These preludes are well known for the unique way in which they are titled. Complete preludes, books 1 and 2 claude debussy 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. These works have been central to stevens repertoire for many years and he brings them to the. One of the easiest pieces in this collection is the girl with the flaxen hair, around a. 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. The esoteric style of writing in both books was in accordance with the nature of yogic study. It is the sixth piece in the composers first book of preludes, written between. Breiner for orchestra debussy completed his two books of preludes in 1910 and 19 respectively, and they contain some of his most visionary and poetic writing for piano. Included are english translations of french terms, debussys performance suggestions as well as suggestions from dr.
This one, brouillards mists, the first from book ii, is one of the more compelling efforts in either set. A further analysis of these same three preludes by. Ce qua vu le vent douest is a musical composition by french composer claude debussy. Achilleclaude debussy 22nd august 1862 25th march 1918 was a french composer. Debussy s twentyfour preludes are among the composers last and bestknown works for piano. It is the seventh piece in the composers first book of preludes, written between late 1909 and early 1910. Debussy played nos 1, 2, 10 and 11 at a concert on 5 may and we know that all of them, apart possibly from no 7, were heard in paris over the next ten months.
A different approach to analysis of claude debussys music with examples from preludes, books 1 and 2. An analysis and discussion of the performance of five debussy preludes. This significant compilation of 12 preludes represents debussy s mature writing style and is filled with a great diversity of compositional styles. This significant compilation of 12 preludes represents debussys mature writing style and is filled with a great diversity of compositional styles. This recording combines a new recording of book 1 with a live recording of book 2 from a recital in new york in 1971. The first book of preludes is slightly easier than the second, since the second collection features debussy s more mature writing style. Debussy s book of preludes is some of his most wellknown and last works for solo piano. Debussy preludes, book 1 by claude debussy 18621918. This was the first collection of debussy s preludes i ever owned and i have yet to hear another that surpasses it. 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. Soyoung choe performs excerpts from debussys preludes, book 1. Despite the research i have done regarding the title, the results i have found are still only speculation. Quietly teeming, delicate, and atmospheric, the texture is dominated by sweeping arpeggios that require a high degree of control on the part of the pianist.
Browse alfred music from alfred music at sheet music plus. In this prelude we find examples of harmonic procedures commonly used in claude debussy s music like. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. 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. Some pedaling marks at the bottom if these pages were cut off.
Theory, 21 1977, 1 28, describes a number of useful applications for interval arrays in analysis. Brazilian pianist, eliane rodrigues, literally taking the performance below the stage. An analysis of the harmonic unity of debussys prelude a l. He developed a highly original system of harmony and musical structure that expressed in many respects the ideals to. Whats particularly interesting about this composition are the alternating triads in the left hand accompanied by a 532 1 finger pattern on the.
Debussy preludes, bk 1 by claude debussy, paperback. Order from your preferred classical music cd store arkivmusic. Instrumental album alfred publishing this collection of pieces marked a turning point in debussy s approach to his piano compositions they challenge the potential of the instrument and exemplify his expressive sweeping style. As the first prelude from his second book of preludes, debussy uses fog as the subject to create a musical composition. Ancova analysis of covariance university of sheffield. A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude debussy showing 14 of 68 pages in this thesis. Debussy dover music for piano by claude debussy isbn. Debussy s most dramatic contribution to music history was his disregard for traditional chord structures and tonality. Both books 1 and 2 of debussys popular piano preludes are contained in this one sturdy volume. Analysis the piece starts with an introduction from measures 1 7. But this is the only recording ive heard where book 2 stands on par with book 1. Musical analysis as a technique for performance decisions in.
A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude. Voiles da preludi, libro i, per pianoforte debussy voiles preludes, book 1 no. My analysis of canope debussy preludes for piano, book. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The purpose of this thesis is to discuss and give a descriptive analysis of twelve of the twentyfour preludes written by claude debussy. Well, debussy obviously agreed but that didnt stop him putting his own stamp on the genre. Ondine opens in an ethereal mood, but quickly turns playful and whimsical, with notes jumping about and swirling. Preludes, an album by claude debussy, krystian zimerman on spotify we and our partners use cookies to personalize your experience, to show you ads based on your interests, and for measurement and analytics purposes. Provided to youtube by universal music group debussy. The next day he wrote to his publisher that the volume was finished, and it was in print as early as 14 april those were the days. A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude debussy page.
