Reverie; Danse; Clair de Lune; Jardins Sous la Pluie; La Plus Que Lente; La Fille Aux Cheveux de Lin; Dr. Gradus Ad Parnassum; The Little Shepherd; Golliwog's Cakewalk / Jeux d'Eau; Alborada Del Gracioso

This 1965 release from the Educo label features the Canadian pianist and conductor Reginald Stewart performing a selection of impressionist piano works by Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel. Educo was a specialized label founded by Jerome Bunke that focused primarily on educational recordings, often featuring pedagogical insights or standard repertoire intended for students and music enthusiasts. The selection on this disc highlights the lush, atmospheric textures of the early twentieth-century French school, framing pieces like Debussy’s 'Clair de lune' alongside the rhythmic vitality of Ravel’s 'Jeux d’eau'.

The curation of these works reflects the mid-century academic interest in standardizing the interpretation of impressionist piano literature. Reginald Stewart, known for his long-standing career as the director of the Peabody Conservatory, brings a traditionalist approach to these pieces, emphasizing clarity of line and rhythmic precision over the more fluid, experimental interpretations that were also emerging during the 1960s. As part of the Educo catalog, the record served as a technical reference point for students studying the nuanced dynamic requirements and pedal techniques essential to the Debussy and Ravel canon.