Dreaming with Debussy
My mother was a classically trained musician. She was not only a highly accomplished violinist, but she was also an incredible pianist. When she was still in her earthly form, our house was always filled with music. If it wasn't her playing the violin or the piano, then we always had something on the Hi-Fi...hee hee...Hi-Fi...that sounded so high tech back then, now it just sounds like something you might get doing something unprotected...but anyway, I grew up around all kinds of music. We could be listening to Chopin one minute and the next, Frank Zappa and it's this kind of upbringing that made the weirdo...I mean, ecclectic individualization of Life I am today.

So, even though I continue to have varied tastes in music, I do have my favorites and one of them is dear 'ol Claude Debussy. My mother was a Pisces and I, being born exactly two weeks after her birthday, am also a Pisces and Pisceans, being rather dreamy, moody, sensitive, and open are "suckers" for any kind of music that touches the emotions because most
water signs live by their emotions rather than by their intellect. I happen to be a double Pisces which only means that I am jacked up x 2. Not really, but I am a very emotional person. I have, however, learned to use my sensitivity rather than having my sensitivity using me which only tends to make one fragile.

So, what the heck does all this have to do with this particular collection of music?

Plenty.

This music when played during periods of relaxation and meditation can open you up to the deeper levels of life that are always just right beneath the surface. So many of us are so distracted by outer appearances and conditions that we fail to see that all our outer life really is, is just a symbol...a metaphor...for what is going on inwardly. If your life is confusing, upsetting, chaotic it could be that your inner life is also confused, upset, and full of chaos.

Or maybe I'm just talking out my aspirations.

I invite you to wake up an hour early and listen to this CD while doing some light stretches, a few minutes of some just breathing deeply and slowly, and maybe even 15 minutes of so of just writing or doodling and don't let this music just be "white noise"...hey, I think I just created a name for my friend's rap band...but take this music deep into your soul...breathe it in...breathe it out...for just one hour "be" the music.

I think that Debussy was a genius. He didn't just compose music, music composed him. If you listen very, very carefully you will be able to tell that Debussy listened very closely to his soul. It was as if he asked a Heavenly Council for permission to use music that is clearly not of this world. Yes, his music is Impressionist, but it is also Expressionist; an expression of Pure Love, Pure Light, Pure Life the realms from which all things seen as well as unseen come forth from. Listen to Reverie, La Mer (all three portions), or, of course, Claire de Lune and you will quickly realize that this "mere mortal" tapped the eternal and the earthreal into finite compositions that transcend mere music and puts it in a completely different category.

So, after all this why am I giving this CD four stars...I have a real challenge with the name of the CD, Debussy's Greatest Hits. For God's sakes, this is Debussy, it's not Britney Spears or Barry Manillow. Debussy didn't create "hits", he created something that surpasses such a shallow judgment. His music is truly an observation of the Divine coming into form. The Divine does not create "Greatest Hits", the Divine only creates masterpieces and it's only our perceptions and our interpretations of these masterpieces that make it hit or miss. Which, of course has nothing to do with the Divine, but everything to do with us.

I urge you to buy this CD and let yourself dream again. Get out of your head and back into your heart. Even if you don't do the excercises I suggested; the breathing, the writing, the stretching, just allow this music to wash over you and heal you in ways you never thought possible.

Stretch forth and be the blessing you were created to be. Make this CD a prelude to your day and miracles will begin to happen.

I promise...

Peace & Blessings,
john, 'the Light Coach'

Probably the best compilation of a single composer's works. Ever!
Claude Debussy is perhaps the most understated composer in the history of man. His ability to compose both on the piano and for orchestra is unmatched, in my humble opinion. The fact that Debussy was able to also arrange many contemporary and previous composers' works just adds to his resume. He had a gift, pure and simple.

Although this album doesn't (well, honestly it couldn't) contain all the best of Debussy's catalog (you would need his entire catalog), it does certainly contain some of his best work. The entire CD is a beautifully aranged, beautifully played, well recorded compilation with good sound mixing and it is a respectful tribute to a truly great composer.

