The composer who benefited most from this liberation was bartok, who was introduced to debussy s music by kodaly in 1907. The paperback of the complete preludes, books 1 and 2. World wide shipping follow this free score follow debussy, claude composer report problem sheet music sales from usa. Canope, the tenth prelude in book 2, though lightly regarded by many critics, pre. Lessons 1 and 2 debussy preludes the student must look for the book the piano works of claude debsusy, by e. This blog is dedicated to discussion of the performance of the piano pieces of claude debussy. In addition, perhaps because debussy s style is so prone to mannerism. 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. Provided to youtube by universal music group debussy. Debussy, walter gieseking preludes book ii discogs.
Theyre both still quite the challenge for advanced players only. This recording combines a new recording of book 1 with a live recording of book 2 from a recital in new york in 1971. Playing debussys piano works an amateurs thoughts about. The one clear fault of the osborne recording is dynamic extremes, which is, i assume, an engineering decision. Daniel barenboim and maurizio pollini between them cover the whole set of preludes in a highly contrasted pair of discs.
The easiest debussy piano pieces and the most difficult. Debussys twentyfour preludes are among the composers last and best. A different approach to analysis of claude debussys music with examples from. It consists in a series of 24 short pieces, equally subdivided into two books. Helpful english translations of french terms as well as debussy s performance. Two excerpts from the emperor concerto, showing beethovens use of uneven groups of notes. The first book of preludes is slightly easier than the second, since the second collection features debussy s more mature writing style. Claude debussy composed the second book of preludes during 1910 12. Except for some mild, localized chromaticism and a short pentatonic passage, the entire piece uses the whole. Claude debussy s 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. This paper also includes a brief history of preludes as well as possible influences upon debussy and his compositions.
Aug 19, 2016 debussy did nothing less than liberate music from the domination by functional harmony which had prevailed for three centuries. Order from your preferred classical music cd store arkivmusic. The purpose of this thesis is to discuss and give a descriptive analysis of twelve of the twentyfour preludes written by claude debussy. Musical analysis as a technique for performance decisions in selected. Music for relaxation, reliance and relief 10,415,940 views 1. The article is about the first prelude for piano in book 2. He was too good a composer to imitate debussy, although there are a few examples of direct influence it was. Debussy s twentyfour preludes are among the composers last and bestknown works for piano. Several of them look ahead to debussy s later style, in which the composers earlier impressionistic, almost romantic poetry was supplanted by a greater concentration upon technique and neoclassical objectivity.
Analysis can be a valuable tool for the performer who is seeking solutions to performance problems. Complete your debussy, walter gieseking collection. Included are english translations of french terms, debussys performance suggestions as well as suggestions from dr. A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude. Debussys literary inspirations were mostly french, but he did not overlook foreign writers. A new album from marcandre hamelin is always cause for celebration. 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. Adopting the major piano works including the preludes, bartok absorbed the liberated message as deeply as he absorbed the idiom of the hungarian peasant.
Appendix bapproach to melodic analysis debussy s use of sameness and continuity in melody fig. It is a very descriptive book where all the formal, structural, harmonic and contextual analysis of the work can be found. Claude debussys preludes are 24 pieces for solo piano, divided into two books of 12 preludes each. Images usually pronounced in french is a suite of six compositions for solo piano by claude debussy. They were composed and published in two books of twelve. Another critic wrote that book 2 of the preludes is played more successfully than book 1. Debussy preludes, bk 2 by claude debussy, paperback. Ilya itin, piano this video was recorded at the golandsky institute international piano festival at princeton university.
Canope, the tenth prelude in book 2, though lightly regarded by many. He was too good a composer to imitate debussy, although there are a few examples of direct influence it. Gieseking more or less owned these pieces during his lifetime and his performances have been judged as definitive by many critics since they were first issued. Vladimir ashkenazys first recording of debussy s preludes is a somewhat of a sensation. The title of the piece may be translated to english as either veils or sails. These works have been central to stevens repertoire for many years and he brings them to the studio after. Following a summary of stockhausens ideas, i analyze three late works. Canope preludes, book ii, 19 playing debussys piano works. A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude debussy. Three years exist between the publication of the first and second book, with the former appearing in 1910. It is the second piece in a set of twelve preludes published in 1910. The works in debussys second book of preludes are similar in intent to those of book i 1907 1910. Unlike some notable collections of preludes from prior times, such as chopins op. The musical language of bach in the welltempered clavier volume 2.
