This blog is dedicated to discussion of the performance of the piano pieces of claude debussy. Unlike previous collections of preludes, such as those of j. Order from your preferred classical music cd store arkivmusic. 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. As for his piano compositions, after he completed the second book of preludes the only. Gifted from his early years with a preternatural and keen understanding of writing for the piano, this cd displays debussys prodigious gifts in full display as rendered by baldis sensitive playing. Each book contains twelve preludes for the piano, many of them known to todays musical audiences. In french literary circles, the style of this period was known as symbolism, a movement that directly inspired debussy both as a composer and as an active cultural participant. He was one of the most important figures in music at the turn of the 20th century. Of the manifold wonders in preludes, book i, i will mention several in which i think schepkin especially shines. 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.
Debussy was the composer who freed western music from the claustrophobic confines of functional harmony, the set of rules that for 300 years had governed which chords fit best with which others according to how well their bass notes got along. The first performance was given on october 15 of that year in paris. Gerald larner explains how debussy, by defying the rules of conventional. Bach and chopin, debussys do not follow a strict pattern of key signatures. 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. Complete preludes, books 1 and 2 dover music for piano. Soyoung choe performs excerpts from debussys preludes, book 1. Im only an amateur pianist, but have been playing debussys piano works since the late 70s. Preludes, book 1 6 epigraphes antiques en blanc et noir robert and gaby casadesus 1956 by claude debussy. It is best to start where pierre boulez said modern music was born. Claude debussys two books of preludes, implying homage to both chopin and bach, revel in the composers innovative piano techniques. Debussys piano pieces require deep thought and understanding. Debussy preludes book 2 free downloadable sheet music. These works have been central to stevens repertoire for many years and he brings them to the studio after.
In a similar spirit he insisted on playing the piano with the lid down pour mieux noyer le son. Both books 1 and 2 of debussys popular piano preludes are contained in this one sturdy volume. While in an opera or ballet, a prelude may be a mood setting introduction to. Debussy s two sets of images, much like ravels miroirs, must count as one of the high pinnacles of pianowriting. 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 preludes, books 1 and 2 by claude debussy 1862. Preludes, premier livre alain planes, piano youtube. Debussys music virtually defines the transition from lateromantic music to twentieth century modernist music. Shop and buy complete preludes, books 1 and 2 sheet music. It is a typical example of his impressionist composition style, impressionism in this case meaning a type of program music which aimed to evoke moods and impressions through tone colour and harmony. Complete preludes, books 1 and 2 dover music for piano debussy, claude on.
The purpose of this thesis is to discuss and give a descriptive analysis of twelve of the twentyfour preludes written by claude debussy. Canope preludes, book ii, 19 sep29 by steve bryson. This is a blog for staff and students in the composition program. This paper also includes a brief history of preludes as well as possible influences upon debussy and his compositions. Among french musics most avantgarde expressions, they also contain some of debussys most atonal sorties.
In his notes to this cd, he points out that voiles, in the plural, can mean either veils or sails. A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude. A new album from marcandre hamelin is always cause for celebration. 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. In this piece, debussy creates an engaging sonic atmosphere with just the piano, one that, if you let it, will conjure up images and ideas. Claude debussy s preludes are 24 pieces for solo piano, divided into two books of 12 preludes each. Les sons et les parfums tournent dans lair du soir. After sonatas by beethoven and chopin, a disc of schumann and magisterial accounts of the two brahms piano concertos comes this recital of debussy centred on the first book of preludes. A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude debussy showing 14 of 68. Program notes by phillip huscher claude debussy born august 22, 1862, saintgermainenlaye, france. The velvet revolution of claude debussy the new yorker.
Achilleclaude debussy 22nd august 1862 25th march 1918 was a french composer. In these pages ill try to summarize what references i have on the performance of. Here in his first debussy recording for hyperion he presents the two books of images. My analysis of canope debussy preludes for piano, book. Unlike some notable collections of preludes from prior times, such as chopins op. Recorded live during the marion rubin berman 31 piano honors concert april 12, 2012 in necs jordan hall in boston. However we chose to interpret the meaning of this music, schepkins voiles are gossamer, radiant, and shot with light. Standard notation, introductory text and performance notes does not include words to the songs.
Also recorded here is the second book of preludes, in a poetic and evocative performance. Les sons et les parfums tournent dans lair du soir 5. Debussy preludes, book 1 by claude debussy 18621918. Canope preludes, book ii, 19 playing debussys piano. 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. Each book was written in a matter of months, at an. Debussys most dramatic contribution to music history was his disregard for traditional chord structures and tonality. Here he reaches between those two to tackle one of the pinnacles of the piano repertoire debussy s two books of preludes. Despite the research i have done regarding the title, the results i have found are still only speculation. Debussy s colouristic masterpiece, a bewitching compendium of scents, colours and sounds. There are evocations of calm seascapes, delicate wind tracery, and snowcovered landscapes.
Debussy dover music for piano by claude debussy isbn. Debussy was born in 1862 in st germainenlaye, the son of a shopkeeper who was later to. 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. Riches sur le plan expressif, varies sur le plan des difficultes et des. 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. Debussys colouristic masterpiece, a bewitching compendium of scents, colours and sounds.
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