Claude Debussy Prelude Feux d’artifice (Fireworks)
Bella C.
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To date, Debussy’s prelude “Feux d’artifice” (Fireworks) has been the most exciting piece to perform. The piece includes many difficult technical aspects, but playing the right notes is only a small part of mastering it. The majority is about using the imagination to create a musical fireworks show, beginning with a lit fuse and mounting excitement to a cascade of fireworks. Each section of the piece involves different types of colorful fireworks, such as brocade crowns or waterfalls, and in different combinations, sometimes with small sparks and other times creating a thunderous sound from the explosion of a multitude of fireworks. Other sections invoke feelings of nostalgia, as fireworks are often tied to fond memories of celebrating holidays with loved ones. This is truly one of my favorite performances, because it sparked so much of my imagination and it was incredibly fun to share my interpretation with the audience.
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Famous pianist Vladimir Horowitz said: “Artistry begins when you can play what is not written”. True artistry and creativity is more than just playing the right notes; it depends on how you use pedal, speed, weight, spacing, and rubato in different combinations to paint a picture and tell a story.
