Uploaded September 2009 | Updated September 2026, 3 days ago
Debussy's 'Trois Nocturnes' were an experiment in sound painting, symphonic art or tone poem, however you like to call it. He set out to write music that he said would experiment with different combinations possible with a single color in the same way that a painter could create a study in gray.
Nuages means 'clouds'...
The 'Trois Nocturnes' were written for orchestra and later transcribed for 2 pianos by Maurice Ravel and Debussy's son-in-law and student, Raoul Bardac. You are hearing Ravel's transcription of Debussy's orchestral works.
The first performance of the transcribed piece for 2 pianos was performed by Ravel and Louis Aubert in Salle Gaveau in Paris on April 24th, 1911, 3 1/2 years after the orchestration was completed.
Most interesting of the three pieces is the final one; Sirenes was written for Orchestra and Female Chorus and in the transcription, one piano plays the Orchestral while the other plays the Chorus. The result is beautiful.
All 3 pieces are a wonder for piano or orchestra.
Performing here are Stephen Coombs and Christopher Scott.
Enjoy!
Debussy's 'Trois Nocturnes' were an experiment in sound painting, symphonic art or tone poem, however you like to call it. He set out to write music that he said would experiment with different combinations possible with a single color in the same way that a painter could create a study in gray.
Nuages means 'clouds'...
The 'Trois Nocturnes' were written for orchestra and later transcribed for 2 pianos by Maurice Ravel and Debussy's son-in-law and student, Raoul Bardac. You are hearing Ravel's transcription of Debussy's orchestral works.
The first performance of the transcribed piece for 2 pianos was performed by Ravel and Louis Aubert in Salle Gaveau in Paris on April 24th, 1911, 3 1/2 years after the orchestration was completed.
Most interesting of the three pieces is the final one; Sirenes was written for Orchestra and Female Chorus and in the transcription, one piano plays the Orchestral while the other plays the Chorus. The result is beautiful.
All 3 pieces are a wonder for piano or orchestra.
Performing here are Stephen Coombs and Christopher Scott.
Enjoy!
