Im only an amateur pianist, but have been playing debussys piano works since the late 70s. With such puzzling questions in mind, i began my doctoral program of musical. Any recordings you find of sviatoslav richter playing any of debussys preludes are also worthy of consideration. Among french musics most avantgarde expressions, they also contain some of debussys most atonal sorties.
Ilya itin, piano this video was recorded at the golandsky institute international piano festival at princeton university. I think i may say without undue pride, that i believe these three pieces will live and will take their. My analysis of canope debussy preludes for piano, book ii. Unlike some notable collections of preludes from prior times, such as chopins op. Aug 16, 20 i played canopus from preludes book 2 composed by c. Its followed by another sad prelude, feuilles mortes dead leaves. The first book was composed between 1901 and 1905, and the second book was composed in 1907. Sep 29, 2006 claudio arrau considered it to be one of debussys greatest preludes and said its miraculous that he created, in so few notes, this kind of depth. Canope preludes, book ii, 19 playing debussys piano works. Playing debussys piano works an amateurs thoughts about. I was delighted that he has recorded debussys preludes books 1 and 2 for dg in 2012 and decided to get them. Daniel ericourt books iii ivory classics 73006 4cd priced as 2 vladimir viardo books iii propiano 224525.
Some pedaling marks at the bottom if these pages were cut off. Often dubbed a musical impressionist, but his music always has a strong sense of form. Debussy preludes, book 1 by claude debussy 18621918. A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude. The engulfed cathedral is the tenth prelude in the first volume of debussys preludes. The velvet revolution of claude debussy the new yorker. These works have been central to stevens repertoire for many years and he brings them to the. Adopting the major piano works including the preludes, bartok absorbed the liberated message as deeply as he absorbed the idiom of the hungarian peasant. There are, of course, many other complete recordings of the preludes, books iii. Pierrelaurent aimards style of playing is strong and firm but sensitive when he wants to be and is very well recorded by dgs engineers. Claude debussys preludes are 24 pieces for solo piano, divided into two books of 12 preludes each. These compositions, while endearing themselves to both pianist and listener, also occupy an important place in musical.
Both books 1 and 2 of debussys popular piano preludes are contained in this one sturdy volume. Dovers book of debussy preludes is made of extremely high quality print on heavier paper than usual. In the middle section, a strong melody emerges, harmonized in thirds, quickly overcome by the rapid motion of the beginning. Shop and buy complete preludes, books 1 and 2 sheet music. Pianist imogen c ooper painted evocative sound pictures in a bbc radio 3 lunchtime recital featuring music by debussy, beethoven and chopin.
The purpose of this thesis is to discuss and give a descriptive analysis of twelve of the twentyfour preludes written by claude debussy. There are evocations of calm seascapes, delicate wind tracery, and snowcovered landscapes. The twentyfour preludes of debussy are published in two books of twelve preludes each. By debussy s death in march 1918, book i had been reprinted five times, making a total of 8,360 copies. While the solo piano version of debussys preludes will always. Debussy preludes book 2 free downloadable sheet music. By debussys death in march 1918, book i had been reprinted five. They were published in two books series, each consisting of three pieces. Through the halfsteps and pitches utilized in these two measures, debussy hints at each of the four episodes by highlighting their tonal centers, d, g, c, and a. Images usually pronounced in french is a suite of six compositions for solo piano by claude debussy. Canope preludes, book ii, 19 playing debussys piano. This significant compilation of 12 preludes represents debussy s mature writing style and is filled with a great diversity of compositional styles. It depicts an old legend from brittany that states, to punish the people for their sins, the cathedral in the mighty city of ys is engulfed by the sea.
Secondguessers have suggested debussy should have placed this piece into his later collection of piano etudes. My analysis of canope debussy preludes for piano, book. Along with maurice ravel, he is considered one of the most prominent figures working within the field of impressionist music, though he himself intensely disliked the term when applied to. This is the most virtuosic of the book 2 preludes so far. Mar 21, 2020 claude debussy, french composer whose works were a seminal force in the music of the 20th century. The late mary antonietti, a pianist and cousin of gustav holst who met debussy when he came to london in 1909, remembered that book ii of the preludes was greeted in britain with slight disappointment. Debussys piano pieces require deep thought and understanding. He was too good a composer to imitate debussy, although there are a few. Les sons et les parfums tournent dans lair du soir modere 3. Here in his first debussy recording for hyperion he presents the two books of images. The repeated grace notes create parallel lines, and the restatement of the motive at the end of the section starts with a grace note on a but ends on g to transition to the restatement of section b b, measures 2123. During the five years before his death from cancer.
