Here in his first debussy recording for hyperion he presents the two books of images. Among french musics most avantgarde expressions, they also contain some of debussys most atonal sorties. Gerald larner explains how debussy, by defying the rules of conventional. The velvet revolution of claude debussy the new yorker. 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. A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude. Preludes book 2 debussy preludes, opus 32 rachmaninoff by lawrence budmen while an entire concert of preludes may seem repetitive at first glance, the term had a very different meaning to various composers. 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. He was one of the most important figures in music at the turn of the 20th century. 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 his notes to this cd, he points out that voiles, in the plural, can mean either veils or sails.
Debussy preludes, book 1 by claude debussy 18621918. The first performance was given on october 15 of that year in paris. While in an opera or ballet, a prelude may be a mood setting introduction to. Canope preludes, book ii, 19 playing debussys piano. Claude debussys two books of preludes, implying homage to both chopin and bach, revel in the composers innovative piano techniques. Unlike some notable collections of preludes from prior times, such as chopins op. As for his piano compositions, after he completed the second book of preludes the only.
Debussys music virtually defines the transition from lateromantic music to twentieth century modernist music. Both books 1 and 2 of debussys popular piano preludes are contained in this one sturdy volume. This is a blog for staff and students in the composition program. There are evocations of calm seascapes, delicate wind tracery, and snowcovered landscapes. 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. In these pages ill try to summarize what references i have on the performance of. Preludes, premier livre alain planes, piano youtube. However we chose to interpret the meaning of this music, schepkins voiles are gossamer, radiant, and shot with light. Preludes, book 1 6 epigraphes antiques en blanc et noir robert and gaby casadesus 1956 by claude debussy. Im only an amateur pianist, but have been playing debussys piano works since the late 70s. The purpose of this thesis is to discuss and give a descriptive analysis of twelve of the twentyfour preludes written by claude debussy. A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude debussy showing 14 of 68. Bach and chopin, debussys do not follow a strict pattern of key signatures. Of the manifold wonders in preludes, book i, i will mention several in which i think schepkin especially shines.
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. Claudio arrau considered it to be one of debussys greatest preludes and said its miraculous that he created, in so few notes, this kind of depth. Order from your preferred classical music cd store arkivmusic. Riches sur le plan expressif, varies sur le plan des difficultes et des. Debussys piano pieces require deep thought and understanding. Debussys most dramatic contribution to music history was his disregard for traditional chord structures and tonality. Complete preludes, books 1 and 2 by claude debussy 1862.
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. Canope preludes, book ii, 19 sep29 by steve bryson. A new album from marcandre hamelin is always cause for celebration. Complete preludes, books 1 and 2 dover music for piano debussy, claude on. This paper also includes a brief history of preludes as well as possible influences upon debussy and his compositions. This blog is dedicated to discussion of the performance of the piano pieces of claude debussy. Recorded live during the marion rubin berman 31 piano honors concert april 12, 2012 in necs jordan hall in boston. It is best to start where pierre boulez said modern music was born. Les sons et les parfums tournent dans lair du soir 5. Debussys colouristic masterpiece, a bewitching compendium of scents, colours and sounds. Debussy was born in 1862 in st germainenlaye, the son of a shopkeeper who was later to. In a similar spirit he insisted on playing the piano with the lid down pour mieux noyer le son. 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.
Here he reaches between those two to tackle one of the pinnacles of the piano repertoire debussy s two books of preludes. Les sons et les parfums tournent dans lair du soir. Standard notation, introductory text and performance notes does not include words to the songs. 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. Shop and buy complete preludes, books 1 and 2 sheet music. Soyoung choe performs excerpts from debussys preludes, book 1. It is a typical example of his impressionist composition style, impressionism in this case meaning a type of program music which aimed to evoke moods and impressions through tone colour and harmony. Debussy was the composer who freed western music from the claustrophobic confines of functional harmony, the set of rules that for 300 years had governed which chords fit best with which others according to how well their bass notes got along. 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. Debussy s colouristic masterpiece, a bewitching compendium of scents, colours and sounds.
Despite the research i have done regarding the title, the results i have found are still only speculation. Each book contains twelve preludes for the piano, many of them known to todays musical audiences. Debussy dover music for piano by claude debussy isbn. Debussy s two sets of images, much like ravels miroirs, must count as one of the high pinnacles of pianowriting.
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