Debussy preludes, book 1 download free sheet music. 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. 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. This blog is dedicated to discussion of the performance of the piano pieces of claude debussy. The piece is one of four debussy preludes in both books whose title origins are unknown. Claude debussy 18621918 was a 20thcentury french composer and one of the most prominent figures working within the field of impressionist music. Soyoung choe performs excerpts from debussys preludes, book 1. Debussy preludes, book 1 by claude debussy 18621918. A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude debussy. Here in his first debussy recording for hyperion he presents the two books of images. A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude. An analysis of this example will best explain melodic tonality. 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 debussys preludes for piano.
He was supposedly unhappy to see them programmed whole, preferring pianists to make selections from the sets instead. Example 1, cited by reti, is according to him, representative of melodic tonality. Publication date 1910 topics preludes, for piano, scores featuring the piano, for 1 player collection imslp. In 1880, tchaikovsky commented on one of debussys early pieces. These definitions along with my own interpretive summary are presented in table format below. 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. Im only an amateur pianist, but have been playing debussys piano works since the late 70s. Unlike previous collections of preludes, such as those of j. As he plays debussys book 1 preludes, you notice how effortlessly his arms, hands, and fingers are choreographed to the music. There is a strong tonal relationship between the preludes that suggests that the published order of the preludes is not arbitrary. An analysis and discussion of the performance of five. Chopin, debussy composed twentyfour preludes in two books 1910 and 19. These beautiful french works are a must for all pianists.
While the solo piano version of debussys preludes will always remain fundamental to. 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 literary inspirations were mostly french, but he did not overlook foreign writers. It is the second piece in a set of twelve preludes published in 1910. Recorded live during the marion rubin berman 31 piano honors concert april 12, 2012 in necs jordan hall in boston. Debussy indicated he was not entirely happy with his two books of preludes, regarding both as somewhat artistically uneven. Each book contains twelve preludes for the piano, many of them known to todays musical audiences because of their great popularity with pianists worldwide. Preludes, book 1 6 epigraphes antiques en blanc et noir robert and gaby casadesus 1956 by claude debussy.
Each book was written in a matter of months, at an. These works have been central to stevens repertoire for many years and he brings them to the studio after. The titles are provided at the end of each prelude and left without dedication, with inspiration from impressionist artwork, literature, and nature. Unt theses and dissertations and was provided to unt digital library by the unt libraries. Claude debussy, preludes, book i, no 12, minstrels, claude debussy rec. Debussys colouristic masterpiece, a bewitching compendium of scents, colours and sounds. The preludes i have chosen to analyze all share a similar compositional aspect. Unlike some notable collections of preludes from prior times, such as chopins op. He was too good a composer to imitate debussy, although there are a few examples of direct influence it.
Except for some mild, localized chromaticism and a short pentatonic passage, the entire piece uses the whole tone scale. Nontraditional scales extended harmony traditional chords used in nontraditional context harmonic color tonal ambiguity. 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. Debussy preludes, bk 1 alfred masterwork edition paperback march 1, 1986 by claude debussy composer, maurice hinson composer 4. When we say nontraditional scales we refer to scales other than the major and minor scales used in baroque, classical and romantic music. As for his piano compositions, after he completed the second book of preludes the only. Claude debussy was born on the 22nd august 1862 in saintgermainenlaye, france. The purpose of this thesis is to discuss and give a descriptive analysis of twelve of the twentyfour preludes written by claude debussy. See all formats and editions hide other formats and editions.
Three years exist between the publication of the first and second book, with the former appearing in 1910. In this prelude we find examples of harmonic procedures commonly used in claude debussys music like. This one, brouillards mists, the first from book ii, is one of the more compelling efforts in either set. In their published form, the preludes have their individual titles printed not at the start, but at. Debussys music virtually defines the transition from lateromantic music to twentieth century modernist music. Voiles is a composition by claude debussy for solo piano from 1909. Preludes books 1 and 2 paperback april 1, 1999 by claude debussy composer 4. Musical analysis as a technique for performance decisions in. Still, as musicologist rollo myers notes, the pictorial element is not unduly stressed if stressed at all. Debussys preludes were written during the same period, these pieces will be used as the main examples in this paper. This album contains the preludes, books 1 and 2 by debussy, presented by piano classics, a label of brilliant classics. 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. In accordance with the composers practice of assigning a title only after the completion of a work.
Debussys piano pieces require deep thought and understanding. Unlike other collections of preludes by great composers, debussy s do not follow a strict pattern of key signature. In these pages ill try to summarize what references i have on the performance of. To conclude, there is a final chapter comparing debussy and schoenberg in terms. These compositions, while endearing themselves to both pianist and listener, also occupy an important place in musical.
Some pedaling marks at the bottom if these pages were cut off. Bach and chopin, debussys do not follow a strict pattern of key signatures. 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. This piano piece was initially published in the year 1908 and is included in preludes by debussy. A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude debussy page. A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude debussy showing 14 of 68 pages in this thesis. 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. Both books 1 and 2 of debussys popular piano preludes are contained in this one sturdy volume. It is the sixth piece in the composers first book of preludes, written between.
An analysis and discussion of the performance of five debussy preludes. Thorough analysis will serve the performer as a valuable tool for making effective performance decisions. For 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, bassoon, contrabassoon, 2 horns arr. 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. Chapter 1 introduction analysis can be a valuable tool for the performer who is seeking solutions to performance problems. This paper also includes a brief history of preludes as well as possible influences upon debussy and his compositions. A different approach to analysis of claude debussys music with examples from preludes, books 1 and 2. The title of the piece may be translated to english as either veils or sails. 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.
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