Mar 21, 2020 claude debussy, french composer whose works were a seminal force in the music of the 20th century. Canope preludes, book ii, 19 playing debussys piano works. Unlike some notable collections of preludes from prior times, such as chopins op. Three years exist between the publication of the first and second book, with the former appearing in 1910. That this was general we can to some extent see from the sales figures quoted by roy howat. Ilya itin, piano this video was recorded at the golandsky institute international piano festival at princeton university. Chopin, in 1872 he entered the paris conservatoire, where he abandoned the plan of becoming. Debussy s colouristic masterpiece, a bewitching compendium of scents, colours and sounds. Order of difficulty of debussy preludes is there a general guide to the difficulty of the debussy preludes. The music expresses a vast repertoire of emotions, colors and moods. There are, of course, many other complete recordings of the preludes, books iii.
Complete preludes, books 1 and 2 by claude debussy 18621918. Also recorded here is the second book of preludes, in a poetic and evocative performance. By debussy s death in march 1918, book i had been reprinted five times, making a total of 8,360 copies. Download piano sheet music from piano street digital sheet music library. The twentyfour preludes of debussy are published in two books of twelve preludes each. Im only an amateur pianist, but have been playing debussys piano works since the late 70s. 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. Debussys piano pieces require deep thought and understanding. He developed a highly original system of harmony and musical structure that expressed in many respects the ideals to which the impressionist. Here in his first debussy recording for hyperion he presents the two books of images. Claude debussy s preludes are 24 pieces for solo piano, divided into two books of 12 preludes each. Each book contains twelve preludes for the piano, many of them known to todays musical audiences because of their great popularity with pianists worldwide.
Achilleclaude debussy august 22, 1862 march 25, 1918 was a french composer. Secondguessers have suggested debussy should have placed this. 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. The engulfed cathedral is the tenth prelude in the first volume of debussys preludes. With such puzzling questions in mind, i began my doctoral program of musical. By debussys death in march 1918, book i had been reprinted five. Complete your claude debussy paul jacobs collection. 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. The velvet revolution of claude debussy the new yorker. 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.
It is best to start where pierre boulez said modern music was born. Playing debussys piano works an amateurs thoughts about. This paper also includes a brief history of preludes as well as possible influences upon debussy and his compositions. 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. 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. Often dubbed a musical impressionist, but his music always has a strong sense of form. My analysis of canope debussy preludes for piano, book. 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. Claude debussys two books of preludes, implying homage to both chopin and bach, revel in the composers innovative piano techniques. This blog is dedicated to discussion of the performance of the piano pieces of claude debussy.
A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude debussy. Les sons et les parfums tournent dans lair du soir modere 3. I was delighted that he has recorded debussy s preludes books 1 and 2 for dg in 2012 and decided to get them. The esoteric style of writing in both books was in accordance with the nature of.
These works are distinct from debussy s images pour orchestre. Pierrelaurent aimards style of playing is strong and firm but sensitive when he wants to be and is very well recorded by dgs engineers. Measure 26 or section a restates the music heard in the introduction, but in a lower richer register. 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. Aug 16, 20 i played canopus from preludes book 2 composed by c. I think i may say without undue pride, that i believe these three pieces will live and will take their. These works have been central to stevens repertoire for many years and he brings them to the. Debussys colouristic masterpiece, a bewitching compendium of scents, colours and sounds. This is the most virtuosic of the book 2 preludes so far. 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. Complete preludes, books 1 and 2 dover music for piano.
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. Images usually pronounced in french is a suite of six compositions for solo piano by claude debussy. 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. Preludes and fugues concert programs quartets but likewise for those of mozart, beethoven, and the generations. Pianist imogen c ooper painted evocative sound pictures in a bbc radio 3 lunchtime recital featuring music by debussy, beethoven and chopin. Any recordings you find of sviatoslav richter playing any of debussys preludes are also worthy of consideration.
I was delighted that he has recorded debussys preludes books 1 and 2 for dg in 2012 and decided to get them. These works are distinct from debussys images pour orchestre. My personal journey through the 24 debussy preludes. Two excerpts from the emperor concerto, showing beethovens use of uneven groups of notes. In the middle section, a strong melody emerges, harmonized in thirds, quickly overcome by the rapid motion of the beginning. Both books 1 and 2 of debussys popular piano preludes are contained in this one sturdy volume. Book ii had been reprinted twice, making a total of 4,000 copies. The first book was composed between 1901 and 1905, and the second book was composed in 1907. Shop and buy complete preludes, books 1 and 2 sheet music. 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. This is the second series of images, the first appearing in 1904, and the third originally conceived for two pianos but never completed. Preludes ii, l1 debussy from cda67920 hyperion records.
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. Its followed by another sad prelude, feuilles mortes dead leaves. Complete preludes, books 1 and 2 by claude debussy 1862. Claude debussys preludes are 24 pieces for solo piano, divided into two books of 12 preludes each. 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. The purpose of this thesis is to discuss and give a descriptive analysis of twelve of the twentyfour preludes written by claude debussy. Feux dartifice, from preludes, book ii claude debussy. There are evocations of calm seascapes, delicate wind tracery, and snowcovered landscapes. A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude. Adopting the major piano works including the preludes, bartok absorbed the liberated message as deeply as he absorbed the idiom of the hungarian peasant. 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.
Canope preludes, book ii, 19 playing debussys piano. Debussy preludes book 2 free downloadable sheet music. Debussys literary inspirations were mostly french, but he did not overlook foreign writers. Daniel ericourt books iii ivory classics 73006 4cd priced as 2 vladimir viardo books iii propiano 224525. This album contains the preludes, books 1 and 2 by debussy, presented by piano classics, a label of brilliant classics. My analysis of canope debussy preludes for piano, book ii. Dovers book of debussy preludes is made of extremely high quality print on heavier paper than usual. 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. Among french musics most avantgarde expressions, they also contain some of debussys most atonal sorties. They were published in two booksseries, each consisting of three pieces. The first thing to know about debussys symphonic poem prelude to the.
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. In these pages ill try to summarize what references i have on the performance of. 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 compositions, while endearing themselves to both pianist and listener, also occupy an important place in musical. While the solo piano version of debussys preludes will always. Secondguessers have suggested debussy should have placed this piece into his later collection of piano etudes.
While in an opera or ballet, a prelude may be a mood setting introduction to. These beautiful french works are a must for all pianists. He was too good a composer to imitate debussy, although there are a few. 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. Among the most important 20th century composers, and the most influential. 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. Feux dartifice, from preludes, book ii tanya gabrielian. Some pedaling marks at the bottom if these pages were cut off. Debussy preludes, book 1 by claude debussy 18621918. They were published in two books series, each consisting of three pieces.
933 431 388 1087 1392 568 1497 1508 1417 197 846 169 933 363 429 858 1353 467 1541 538 54 1330 579 235 392 490 1395 614 380 1471 1568 593 1344 658 208 292 1046 654 1437