DEBUSSY | Pour le piano: III. Toccata: mm. 25–30

“I use this fingering because it allows the right hand to stay in a relatively close position. Playing the right-hand thumb on the first note of each fragment, which is an undershape up to the fifth finger, causes the elbow to have to move further and more precipitously from left to right than the 1 2 5 undershape. The overshape from the top note down to the thumb doesn’t cause the arm to move as much. This is very important in the very quick tempo of this piece. In addition, it is closer to move the thumb from the last thumb up to the top note. And lastly, taking the first note of the fragment with the left hand allows the right hand one extra note to complete the movement up to the top note.”

Submitted by Deborah Cleaver

Published on 1/2/2022