The first, hesitant, motive three easily recognizable notes in a short arpeggio at the real beginning of the piece, and the second faith motive heard shortly thereafter. 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. This album contains the preludes, books 1 and 2 by debussy, presented by piano classics, a label of brilliant classics. Claude debussys two books of preludes, implying homage to both chopin and bach, revel in the composers innovative piano techniques. Complete preludes, books 1 and 2 by claude debussy 18621918. The first thing to know about debussys symphonic poem prelude to the. Debussy s colouristic masterpiece, a bewitching compendium of scents, colours and sounds. These beautiful french works are a must for all pianists. Each book contains twelve preludes for the piano, many of them known to todays musical audiences because of their great popularity with pianists worldwide.
That this was general we can to some extent see from the sales figures quoted by roy howat. Along with maurice ravel, he is considered one of the most prominent figures working within the field of impressionist music, though he himself intensely disliked the term when applied to his compositions. Download piano sheet music from piano street digital sheet music library. Helpful english translations of french terms as well as debussy s performance. Claude debussy, in full achilleclaude debussy, born august 22, 1862, saintgermainenlaye, francedied march 25, 1918, paris, french composer whose works were a seminal force in the music of the 20th century. Claudio arrau considered it to be one of debussys greatest preludes and said its miraculous that he created, in so few notes, this kind of depth. Complete your claude debussy paul jacobs collection.
The beams on even the 32nd notes are very easy to distinguish many printers do not get such a high resolution and the spaces between 2 or 3 beams are often poorly defined resulting in fat black patches instead of distinct lines. Three years exist between the publication of the first and second book, with the former appearing in 1910. Here, in one volume, are two bodies of work that, perhaps more than any others, reveal the essence of claude debussys extraordinary expressiveness and his innovative gifts for musical imagery. 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. These works are distinct from debussy s images pour orchestre. They were published in two booksseries, each consisting of three pieces. Prelude and fugue in csharp minor bach 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. I provide the original scanned version and the filtered, because the filter does some changes smoothening, sharpening borders and some portions of the scan get lost sometimes when they are too small e. These works are distinct from debussys images pour orchestre. This blog is dedicated to discussion of the performance of the piano pieces of claude debussy. Also recorded here is the second book of preludes, in a poetic and evocative performance.
Chopin, in 1872 he entered the paris conservatoire, where he abandoned the plan of becoming. Achilleclaude debussy august 22, 1862 march 25, 1918 was a french composer. A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude debussy. This paper also includes a brief history of preludes as well as possible influences upon debussy and his compositions. Preludes and fugues concert programs quartets but likewise for those of mozart, beethoven, and the generations. Feux dartifice, from preludes, book ii tanya gabrielian. Debussys colouristic masterpiece, a bewitching compendium of scents, colours and sounds. While in an opera or ballet, a prelude may be a mood setting introduction to. This is the second series of images, the first appearing in 1904, and the third originally conceived for two pianos but never completed. In these pages ill try to summarize what references i have on the performance of.
It is best to start where pierre boulez said modern music was born. The esoteric style of writing in both books was in accordance with the nature of. He developed a highly original system of harmony and musical structure that expressed in many respects the ideals to which the impressionist and symbolist painters and writers of his time aspired. He developed a highly original system of harmony and musical structure that expressed in many respects the ideals to which the impressionist. Here, in one volume, are two bodies of work that, perhaps more than any others, reveal the essence of claude debussy s extraordinary expressiveness and his innovative gifts for musical imagery. 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. Feux dartifice, from preludes, book ii claude debussy. Complete preludes, books 1 and 2 by claude debussy 1862. Preludes ii, l1 debussy from cda67920 hyperion records. Aug 19, 2016 the composer who benefited most from this liberation was bartok, who was introduced to debussys music by kodaly in 1907. Claude debussy s preludes are 24 pieces for solo piano, divided into two books of 12 preludes each. Complete preludes, books 1 and 2 dover music for piano.
Book ii had been reprinted twice, making a total of 4,000 copies. Two excerpts from the emperor concerto, showing beethovens use of uneven groups of notes. Im aiming to get through them over the next couple of years, but would like to start with the easiest few and work my way up, while also bubbling along with any that are crazy difficult so that i spend more time overall on them, and then. Order of difficulty of debussy preludes is there a general guide to the difficulty of the debussy preludes. I played canopus from preludes book 2 composed by c. 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. Module 5 analysis of piano repertoire lessons 1 and 2 debussy preludes the student must look for the book the piano works of claude debsusy, by e. My personal journey through the 24 debussy preludes. A new album from marcandre hamelin is always cause for celebration. Debussys literary inspirations were mostly french, but he did not overlook foreign writers. The music expresses a vast repertoire of emotions, colors and moods. Secondguessers have suggested debussy should have placed this.
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