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Late Romantic and Impressionist · arabesque

Deuxième Arabesque, L. 66 No. 2

Claude Debussy · Level 7, estimated · With Maestro

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The short answer

An undated manuscript, and a date that remains uncertain. Deuxième Arabesque, L. 66 No. 2 is a piece by Claude Debussy from the Late Romantic and Impressionist era. PlayPiano puts it at Level 7, an estimate.

On this page
  • arabesque
  • Late Romantic and Impressionist
  • joyful
  • playful
  • voicing

Also known as CD 74 (parent catalogue); L. 74 (revised parent catalogue).

History

Debussy's second Arabesque was published with the first in a small initial edition in October 1891. The surviving autograph is undated, so a precise composition year for No. 2 should not be asserted. The pair attracted little immediate notice and became widely known only years later.

Sources

What to listen for

  1. Light, playful gestures

    Small slurred triplet groups alternate with detached eighth notes. Keep the contrast crisp and light, following the opening instruction to play softly and very lightly.

  2. A brief spark

    Triplet eighth notes lift the phrase into a more emphatic gesture. Notice the sudden accented colours, then release the energy rather than making the whole opening heavy.

  3. Listen to the spaces

    Short accented gestures are followed by rests. Leave the silences audible; they are part of the playful rhythm, not gaps to fill with pedal.

  4. A smoother conversation

    Longer melody notes now sit above sustained chord tones. Let this quieter passage sing, distinguishing the moving upper line from the held supporting voices.

  5. Energy fades away

    The quick triplet figure returns strongly, then thins out through rests and a marked decrease in volume. Shape the retreat into the very soft arpeggiated chord.

  6. A bolder interruption

    Accented chords and sharper gestures interrupt the delicate texture. Contrast this stronger sound with the opening without losing the rhythmic clarity.

How to practise it

Keep the tiny upper groups light above changing held chords.

  1. Practise one turn-and-arrival group slowly, then connect two.
  2. Practise the two held chord shapes at a quiet volume.
  3. Connect the stated opening gestures at a comfortable tempo, keeping their distinct releases.

How hard is it

Level 7, estimated

This complete-component target emphasizes controlled articulation and coherent contrasts, not merely decoding pitches slowly. Its level is independent of the first arabesque's proposed placement.

About this piece

Interpretive sketch of Claude Debussy, an illustration and not a verified likeness
An illustration, not a portrait
Collection
French piano colors
Licence
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0
Source
mutopiaproject.org
Credit
“Deuxième Arabesque” by C. Debussy (1862 to 1918). Mutopia edition maintained by Knute Snortum. Source: https://www.mutopiaproject.org/cgibin/piece-info.cgi?id=1994. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/. Changes to the supplied file: none; any later conversion or edit must be disclosed separately.

More by Claude Debussy

  1. The Little Shepherd, Children's Corner No. 5Level 5, estimatedWith Maestro
  2. Clair de lune, Suite bergamasque, L. 75Level 8, estimatedWith Maestro
  3. La cathédrale engloutie, Préludes I No. 10Level 8, estimatedWith Maestro

With Maestro

Play it, slow it down, hear where you land

Keep the tiny upper groups light above changing held chords.

Practise it in PlayPiano