As he plays debussys book 1 preludes, you notice how effortlessly his arms, hands, and fingers are choreographed to the music. Maybe i am a lazy pianist but i like editions that have some fingering suggestions so i dont have so much work to do. I just heard richard goode perform book i of the debussy preludes about a month ago. The works in debussys second book of preludes are similar in intent to those of book i 1907 1910. Jan 09, 2010 voiles, number 2 from book i of debussys preludes. The most important early example of the prelude being exemplified in the forty eight preludes and fugues of books i and ii of the well tempered clavier. This piece is pure debussy a beautiful, quiet contemplative tone poem. Dressed in a chic tan turtleneck, untucked, but with a belt clasped around it, arturo benedetti michelangeli sits at the piano in an intimate studio in october, 1978. This blog is dedicated to discussion of the performance of the piano pieces of claude debussy. The excerpt in figure l is the main melody of voiles as it opens the piece and constantly reappears throughout the piece as a repetitive motif. Book i was composed in a short time between december 1909 and february 1910. There is throughout the sense of going on a journey, even awe, to osbornes interpretations.
Sep 29, 2006 here are my thoughts about playing this piece. Im only an amateur pianist, but have been playing debussys piano works since the late 70s. For an automatically generated alphabetical list of all available pieces, please see category. Preludes book 2 debussy preludes, opus 32 rachmaninoff by lawrence budmen while an entire concert of preludes may seem repetitive at first glance, the term had a very different meaning to various composers. But presumably it must have drawn attention to his new debussy recording, which neatly fits both books of. Claude debussy composed the second book of preludes during 1910 12. Debussy did nothing less than liberate music from the domination by functional harmony which had prevailed for three centuries. The reason i ask is that this would be be much more etherial at double tempo really lightening up on the fastest notes.
What debussy was doing in the preludes and earlier works with a similar inspiration. Claude debussy h18621918 by the time he began writing the first book of preludes, claude debussy had established himself as an important and prolific composer having already produced most of the works that history would label masterpieces. While in an opera or ballet, a prelude may be a mood setting introduction to. The title of the piece may be translated to english as either veils or sails. For mixed chorus, orchestra arr for chorus with orchestra arr scores featuring mixed chorus arr scores featuring the orchestra arr for mandolin, orchestra arr scores featuring the mandolin arr for orchestra with soloists arr. Debussy may have contributed the last important evolution to the prelude.
Inspired by the performances of the american dancer loie. Dec 12, 2011 this project was cancelled due to lack of funding. I have one other schirmer debussy piano book and this compilation book was what led me to purchase this set of preludes. Achilleclaude debussy aged 55, debussy was universally acknowledged as one of the most important musicians of his time debussy. Here in his first debussy recording for hyperion he presents the two books of images.
These beautiful french works are a must for all pianists. Also recorded here is the second book of preludes, in a poetic and evocative performance. Unlike other collections of preludes by great composers, debussys do not follow a strict pattern of key signature. For an automatically generated alphabetical list of all available pieces, please see. Among the most important 20th century composers, and the most influential. The titles are provided at the end of each prelude and left without dedication, with inspiration from impressionist artwork, literature, and nature. Debussy preludes, book 1 download free sheet music. Debussys piano pieces require deep thought and understanding. Playing debussys piano works an amateurs thoughts about. It is the second piece in a set of twelve preludes published in 1910. Voiles, from debussys first book of preludes, certainly displays some of debussys compositional affinities. The music becomes more dramatic toward the end of the set. A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude.
A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude debussy. The recorded quality is perfectly satisfactory, there is a rather runofthemill liner note, but a cd containing less than 40. Voiles yvonne lefebure claude debussy couperin, debussy, roussel. These compositions, while endearing themselves to both pianist and. Logged the music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway. Canope preludes, book ii, 19 playing debussys piano works. Canope preludes, book ii, 19 playing debussys piano. I would argue the tonality of this piece as being primarily based in c major. Sep 29, 2009 claude debussy s painterly preludes the subtle, elusive quality of debussy s twentyfour preludes is captured perfectly by pianist paul jacobs, who plays them with a tolling, belllike sound. This album contains the preludes, books 1 and 2 by debussy, presented by piano classics, a label of brilliant classics.