The first book was composed between 1901 and 1905, and the second book was composed in 1907. Originally recorded in 1953 and 1954 in monaural sound, walter giesekings magisterial performances of debussy s preludes were first released on cd in 1987 as a single disc, and they have been reissued in various guises many times since. The primary purpose of this study is to examine various ways in which analysis can provide solutions to problems that may arise in the performance of debussy s preludes for piano. Achilleclaude debussy august 22, 1862 march 25, 1918 was a french composer. Preludes book 2 principal composer debussy, claude sheet music. Debussy preludes book 2 richter showing 185 of 85 messages. Debussy preludes, book 1 by claude debussy 18621918. Preludes books 1 and 2 paperback april 1, 1999 by claude debussy composer 4. The music becomes more dramatic toward the end of the set. Dg is proud to announce the new album of icon maestro pollini, coinciding with the debussy year 2018. They were published in two books series, each consisting of three pieces. 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.
Both books 1 and 2 of debussys popular piano preludes are contained in this one sturdy volume. Here in his first debussy recording for hyperion he presents the two books of images. Musical analysis as a technique for performance decisions in. 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. Prelude 10, titled canope in his book of preludes no. Debussys colouristic masterpiece, a bewitching compendium of scents, colours and sounds. Also recorded here is the second book of preludes, in a poetic and evocative performance. Osteen, william timothy, analysis and interpretation.
This significant compilation of 12 preludes represents debussy s mature writing style and is filled with a great diversity of compositional styles. Complete preludes, books 1 and 2 dover music for piano. 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. Voiles is a composition by claude debussy for solo piano from 1909. Claude debussy was a leading composer of the early 20th century known for his impressionistic style and use of nontraditional scales and tonalities as well as chromaticism.
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. 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. Unlike chopins, bachs and many other composers homonymous series, these pieces arent sorted by key signature. Many of the most admired of debussy s piano works, reprinted from authoritative french editions, among them the etudes 1915, a late work that richly displays the full range and depth of debussy. Les sons et les parfums tournent dans lair du soir modere 3. Debussys piano pieces require deep thought and understanding. Jul 05, 2011 pianist imogen c ooper painted evocative sound pictures in a bbc radio 3 lunchtime recital featuring music by debussy, beethoven and chopin. I assembled them in groups of three or four, without following debussys order, and completed the sequence in the spring of 2007. With this recording pollini is closing the circle of debussy preludes with the long anticipated recording of the 2nd book 18 years after he recorded book 1, which is an evergreen in his discography. 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.
The twentyfour preludes of debussy are published in two books of twelve preludes each. Interpreting discontinuity in the late works of debussy columbia. Preludes book 1 and preludes book 2 subtly evocative. Debussys canope as narrative form college music symposium. Alongside the historic recording of book 2 there is ashkenazys account of book 1, recorded in 2017 at the age of 80. Im only an amateur pianist, but have been playing debussys piano works since the late 70s. French composer claude debussy 18621918 was one of the most prominent figures working within the field of impressionist. Some pedaling marks at the bottom if these pages were cut off. Debussy preludes book 2 free downloadable sheet music. These compositions, while endearing themselves to both pianist and listener, also occupy an important place in musical history and, like the preludes. These beautiful french works are a must for all pianists. Dovers book of debussy preludes is made of extremely high quality print on heavier paper than usual. One of the easiest pieces in this collection is the girl with the flaxen hair, around a.
The music expresses a vast repertoire of emotions, colors and moods. Both books 1 and 2 of debussy s popular piano preludes are contained in this one sturdy volume. P ierrelaurent aimards muchpublicised recent claim in an interview with a german newspaper that debussy is a greater composer than wagner is by no. Debussy s book of preludes is some of his most wellknown and last works for solo piano. These works are distinct from debussy s images pour orchestre. These preludes are well known for the unique way in which they are titled.
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