"Claire de Lune" (Moonlighting) is perhaps one of the most gorgeous pieces of music ever composed; this is the orchestrated version, but the piano version is nice if you get the chance to listen to it (I recommend the entire suite, Suite Bergamasque, for any piano lover, but I digress). "Arabesque No. 1" is superb. "Fetes" is both haunting and airy. "Reverie" is the best piano piece I have ever heard. "The Girl with the Flaxen Hair" is also a wonderful piano piece. "The Sunken Cathedral" is dark and mysterious, a true wonder.

The rest of the album is fantastic. Listed above are just my top, personal favorites from the disc. I listen to this CD at least once a week, but often more. It is perfect for relaxation, for listening while reading, or for my personal favorite use, to block out noise while I am writing.

I would recommend this to any classical lover. If you have not heard Debussy's music, you must get this CD; it will have you ordering more of his compositions almost immediately. The man was a genius.

I would also add that if you enjoy this, I recommend that you continue your Debussy experience with the following: Debussy: Orchestral Works I and Debussy: Orchestral Works II and if you are looking for works on piano, I recommend Jean-Yves Thibaudet-Debussy - Complete Piano Works, Vol. 1 and Jean-Yves Thibaudet-Debussy - Complete Piano Works, Vol. 2, and finally if you seek Chamber pieces, you can check out Debussy: Complete Chamber Music. All of these discs are excellent and I highly recommend each to grow your Debussy collection.

Enjoy!!!

This is a brilliant assembly of Debussy.
After listening to his "Greatest Hits," I know why he is considered one of the best.

THIS IS THE STUFF RIGHT HERE!
I BOUGHT THIS BECAUSE I WAS TRYING EXPAND MY HORIZONS, YOU KNOW? CULTURALLY AND MENTALLY, YOU KNOW? SERIOUSLY THOUGH I WAS IN THE SHOP AND I WAS HAVING A GAZE AROUND THE PLACE AND THEN THIS PICTURE JUST JUMPS OUT AT ME, AND I PICKED IT UP AND IT WAS THIS DEBUSSY CHAP AND ID HEARD ABOUT HIM ON THE BBC LEARNING ZONE SO I THOUGHT ;why not?; SERIOUSLY THOUGH I DRAGGED IT HOME AND I POPPED IT IN THE OLD CD PLAYER AND IT FLOORED ME.......I MEAN SERIOUSLY THIS THING...AMAAZING STUFF..I MEAN TODAYS MUSIC HAS NOTHING, NOTHING NOTHING ON THIS STUFF RIGHT HERE.

SOME GOOD TRACKS ARE:
TRACK 1 IS THE BEST. THE OPENING FLUTE ON THE TRACK IS TOTALLY CHILLED AND COOL, REMINDS ME A BIT OF TRACK 13 ON ILL COMMUNICATION BY THE BEASTIE BOYS...A COINCIDENCE???

THE ONLY WEAK TRACK ON THE ALBUM IS TRACK 6, THE UNFORTUNATELY TITLED "CHILDRENS CORNER SUITE: GOLLIWOGGS CAKE WALK" THE MUSIC IS JUST DATED MAN, JUST AS DATED AS THE TITLE.

OVERALL THOUGH THIS IS A QUALITY ALBUM, WITH CHILLS, SPILLS AND THRILLS. SERIOUSLY THOUGH A FINE EFFORT.

Debussy is the best. Ever.
I love Debussy and all of his brilliant work. I barely listen to any other classical music, so I am not an authority, just an honest lover of music. I play piano and love piano music, so I was not disappointed at a piano Flaxen-Haired Girl. I've never heard an orchestrated version and don't need to. This is a good introductory CD to Debussy's work, I love it! The only thing I don't care for is the Arabesque #1 (Track 9). The horn is kind of grating and clunky to hear in such an otherwise beautiful piece. Still, its interesting and different. Everything Debussy made is purest gold.