Debussy was greatly influenced by the Javanese gamelan, a percussion ensemble based on metallophones, which he encountered at the 1889 Colonial Exhibition in Paris and which inspired his piece 'Pagodes'.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Debussy was fascinated by 'elsewheres,' particularly East Asian cultures, and reinvented musical language with an independent spirit and insatiable curiosity.
Compositional Technique
Joanna Goodale uses objects like mallets and e-bows on the piano strings and frame to create sounds reminiscent of Javanese percussion or the tranquility of snow.
Performer Biography
Joanna Goodale, a French-Swiss pianist and composer, has an eclectic career, blending classical repertoire with sacred music from the Middle and Far East, as seen in her debut album 'BACH IN A CIRCLE'.
Interpretation
Joanna Goodale, the pianist and composer on this album, created original compositions that dialogue with Debussy's works, incorporating East Asian instruments like Chinese gongs and Tibetan singing bowls.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded live during a concert on May 11, 2021, at the Salle de la Chaux-de-Fonds in Switzerland, a venue known for its exceptional acoustics and legendary recordings.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Claude Debussy, a French composer, was deeply inspired by nature and its elements, believing music to be a 'free art' in tune with the wind, sky, and sea.
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