He was too good a composer to imitate debussy, although there are a few examples of direct influence it. There is a one to one correspondence between phrases of the two sections and. The girl with the flaxen hair is almost a plain jane here, and the sounds and scents of the evening scarcely linger as impalpable impressions. 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. 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. Complete preludes, books 1 and 2 dover music for piano. Three years exist between the publication of the first and second book, with the former appearing in 1910.
Commons is a freely licensed media file repository. That this was general we can to some extent see from the sales figures quoted by roy howat. Like vladimir horowitz and glenn gould, michelangeli employs a relatively flatfingered technique for sustained legato passages and certain rotary arpeggios such as those in ce qua vu le vent douest. 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. The purpose of this thesis is to discuss and give a descriptive analysis of twelve of the twentyfour preludes written by claude debussy. Book i was written between december 1909 and february 1910, and book ii between the last months of 1912 and early april 19. Two excerpts from the emperor concerto, showing beethovens use of uneven groups of notes. Claude debussy arturo benedetti michelangeli preludes volume 1. Here is an outline of the piece with a summary of the overarching processes.
A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude. 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. Order of difficulty of debussy preludes is there a general guide to the difficulty of the debussy preludes. 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. Musical analysis as a technique for performance decisions in. I have recently been listening repeatedly to samples of pascal roges latest recording of debussys preludes, and i must say i like what ive heard. Debussys piano pieces require deep thought and understanding. Chandos records is one of the worlds premier classical music record companies, best known for. 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. As he plays debussys book 1 preludes, you notice how effortlessly his arms, hands, and fingers are choreographed to the music.
The esoteric style of writing in both books was in accordance with the nature of yogic study. Claude debussy s preludes are 24 pieces for solo piano, divided into two books of 12 preludes each. Soyoung choe performs excerpts from debussys preludes, book 1. Preludes, book 1 6 epigraphes antiques en blanc et noir robert and gaby casadesus 1956 by claude debussy. Unlike some notable collections of preludes from prior times, such as chopins op.
This blog is dedicated to discussion of the performance of the piano pieces of claude debussy. Information from its description page there is shown below. Pascal roge recorded debussys preludes book 1 for decca some time ago, and he has remade them, together with book 2, marking the start of a complete cycle of this composers piano works. These compositions, while endearing themselves to both pianist and listener, also occupy an important place in musical. Over the past few decades the way pianists play debussy has changed. This paper also includes a brief history of preludes as well as possible influences upon debussy and his compositions.
Once more something childlike, kept at arms length from fullblown whimsy. The paperback of the complete preludes, books 1 and 2. Usually ships in 24 hours, unless stock becomes depleted. Im only an amateur pianist, but have been playing debussy s piano works since the late 70s. With the preludes, debussy s piano music reaches a peak. This piano piece was initially published in the year 1908 and is included in preludes by debussy. Recorded live during the marion rubin berman 31 piano honors concert april 12, 2012 in necs jordan hall in boston. The works in debussys second book of preludes are similar in intent to those of book i 1907 1910. At one time his music was made to sound bleached and anaemic, but pianists are now ready to show it in much sharper focus. One of debussy s 24 preludes is from book 1, prelude 12, also known as minstrels. Publication date 1910 topics preludes, for piano, scores featuring the piano, for 1 player collection imslp. Unlike other collections of preludes by great composers, debussy s do not follow a strict pattern of key signature.
Pierrelaurent aimard plays debussys preludes in vienna by. Playing debussys piano works an amateurs thoughts about. Preludes volume 1 by arturo benedetti michelangeli album. Aug 19, 2016 debussy did nothing less than liberate music from the domination by functional harmony which had prevailed for three centuries. As for his piano compositions, after he completed the second book of preludes the only. Debussy preludes, book 1 download free sheet music. Debussys colouristic masterpiece, a bewitching compendium of scents, colours and sounds. Provided to youtube by universal music group debussy. Claude debussy s preludes are two sets of pieces for solo piano, written in 191010 and 1912, and published as book i and ii respectively. As a technical preparation, several trillo exercises with various. Although you wont find krystian zimermans ultrarefined fingerwork and wide dynamic range, nor paul jacobs linear perception, theres much to.
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. Les fees is debatable, but its got rapid tremolos using outer fingers, and its deadly. Between 1910 and 1912 claude debussy recorded twelve of his solo piano works for the. Evolving performance practice of debussys piano preludes.
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. The two books, each consisting of 12 pieces, form a cycle comparable with the very finest from the classic and the romantic periods. Claude debussys preludes are 24 pieces for solo piano, divided into two books of 12 preludes each. 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 completed within two months. The bosendorfer piano he uses has a sound similar to that of debussys early 20thcentury pianos. Preludes books 1 and 2 paperback april 1, 1999 by claude debussy composer 4. Page 1 of 1 start over page 1 of 1 this shopping feature will continue to load items when the enter key is pressed. My personal journey through the 24 debussy preludes. Both books 1 and 2 of debussys popular piano preludes are contained in this one sturdy volume. Some pedaling marks at the bottom if these pages were cut off. Publication date 1910 topics preludes, for piano, scores featuring the piano, for 1 player collection.
In these pages ill try to summarize what references i have on the performance of. Topclassicalmusic music history channel 22,749,772 views. Complete preludes, books 1 and 2 dover music for piano paperback april 1, 1989 by claude debussy author 4. Topflight debussy preludes march 23, 2019 by joseph f. Music for relaxation, reliance and relief 10,415,940 views 1. As i faced my doubts, i detected an urge to go straight to the piano and play till. Debussy dover music for piano by debussy, claude isbn. The game was originally planned to not have any music in the game until the games composer, dan golding.
Here in his first debussy recording for hyperion he presents the two books of images. See all 9 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Achilleclaude debussy august 22, 1862 march 25, 1918 was a french composer. Dovers book of debussy preludes is made of extremely high quality print on heavier paper than usual. Jan 22, 2009 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. Krystian zimerman is a prime example of the modern interpreter who presents debussy as a composer of sense as well as sensibility. Claude debussys performance of minstrels from preludes, book i, in the 1912 piano rolls. Pierrelaurent aimard performs both books of the debussy preludes at the. But the piano playing is superbly brilliant and precise, and the more energetic pieces, like no. Book 1, the content of this album, was published in 1910. A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude debussy. Im only an amateur pianist, but have been playing debussys piano works since the late 70s.
Preludes livres nos12 piano francais broche 1 janvier 2004. Preludes, deuxieme livre alain planes, piano duration. 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. O there is blessing in this gentle breeze, a visitant that while it fans my cheek.
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