Helpful english translations of french terms as well as debussy s performance. My analysis of canope debussy preludes for piano, book ii. As for his piano compositions, after he completed the second book of preludes the only. Podcast for kids nfb radio 101 sermon podcast pauping off all steak no sizzle podcast church of the oranges daily chapel spring 2012. These compositions, while endearing themselves to both pianist and listener, also occupy an important place in musical. 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.
Scotts analysis a similar study to my own regarding gestural analysis has been conducted by douglas scott on mozarts flute quartet in d, k285. Bach and chopin, debussy s do not follow a strict pattern of key signatures. Claude debussy, french composer whose works were a seminal force in the music of the 20th century. It is meant to depict an ancient egyptian city and egyptian burial urns. Im only an amateur pianist, but have been playing debussy s piano works since the late 70s. 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.
There is background information such as age, gender and height as well as weight lost. The easiest debussy piano pieces and the most difficult. 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. An analysis of debussys preludes book 1 james omalley submitted in partial fulfilment of ma in performance and musicology nui. They were composed and published in two books of twelve. This blog is dedicated to discussion of the performance of the piano pieces of 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. Im currently in the early stages of posting a series of articles through my music blog on the process of analysis of the debussy piece arabesque no. Playing debussys piano works an amateurs thoughts about. Debussy s book of preludes are some of his most wellknown and last works for solo piano.
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. 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. Unt theses and dissertations and was provided to unt digital library by the unt libraries. Publication date 1910 topics preludes, for piano, scores featuring the piano, for 1 player collection. We therefore not only honour the 100th anniversary of debussy s death in 1918, but also pay tribute to one of the most remarkable pianists. If the keys adjacent to other keys in this graph form another set, then the first graph may be simplified into another graph, the b.
Claude debussys preludes are 24 pieces for solo piano, divided into two books of 12 preludes each. Apr 03, 2014 unlike previous collections of preludes, such as those of j. Schirmer library of classics volume 2001 piano solo paperback. In music then, the tone is the essential and necessary principle of unity. Recorded live during the marion rubin berman 31 piano honors concert april 12, 2012 in necs jordan hall in boston. Three years exist between the publication of the first and second book, with the former appearing in 1910. The opening evokes an image of a fog with its mistylike sonorities. Each book was written in a matter of months, at an. The piece is one of four debussy preludes in both books whose title origins are unknown. Ilya itin, piano this video was recorded at the golandsky institute international piano festival at princeton university. 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. This paper also includes a brief history of preludes as well as possible influences upon debussy and his compositions. The next few measures go through a series of stacked chord progressions that eventually come full circle back to d. As part of an ma dissertation scott presented his own logicodeductive form of analysis.
Description debussy s two books of piano preludes, written around the turn of the century, are widely regarded as being among his very best. Theyre both still quite the challenge for advanced players only. Not only is the title full of mystery, but the piece. Most pianists play book 2 as though they had to make the best out of a debussy whose creative power had fallen since book 1. An analysis and discussion of the performance of five debussy. Unlike some notable collections of preludes from prior times, such as chopins op. Alfred masterwork library sheet music book by claude debussy 18621918. Debussys literary inspirations were mostly french, but he did not overlook foreign writers. The music expresses a vast repertoire of emotions, colors and moods. Debussy indicated he was not entirely happy with his two books of preludes, regarding both as somewhat artistically uneven. Nontraditional scales extended harmony traditional chords used in nontraditional context harmonic color tonal ambiguity. This introduction section a includes d minor and ddorian right next to each other. The composer made piano rolls of five of the preludes in book 1, and he was quite a bit swifter than jumppanen, as the following shows. Prelude 10, titled canope in his book of preludes no.
Claude debussy s preludes are 24 pieces for solo piano, divided into two books of 12 preludes each. 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. 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. Preludes books 1 and 2 paperback april 1, 1999 by claude debussy composer 4. My personal journey through the 24 debussy preludes. They incorporate the superb harmonies and tonal palette which debussy is famous for.
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