Now, these happen to be among the requisites necessary to play debussys preludes in the right frame of mind lets not speak about that woolly notion called style. Debussys music virtually defines the transition from lateromantic music to twentieth century modernist music. 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. That this was general we can to some extent see from the sales figures quoted by roy howat.
Musical analysis as a technique for performance decisions in. Maurizio pollinis main qualities as an artist are neither humor nor abundance of keyboard color. The naxos disc is a great disappointment in this respect, because the sound is recessed, and you are conscious the whole time of a big grand piano which sounds as if it. In fact, simply holding the tenuti longer, as their definition requires, will naturally. Maurizio pollini dg the more suggestive the music, the more diverse the ways it can be understood. This significant compilation of 12 preludes represents debussys mature writing style and is filled with a great diversity of compositional styles. The musical language of bach in the welltempered clavier volume 2. The music becomes more dramatic toward the end of the set. Musical analysis as a technique for performance decisions in selected. Aug 19, 2016 the composer who benefited most from this liberation was bartok, who was introduced to debussys music by kodaly in 1907.
Voiles is a composition by claude debussy for solo piano from 1909. Claude debussys preludes are 24 pieces for solo piano, divided into two books of 12 preludes each. Some pedaling marks at the bottom if these pages were cut off. Claude debussy s preludes are 24 pieces for solo piano, divided into two books of 12 preludes each. A descriptive analysis of the preludes book i of claude debussy thesis presented. The piano music of claude debussy by paul roberts jstor. 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. Dressed in a chic tan turtleneck, untucked, but with a belt clasped around it, arturo benedetti michelangeli sits at the piano in an intimate studio in october, 1978.
Also recorded here is the second book of preludes, in a poetic and evocative performance. The balance lies in the tonal definition and lack thereof. Debussy preludes book 2 free downloadable sheet music. With so many interpretations of debussy committed to recordings including a few by the composer himself it can be hard to find the good stuff. Adopting the major piano works including the preludes, bartok absorbed the liberated message as deeply as he absorbed the idiom of the hungarian peasant. On this page you can discover detailed information about preludes, book 2 debussy piano music including free printable sheet music, piano tabs, mp3s, how to learn the piano part and more useful info. Unlike other collections of preludes by great composers, debussys do not follow a strict pattern of key signature. My point here stems from definition two of table 1. The titles of the preludes are written at the end of each work, thus allowing the performer to. But the piano playing is superbly brilliant and precise, and the more energetic pieces, like no. This blog is dedicated to discussion of the performance of the piano pieces of claude debussy. Book 2 was started in late 1912 and finished in april 19. He is sometimes seen as the first impressionist composer, although he vigorously rejected the term. Find upcoming concerts, watch performances, and learn more about the music.
There have been other orchestrations of debussy piano works, so he would have liked someone to. The paradox is that debussy succeeded in a series of piano works starting with estampes in 1903 and culminating in the two books of preludes in 1910 and 1912 respectively in creating what can only be called an impressionist technique. He was too good a composer to imitate debussy, although there are a few examples of direct influence it. This project aims to facilitate the learning process of the preludes for piano by. The paperback of the complete preludes, books 1 and 2. Prelude 10, titled canope in his book of preludes no. Debussy s music virtually defines the transition from lateromantic music to twentieth century modernist music. The easiest debussy piano pieces and the most difficult. But where bach and chopin used their preludes as something of a technical exercise, composing one for each musical key, debussys were freeform and full of his signature expressive indulgences. This significant compilation of 12 preludes represents debussy s mature writing style and is filled with a great diversity of compositional styles.
For 20 years we provide a free and legal service for free sheet music without asking you anything in exchange. Debussy s book of preludes is some of his most wellknown and last works for solo piano. Claude debussy 18621918 was a 20thcentury french composer and one of the most prominent figures working within the field of impressionist music. Despite the research i have done regarding the title, the results i have found are still only speculation. Complete preludes, books 1 and 2 dover music for piano debussy, claude on. There is throughout the sense of going on a journey, even awe, to osbornes interpretations. It is the second piece in a set of twelve preludes published in 1910. Debussy, walter gieseking preludes book ii discogs. Claude debussy was born on the 22nd august 1862 in saintgermainenlaye, france. Im only an amateur pianist, but have been playing debussy s piano works since the late 70s. 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. It is meant to depict an ancient egyptian city and egyptian burial urns. Along with maurice ravel, he was 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. 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.
