After the five-volume complete recording of Beethoven’s Piano Sonatas
Paavali Jumppanen’s new recording on Ondine turns attention to
Claude Debussy’s (1862–1918) piano works. This 2 CD set includes
complete Préludes together with the Children’s Corner.

Debussy’s oeuvre has been explored both by the amateur pianist and
the most legendary virtuosos of the keyboard. Throughout his career
Debussy sought new ways to express his musical vistas. He began
numerous large compositional projects and between these big ventures
wrote miniatures such as songs and piano pieces. Fine examples of
these are the Préludes and the Children’s Corner.

Debussy’s 24 piano preludes were published in two sets in 1910
and 1913. These miniatures are varied in character and style, and
include, among others, references to literature, poetry, nature, the
Mediterranean landscape and the events in Paris during Debussy’s
lifetime. This work resulted in the creation of such enigmatic pieces as
La cathédrale engloutie, La fille aux cheveux de lin and Des pas sur la
neige, to name but a few.

The six pieces forming the cycle Children’s Corner (1908) evoke adult
recollections of childhood. The set bears a dedication to Debussy’s
daughter Chouchou and includes some of Debussy’s most well-known
piano pieces, including The Snow is Dancing and Golliwogg’s cake
walk.

A dedicated performer of French music, Paavali Jumppanen often
performs the large cycles of Debussy’s late period, namely the Préludes
and the Études. About a Debussy recital, The Boston Globe reported
how “Jumppanen maximized piano’s deeply resonant qualities—not
just to create beautiful sound but to point up how radical Debussy’s
harmonic language was.” Another critic (ConcertoNet.com) noted:
”I was bowled over by Mr. Jumppanen’s performance. - - As for his
upcoming recording of the complete Debussy Preludes, sight-unseen, I
would urge any collector to grab it: if it is anything like the Etudes we
heard last Sunday, we are in for a treat!” New York Arts continued:
“Magnificent recital. - - I cannot imagine a more penetrating, subtle,
and beautiful traversal of Debussy’s final statement for the piano.”

Paavali Jumppanen’s blog can be followed at: www.paavalijumppanen.
com/