And you thought cooking was hard…

Don't tell a French food addict that you've enjoyed "authentic" Bouillabaisse because that will start a fight. It seems that even in Marseilles everyone has a different idea as to how the recipe should go. When it comes to music, at least as far as pop music is concerned, we know how the performance should go because we all heard the same recording with the original artist. That doesn't work too often in classical music since the original artists have long since joined the choir invisible.

On the Piano this Sunday Claude Debussy's Preludes, not quite with the original artist, but with a great pianist who studied these light and elusive works with the composer himself.

Hear Debussy, one step removed on the Piano this Sunday afternoon at 5 on KPAC and KTXI.

host, Randy Anderson

Birthdays

Today is the anniversary of Claude Debussy's birth, back in 1862.
Here is a piano roll of Debussy himself:


Philippe Entremont plays Debussy in NYC:



It is also the birthday of violinist Maud Powell in 1868. She was an American violinist who gained international acclaim for her skill and virtuosity. Powell was born in Peru, Illinois. She was the first American violinist to achieve international rank. Several foundations as well as a musical festival were founded in her honor to continue musical education.
Powell was a niece of the American Civil War hero and explorer of the Grand Canyon, John Wesley Powell.
She recorded extensively for the Victor Talking Machine Company and collected recordings of her performances from 1904-1917 are available.
Recently (in 2007), American violinist Rachel Barton Pine released a CD of music transcribed by, commissioned by or dedicated to Maud Powell.

Here are a few of her arrangements: