Debussy preludes, book 1 by claude debussy 18621918. The music becomes more dramatic toward the end of the set. Im only an amateur pianist, but have been playing debussys piano works since the late 70s. This piece is pure debussy a beautiful, quiet contemplative tone poem. 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. 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. 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. Chandos records is one of the worlds premier classical music record companies, best known for its ground breaking search for neglected musical gems. Preludes, book 2 by claude debussy 18621918 sheet music. I played canopus from preludes book 2 composed by c. See all 3 formats and editions hide other formats and editions.
Im only an amateur pianist, but have been playing debussy s piano works since the late 70s. A new album from marcandre hamelin is always cause for celebration. Also recorded here is the second book of preludes, in a poetic and evocative performance. Prelude, bwv bwv 847a 8 little preludes in d majorminor 1421. The melody line alternates between eflat and enatural and b and b flat in the underlying harmonies which creates the modal ambivalence. This allows performers to choose preludes with which they have the strongest affinity, or those to which their individual interpretive gifts are. From the enormity of the repertoire to the geography and travel. Playing debussys piano works an amateurs thoughts about. This blog is dedicated to discussion of the performance of the piano pieces of claude debussy. 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. Musical analysis placement within preludes, book i. Canope preludes, book ii, 19 playing debussys piano.
Publication date 19 topics preludes, for piano, scores featuring the piano, for 1 player collection imslp. Another critic wrote that book 2 of the preludes is played more successfully than book 1. The purpose of this thesis is to discuss and give a descriptive analysis of twelve of the twentyfour preludes written by. Alfred prufrock are among the most famous poems of all time, after all.
Les preludes was actually the first of liszts tone poems to be performed so it was the start of a completely new style of orchestral piece. Or maybe youve seen the famous broadway musical cats, which was based on his work. 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. This significant compilation of 12 preludes represents debussy s mature writing style and is filled with a great diversity of compositional styles. Uhldqwx1zgvzichcb29ridipichezwj1c3n5lcbdbgf1zgup genre piano piece. Except for some mild, localized chromaticism and a short pentatonic passage, the entire piece uses the whole. Preludes is a pretty name for the poem written by t. These compositions, while endearing themselves to both pianist and listener, also occupy an important place in musical. Aug 16, 20 i played canopus from preludes book 2 composed by c.
Debussy was known for being extremely particular in organizing his preludes. In these pages ill try to summarize what references i have on the performance of. It premiered later that year at the salle erard in paris, with debussy himself performing the work. Both books 1 and 2 of debussys popular piano preludes are contained in this one sturdy volume. Helpful english translations of french terms as well as debussys performance. Nontraditional scales extended harmony traditional chords used in nontraditional context harmonic color tonal ambiguity.
Analysis can be a valuable tool for the performer who is seeking solutions to performance problems. University of wollongong thesis collection university of. 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 significant compilation of 12 preludes represents debussys mature writing style and is filled with a great diversity of compositional styles.
The aimard cd has plenty of dynamic range, just not the extremes. The stepwise motion at the end of measure allows the piece to transition to episode 3. The piece was first published in april 1910, along with the rest of his preludes from book i. Chandos records is one of the worlds premier classical music record companies, best known for. The two final preludes of book i are more lighthearted. Eliot it suggests music, and also the presage of an event, usually something exciting or something to look forward to. Some pedaling marks at the bottom if these pages were cut off. Please add your thoughts in the comments at the bottom.
Debussys piano pieces require deep thought and understanding. Jul 05, 2011 every part of conductors life is challenging. Unt theses and dissertations and was provided to unt digital library by the unt libraries. A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude. My analysis of canope debussy preludes for piano, book ii. 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. Debussy preludes, bk 2 by claude debussy, paperback. The music expresses a vast repertoire of emotions, colors and moods. It is not necessary to be a virtuoso in order to play the notes of many of the pieces, but formidable technique and vision are required to create the colours and capture the changing moods. For a discussion of the liszt see paul lansky and george perle, atonality, the new grove dictionary of music and musicians, ed. You get two discs for the price of one here, but the discs are only about 42 and 43 minutes worth. Chopin, debussy composed twentyfour preludes in two books 1910 and 19. Unlike some notable collections of preludes from prior times, such as chopins op.
