# Debussy's "La Mer" Opinions? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 5, 2008, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debussys-la-mer-opinions/444064 "2008-04-05T11:51:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2008, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debussys-la-mer-opinions/444064/1 "2008-04-05T11:51:25Z")
I was listening to this piece last night, on my evening commute. I think it is a hard piece of music to hear in a car-because the range of volume is so wide. i found mysed starining to hear the pieces that were so low in volume. is this piece highly regarded today? Is is something that is best heard live, in concert? Any recommendations about the best recording of it? ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2008, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debussys-la-mer-opinions/444064/2 "2008-04-05T12:15:29Z")
Fabulous piece, full of vivid colours and details. Very highly regarded, it’s one of the masterpieces of impressionism in music. I’ve got no particular recommendations for recordings, but there are free MP3s [here](http://www.peabody.jhu.edu/psorecordings), of about a good a student performance as you could ask for. ---
**Author:** ![jovan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/0ea827/32.png) [@jovan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jovan)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2008, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debussys-la-mer-opinions/444064/3 "2008-04-05T14:07:52Z")
When it comes to Debussy, I’m quite fond of Charles Dutoit and the Montreal Symphony Orchestra. The following is a very beautiful record: > **[Claude Debussy, Charles Dutoit, Montreal Symphony - Debussy: La Mer - Amazon.com...](https://www.amazon.com/Debussy-Mer-Claude/dp/B00002MXMY)** > > DUTOIT CHARLES / SYMPHONIQUE D Now I’ve listened to Debussy a lot in my car, but the ideal context to listen to these pieces that are meant to be very evocative is one where you can close your eyes and look at the sea the music is painting for you. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2008, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debussys-la-mer-opinions/444064/4 "2008-04-05T16:02:11Z")
A masterpiece, simply stated. My favorite: Pierre Boulez conducting the Cleveland Orchestra, on the Deutsche Grammophon label. The aforementioned Dutoit recording is excellent as well, not to mention recording conducted by Martinon and Munch, for some older ones. With a good sound system, you’ll be much pleased listening to this at home. But the bottom line is, of course something live is almost always better. Live music \> recorded music. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2008, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debussys-la-mer-opinions/444064/5 "2008-04-05T19:43:05Z")
[QUOTE=ralph124c] I think it is a hard piece of music to hear in a car-because the range of volume is so wide. [/QUOTE] Yes. Listen to the Dutoit/Montreal recording of Holst’s _Planets_ instead. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2008, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debussys-la-mer-opinions/444064/6 "2008-04-05T20:53:31Z")
In the first movement, ‘From Dawn to Noon on the Sea’, the part at quarter past eleven is very good. At least, that’s the part Erik Satie supposedly said he particularly liked. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2008, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debussys-la-mer-opinions/444064/7 "2008-04-05T23:59:36Z")
Absolutely adore it. (And Debussy in general). I used to listen to “La Mer” while studying when I was in college-it always helped me drown out background noise and the like, and helped me concentrate. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2008, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debussys-la-mer-opinions/444064/8 "2008-04-06T06:23:07Z")
[QUOTE=Knorf] My favorite: Pierre Boulez conducting the Cleveland Orchestra, on the Deutsche Grammophon label. [/QUOTE] Mine too. It’s the kind of music that just keep getting better and better, the more I hear it. And it’s an amazing piece, live. ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2008, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debussys-la-mer-opinions/444064/9 "2008-04-06T14:48:09Z")
I enjoy it a great deal and it always in my top 10 CDs, but (now don’t jump on my too hard) I always feel there is something missing. No, I don’t know what it is. I can’t point to it. It always feels to me as if there is just something little that’s not there. But as I said I do like it, love it, but I always come away with that nagging feeling. It’s a small feeling, but it’s there. OK, I’ll shut up. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2008, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debussys-la-mer-opinions/444064/10 "2008-04-06T21:20:36Z")
[QUOTE=TV time] I enjoy it a great deal and it always in my top 10 CDs, but (now don’t jump on my too hard) I always feel there is something missing. No, I don’t know what it is. I can’t point to it. It always feels to me as if there is just something little that’s not there. But as I said I do like it, love it, but I always come away with that nagging feeling. It’s a small feeling, but it’s there. OK, I’ll shut up. [/QUOTE] Possibly since it’s so impressionistic? Fewer “hard edges” and more unresolved climaxes?