(Pagodas)
(Here are my thoughts about playing this piece. Please add your thoughts in the comments at the bottom.)
Estampes is considered by many to be the point of departure for Debussy’s exploration of new sounds for the piano. Before 1903 Debussy’s piano music is very beautiful, but (as Ravel pointed out) contained little that is new. After 1903 we have a completely new approach to the piano, leading to the Images and Preludes. Pagodes starts this exploration by using strong influences from oriental music, particular the Javanese gamelan.
