposition, and admired very much. It is possible to hear the influence of Gamelan in the very first bars of the piece. The second movement, Et la lune descend sur le temple qui fut (And the Moon Sets over the Temple That Was), is perhaps the most peculiar movement of the piece. It contains relatively few notes, and it has an improvised and free nature. The Javanese influence be heard in this movement too. The third movement, Poissons d'or (Goldfishes), is said to have been inspired by a painting that Debussy owned. It is a movement of supreme agility, humor, and elegance. The movement goes through different episodes, including a waltz-like one, and a complete outburst of energy toward the end, which eventually dies away. For me, the essence of the second book of "Images" is about producing different layers of touch and sound on the piano. I can also relate to the free and improvised nature of the piece. Recorded at a live broadcast at the Eden-Tamir Music Center in Jerusalem.