Ive not played this piece, but it is it possible to play the thirds with two hands one for top line and other for bottom. As seen in figure l, while maintaining the same right hand melody, debussy adds not just one, but two melodic lines under. Unlike some notable collections of preludes from prior times, such as chopins op. In these pages ill try to summarize what references i have on the performance of. Inspired by the performances of the american dancer loie fuller, whose scarf dances were. Please add your thoughts in the comments at the bottom. Debussy took great care in assigning these titles, and several contain quotations from various poems. A good recording of the debussy preludes should feel like an occasion, and steven osborne delivers. His playing seeps with atmosphere and he delves deep into the composers sound world. Debussy, c 12 etudes preludes, book 1 images suite bergamasque idil biret solo edition, vol. This paper also includes a brief history of preludes as well as possible influences upon debussy and his compositions. Claude debussy, preludes, book i debussys preludes are divided into two parts. Im only an amateur pianist, but have been playing debussy s piano works since the late 70s. Debussy preludes, book 1 by claude debussy 18621918.
Claude debussys preludes are two sets of pieces for solo piano, written in 191010 and 1912, and published as book i and ii respectively. Often dubbed a musical impressionist, but his music always has a strong sense of form. As for his piano compositions, after he completed the second book of preludes the only. In voiles, debussy uses a slightly different approach to layering his melodies. Voiles metadata this file contains additional information such as exif metadata which may have been added by the digital camera, scanner, or software program used to create or digitize it. Imagine going to a concert and hearing the prelude or whatever the first movement might be to a bach suite or partita, but none of the following. Types of triplets found in piano compositions of debussy and places where they are found. The purpose of this thesis is to discuss and give a descriptive analysis of twelve of the twentyfour preludes written by claude debussy. Although the composer did not think the preludes should be performed as a cycle, book two is perfectly symmetrical with two showpieces at the start and end on the twelve pieces. A list of works in the composer category that are not included here can be. A list of works in the composer category that are not included here can be found on this page. Claude debussy had been toying with the idea of writing a book of preludes for some time, and once he began, the process was a speedy one with his first volume completed within two months. Claude debussys painterly preludes the subtle, elusive quality of debussys twentyfour preludes is captured perfectly by pianist paul jacobs, who plays them with a tolling, belllike sound.
Steven osborne has already made a name for himself in french music with a disc of alkan and a profoundly moving performance of messiaens vingt regards. The twentyfour preludes of debussy are published in two books of twelve preludes each. Youll change your opinion, nicko, if you ever hear it played well. Its international competitions, education programs, and concert series embody an enduring commitment to. Chopin, debussy composed twentyfour preludes in two books 1910 and 19. Compositions of debussy, the number of measures marked piano, and the number of measures marked forte. In his later works, debussy took greater chances, implementing more nonresolving dissonances selfproclaimed floating chords and fragmented forms. These works have been central to stevens repertoire for many years and he brings them to the studio after. Media in category preludes by claude debussy the following 28 files are in this category, out of 28 total. Rachel cheung, who has been a young steinway artist since 2011, has studied with peter frankl at the yale school of music and with eleanor wong at the hong kong academy for the performing arts.
The project goal was to revive the origins of chamber music organizing concerts on private settings. Claude debussys preludes are 24 pieces for solo piano, divided into two books of 12 preludes each. Voiles da preludi, libro i, per pianoforte debussy voiles preludes, book 1 no. This list is manually maintained, therefore some of the available pieces may not yet be linked from this page. Several of them look ahead to debussys later style, in which the composers earlier impressionistic, almost romantic poetry was supplanted by a greater concentration upon technique and neoclassical objectivity. Ricordi preludes book 1 piano solo piano collection. Debussy, c 12 etudes preludes, book 1 images suite. Debussys colouristic masterpiece, a bewitching compendium of scents, colours and sounds.
Debussy dover music for piano by debussy, claude isbn. Voiles is a composition by claude debussy for solo piano from 1909. Preludes, an album by claude debussy, krystian zimerman on spotify we and our partners use cookies to personalize your experience, to show you ads based on your interests, and for measurement and analytics purposes. Other debussian devices include the regarding of the seventh chord e. Three years exist between the publication of the first and second book, with the former appearing in 1910. These compositions, while endearing themselves to both pianist and listener, also occupy an important place in musical.
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