The twentyfour preludes of debussy are published in two books of twelve preludes each. Lets read on to see if eliot continues this trend throughout the poem and then you should check out form and meter for the full breakdown. Preludes came out in 1920, years before eliots big, famous poem. Helpful english translations of french terms as well as debussy s performance.
These preludes are well known for the unique way in which they are titled. These compositions, while endearing themselves to both pianist and. My analysis of canope debussy preludes for piano, book. The purpose of this thesis is to discuss and give a descriptive analysis of twelve of the twentyfour preludes written by claude debussy. Quite a few people over the years have wondered if the title les preludes could mean anything else.
Despite the research i have done regarding the title, the results i have found are still only speculation. The title is in french and translates to footprints in the snow the piece is 36 measures long and takes approximately three and a half to four and a half minutes to play. The title of the piece may be translated to english as either veils or sails. Images, preludes book 2 hamelin by debussy, claude on cd. Preludes is a modernist poem by ts eliot written in free verse. Its a small work, by comparison, and doesnt have any of the allusions or quotes in foreign languages that eliot is known for. It is the second piece in a set of twelve preludes published in 1910. Debussy s twentyfour preludes are among the composers last and bestknown works for piano. Puck is shakespeares elf, in all likelihood found by debussy, as roy howat has suggested, in an edition of 1908 with illustrations by arthur rackham. A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude debussy page. Media in category preludes by claude debussy the following 28 files are in this category, out of 28 total.
Preludes books 1 and 2 paperback april 1, 1999 by claude debussy composer 4. Debussys preludes demand a great deal from pianists. The germanenglish pianist walter morse rummel, a student of leopold godowsky, gave the premiere of the entire second book of preludes in 19 in london. Here in his first debussy recording for hyperion he presents the two books of images.
Initially, debussy and other pianists who gave early performances of the works including ricardo vines played them in groups of three or four preludes, which remains a popular approach today. There are evocations of calm seascapes, delicate wind tracery, and snowcovered landscapes. Les sons et les parfums tournent dans lair du soir modere 3. The works in debussys second book of preludes are similar in intent to those of book i 1907 1910. Pucks aerial acrobatics are first interrupted by and then blended with trumpet and horn calls. The titles are provided at the end of each prelude and left without dedication, with inspiration from impressionist artwork, literature, and nature. The musical language of bach in the welltempered clavier volume 2. And now a gusty shower wraps the grimy scraps of withered leaves about your feet. Bwv 925, bwv 850a, bwv 936, bwv 926, bwv 935, bwv 940, bwv 851a, bwv 753 2 preludes in d minor 22. Canope preludes, book ii, 19 playing debussys piano works. A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude debussy showing 14 of 68 pages in this thesis. Claude debussy composed the second book of preludes during 1910 12. The one clear fault of the osborne recording is dynamic extremes, which is, i assume, an engineering decision.
Voiles is a composition by claude debussy for solo piano from 1909. This paper also includes a brief history of preludes as well as possible influences upon debussy and his compositions. Ilya itin, piano this video was recorded at the golandsky institute international piano festival at princeton university. Claude debussys preludes are 24 pieces for solo piano, divided into two books of 12 preludes each. Three years exist between the publication of the first and second book, with the former appearing in 1910.
Debussys colouristic masterpiece, a bewitching compendium of scents, colours and sounds. The performances tell it like it is or almost, for not all debussys very demanding contrasts of dynamics are observed, and i imagine collard has small hands, though she. The performances tell it like it is or almost, for not all debussys very demanding contrasts of dynamics are observed, and i imagine collard has small hands, though she makes splitting big stretches sound quite acceptable. In this prelude we find examples of harmonic procedures commonly used in claude debussys music like.
The paperback of the complete preludes, books 1 and 2. Not only is the title full of mystery, but the piece. One idea, which liszt himself hinted at, is that the piece is a prelude to a new way of writing music. They were composed and published in two books of twelve. Buxheim organ book 1475 and th, e hamburg and erlangen manuscripts.
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