DCCCLXVI. DEBUSSY, Claude: En blanc et noir

DCCCLXVI. DEBUSSY, Claude (1862-1918)

En blanc et noir (1915)
1. I
2. II
3. III
Martha Argerich, piano
Iddo Bar-Shai, piano
(17:10)

This is some of Debussy's greatest work. It is amazing what our geniuses created during periods of intense suffering.

Inside and out. He had cancer and had decamped to Normandy -- and his country was at war with a seriously deranged enemy ...

The title certainly references the keys of the piano, but Debussy added an additional explanation in his correspondence:

"These pieces need to draw their colour, their emotion, simply from the piano, like the 'grays' of Velázquez, if you understand me."

Each movement is preceded by a literary quotation.

1. I

Qui reste à sa place
Et ne danse pas
De quelque disgrâce
Fait l'aveu tout bas
    -- Barbier & Carré, Romeo et Juliette (Gonoud)

2. II

Prince, porté soit des serfs Eolus
En la forest ou domine Glaucus
Ou privé soit de paix et d'espérance
Car digne n'est de posséder vertus
Qui mal vouldroit au royaume de France
  -- Villon, Ballade contre les ennemis de la France

Quotes the Lutheran hymn Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott.

3. III

Yver, vous n'este qu'un villain
  -- Charles d'Orleans