Many of debussy s bestknown pieces are assembled in this convenient, affordable collection. Claude debussy, in full achilleclaude debussy, born august 22, 1862, saintgermainenlaye, francedied march 25, 1918, paris, french composer whose works were a seminal force in the music of the 20th century. While the solo piano version of debussy s preludes will always. Three years exist between the publication of the first and second book, with the former appearing in 1910. On retrouve egalement des references a shakespeare dans le dernier. Debussys colouristic masterpiece, a bewitching compendium of scents, colours and sounds. 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. Claude debussys preludes are 24 pieces for solo piano, divided into two books of 12 preludes each. The first book 1910 proved to be his most successful work. 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. 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.
The debussy preludes, which originated as a tribute to chopin, are made for piemontesi. These compositions, while endearing themselves to both pianist and listener, also occupy an important place in musical. Adopting the major piano works including the preludes, bartok absorbed the liberated message as deeply as he absorbed the idiom of the hungarian peasant. Sheet music here, in one volume, are two bodies of work that, perhaps more than any others, reveal the essence of claude debussy s extraordinary expressiveness and his innovative gifts for musical imagery. 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. A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude debussy. 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.
Bach and chopin, debussy s do not follow a strict pattern of key signatures. The titles are provided at the end of each prelude and left without dedication, with inspiration from impressionist artwork, literature, and nature. He was too good a composer to imitate debussy, although there are a few. My analysis of canope debussy preludes for piano, book ii. Most of debussy s preludes are easy to sightread and it is funny to see this thread because i scanned through the book today.
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. A special treat is nuit detoiles starry night, debussy s first published work. This significant compilation of 12 preludes represents debussy s mature writing style and is filled with a great diversity of compositional styles. Debussy s colouristic masterpiece, a bewitching compendium of scents, colours and sounds. It is quite hard for me to describe just how beautiful this music is, i think i lack the english vocabulary to do so, or perhaps it is an example of music being music. The set by paul jacobs was the benchmark to which i compared all other performances i found zimerman wimpy, and some rhythms simply misread more on that later. These works are distinct from debussy s images pour orchestre. Some pedaling marks at the bottom if these pages were cut off. Debussy s book of preludes is some of his most wellknown and last works for solo piano. Claude debussys preludes are two sets of pieces for solo piano. The titles are placed at the end of each prelude, a deliberate decision by debussy that was. Debussy took great care in assigning these titles, and several contain quotations from various poems.
Arturo benedetti michelangeli debussy preludes, book 1. I have one other schirmer debussy piano book and this compilation book was what led me to purchase this set of preludes. Debussy preludes book 2 free downloadable sheet music. Here in his first debussy recording for hyperion he presents the two books of images. I was just wondering, can anyone sort them out in order of difficulty from easiest to hardest. 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. Preludes books 1 and 2 by claude debussy, paperback.
These compositions, while endearing themselves to both pianist and listener, also occupy an important place in musical history and, like the preludes. Claude debussys preludes are two sets of pieces for solo piano, written in 1910 10 and 1912, and published as book i and ii respectively. Chopin, debussy composed twentyfour preludes in two books 1910 and 19. Publication date 1910 topics preludes, for piano, scores featuring the piano. The first book was composed between 1901 and 1905, and the second book was composed in 1907. Jun 18, 2010 in this piece, debussy creates an engaging sonic atmosphere with just the piano, one that, if you let it, will conjure up images and ideas. Dsl92190 debussy starry night preludes book i other works. These works have been central to stevens repertoire for many years and he brings them to the. Recorded live during the marion rubin berman 31 piano honors concert april 12, 2012 in necs jordan hall in boston. 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. Although you wont find krystian zimermans ultrarefined fingerwork and wide dynamic range, nor paul jacobs linear perception, theres much to. Noriko ogawa is a fastidious, undemonstrative pianist, and her attention to every musical detail pays dividends in the first book of debussy s preludes. 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.
Well, debussy obviously agreed but that didnt stop him putting his own stamp on the genre. As for his piano compositions, after he completed the second book of preludes the only. Wvk001 debussy preludes book 1 albums wave kinetics. As he plays debussys book 1 preludes, you notice how effortlessly his arms, hands, and fingers are choreographed to the music. For mixed chorus, orchestra arr for chorus with orchestra arr scores featuring mixed chorus arr scores featuring the orchestra arr for mandolin, orchestra arr scores featuring the mandolin arr for orchestra with soloists arr.
He developed a highly original system of harmony and musical structure that expressed in many respects the ideals to which the impressionist. Dovers book of debussy preludes is made of extremely high quality print on heavier paper than usual. Preludes, premier livre alain planes, piano youtube. Images usually pronounced in french is a suite of six compositions for solo piano by claude debussy. Both books 1 and 2 of debussys popular piano preludes are contained in this one sturdy volume.
Prelude 10, titled canope in his book of preludes no. They were published in two books series, each consisting of three pieces. 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. Veillez egalement a regler tous les appareils sur le volume minimal et a augmenter. The music expresses a vast repertoire of emotions, colors and moods. In addition, perhaps because debussys style is so prone to mannerism, several of the preludes in book ii bear strong similarities to those from the earlier set. This paper also includes a brief history of preludes as well as possible influences upon debussy and his compositions. Its a great time to upgrade your home music studio gear with the largest selection at. Complete preludes, books 1 and 2 dover music for piano. Book i was composed in a short time between december 1909 and february 1910.
Unlike previous collections of preludes, such as those of j. Each book was written in a matter of months, at an. Here he reaches between those two to tackle one of the pinnacles of the piano repertoiredebussys two books of preludes. Two excerpts from the emperor concerto, showing beethovens use of uneven groups of notes. Maybe i am a lazy pianist but i like editions that have some fingering suggestions so i dont have so. 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 18621918 preludes ii, pour piano, l. Debussy s two books of preludes amount to a revolution in piano writing, and reflect better that any of his other works the span of debussy s achievement. Complete preludes, books 1 and 2 dover music for piano claude debussy. Unlike other collections of preludes by great composers, debussy s do not follow a strict pattern of key signature.
Achilleclaude debussy august 22, 1862 march 25, 1918 was a french composer. They are divided into two separate livres, or books, of twelve preludes each. Claude debussy arturo benedetti michelangeli preludes volume 1. Claude debussy composed his two books of preludes between late 1909 and early 19. The 14 piano rolls claude debussy recorded on november 1, 19, for m. Module 5 analysis of piano repertoire lessons 1 and 2 debussy preludes the student must look for the book the piano works of claude debsusy, by e. Helpful english translations of french terms as well as debussy s performance.
Debussy preludes, book 2 by claude debussy 18621918. The twentyfour preludes of debussy are published in two books of twelve preludes each. 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. The purpose of this thesis is to discuss and give a descriptive analysis of twelve of the twentyfour preludes written by claude debussy. But where bach and chopin used their preludes as something of a technical exercise, composing one for each musical key, debussy s were freeform and full of his signature expressive indulgences. A new album from marcandre hamelin is always cause for celebration. On the other hand, i do believe that debussy s own sense of rhythm is represented properly in golliwogs cakewalk, and it is different from the way nearly all professional pianists perform it. Les sons et les parfums tournent dans lair du soir.
A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude. These conversations are translated in william austin, ed. Debussy preludes, book one french paperback january 1, 1910 by claude debussy author. Tonality and form in debussys prelude a lapresmidi dun. Also recorded here is the second book of preludes, in a poetic and evocative performance. Aug 19, 2016 the composer who benefited most from this liberation was bartok, who was introduced to debussys music by kodaly in 1907. Unlike some notable collections of preludes from prior times, such as chopins op. 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. A novelty about these preludes is that the titles are not printed as a header above the first page, but as a footer on the last page, almost like an afterthought, suggesting that the title is inspired by the music and not the other way around. The sounds and fragrances swirl through the evening air. Debussy preludes, book 1 download free sheet music musopen.
Each book contains twelve preludes for the piano, many of them known to todays musical audiences because of their great popularity with pianists worldwide. Apr 03, 2014 unlike previous collections of preludes, such as those of j. Lubimov plays book 1 on a 1925 bechstein and book 2 on a 19 steinway. Preludes, book 1 6 epigraphes antiques en blanc et noir robert and gaby casadesus 1956 by claude debussy. Debussy preludes, book 1 download free sheet music. Such passages always sound mechanical and slightly wrong, as for instance in minstrels from the first book of preludes. Soyoung choe performs excerpts from debussys preludes, book 1.
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