This paper also includes a brief history of preludes as well as possible influences upon debussy and his compositions. Well, debussy obviously agreed but that didnt stop him putting his own stamp on the genre. The article is about the first prelude for piano in book 2. Theyre both still quite the challenge for advanced players only.
My analysis of canope debussy preludes for piano, book. In 1880, tchaikovsky commented on one of debussys early pieces. Here in his first debussy recording for hyperion he presents the two books of images. Voiles music score from preludes book 1 debussy, claude at imslp notes on voiles on. As for his piano compositions, after he completed the second book of preludes the only. But presumably it must have drawn attention to his new debussy recording, which neatly fits both books of piano preludes on to a single disc. The music expresses a vast repertoire of emotions, colors and moods. The twentyfour preludes of debussy are published in two books of twelve preludes each. The title of the piece may be translated to english as either veils or sails. It consists in a series of 24 short pieces, equally subdivided into two books. Osteen, william timothy, analysis and interpretation. Three years exist between the publication of the first and second book, with the former appearing in 1910. 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.
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. Dovers book of debussy preludes is made of extremely high quality print on heavier paper than usual. 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. Helpful english translations of french terms as well as debussy s performance. Ilya itin, piano this video was recorded at the golandsky institute international piano festival at princeton university. 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. Unlike some notable collections of preludes from prior times, such as chopins op. Playing debussys piano works an amateurs thoughts about. Complete your debussy, walter gieseking collection. A different approach to analysis of claude debussys music with examples from. Claude debussy composed the second book of preludes during 1910 12.
It is a very descriptive book where all the formal, structural, harmonic and contextual analysis of the work can be found. My analysis of canope debussy preludes for piano, book ii. Debussys colouristic masterpiece, a bewitching compendium of scents, colours and sounds. A good recording of the debussy preludes should feel like an occasion, and steven osborne delivers. Debussys book of preludes is some of his most wellknown and last works for solo piano. 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. A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude. L numbers are also given from lesures original 1977 catalogue. The first book of preludes is slightly easier than the second, since the second collection features debussy s more mature writing style. Debussy preludes, book 1 by claude debussy 18621918. He was among the most influential composers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These compositions, while endearing themselves to both. Complete preludes, books 1 and 2 dover music for piano.
Debussy began book 1 in december 1909, finishing it 2 months later in february 1910. Not only is the title full of mystery, but the piece. Unlike chopins, bachs and many other composers homonymous series, these pieces arent sorted by key signature. The 20 essential debussy recordings wqxr blog wqxr. Debussys do not follow a strict pattern of key signature.
These compositions, while endearing themselves to both pianist and. A stylistic analysis of the piano works of debussy and ravel thesis presented to the graduate council of the north texas state teachers college in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of master of music by elizabeth rose jameson, b. But presumably it must have drawn attention to his new debussy recording, which neatly fits both books of. Not only is the title full of mystery, but the piece itself leaves the listener in awe and wonder.
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. Claude debussy was born in saintgermainenlaye, france, 22 august 1862, the eldest of five children. Art music in the twentieth century encompasses a wide range of expression, forms, and media. Book i was written between december 1909 and february 1910, and book ii between the last months of 1912 and early april 19. Helpful english translations of french terms as well as debussys performance.
Impressionism piano sheet music by claude debussy to download and print instantly. As he plays debussys book 1 preludes, you notice how effortlessly his arms, hands, and fingers are choreographed to the music. His playing seeps with atmosphere and he delves deep into the composers sound world. My personal journey through the 24 debussy preludes. The works in debussys second book of preludes are similar in intent to those of book i 1907 1910. 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. Though separated by four decades, stockhausens definition of moment. One of the easiest pieces in this collection is the girl with the flaxen hair, around a level 9. Interpreting discontinuity in the late works of debussy columbias. I have one other schirmer debussy piano book and this compilation book was what led me to purchase this set of preludes. In the preludes, the instrument should dissolve as we are drawn into a fathomless imaginative world of evocations beyond it. These compositions, while endearing themselves to both pianist and listener, also occupy an important place in musical. Nattiezbased motivic study of the andante provides. His father, manuelachille debussy, owned a shop where he sold china and crockery and his mother, victorine manoury debussy, was a seamstress.