Often dubbed a musical impressionist, but his music always has a strong sense of form. Not only is the title full of mystery, but the piece. Achilleclaude debussy 22nd august 1862 25th march 1918 was a french composer. All structured data from the file and property namespaces is available under the creative commons cc0 license. There are evocations of calm seascapes, delicate wind tracery, and snowcovered landscapes. This paper also includes a brief history of preludes as well as possible influences upon debussy and his compositions. Debussy preludes, bk 1 by claude debussy, paperback. The titles are provided at the end of each prelude and left without dedication, with inspiration from impressionist artwork, literature, and nature. 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. The first is that debussy invariably improved his music on more. The purpose of this thesis is to discuss and give a descriptive analysis of twelve of the twentyfour preludes written by claude debussy.
I have one other schirmer debussy piano book and this compilation book was what led me to purchase this set of preludes. Claude debussys preludes are 24 pieces for solo piano, divided into two books of 12 preludes. 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. Inspired by the performances of the american dancer loie fuller, whose scarf dances were. This particularly applies to the 2nd book of 12, which contains by my count two memorable preludes dead leaves and the muchloved fireworks and a lot of padding. The story of debussys preludes 1909 gerald larner explains how debussy. This list is manually maintained, therefore some of the available pieces may not yet be linked from this page. These preludes capture debussys love for tonal colouring. Voiles, number 2 from book i of debussy s preludes. Here in his first debussy recording for hyperion he presents the two books of images. Unlike other collections of preludes by great composers, debussy s do not follow a strict pattern of key signature.
Provided to youtube by believe sas preludes, book i, l. Playing debussys piano works an amateurs thoughts about playing debussy. Debussy preludes, book 1 download free sheet music. Claude debussys preludes are 24 pieces for solo piano, divided into two books of 12 preludes each. Soyoung choe performs excerpts from debussys preludes, book 1. Voiles is the one i can probably play the best out of. Anna khomichkocompetitorshamamatsu international piano. There are few overt effects and none of giesekings ravishing colorism. Despite some brilliant individual preludes, ive over time arrived at the position time that they are some of claude debussys most overrated music. Voiles voiles preludes, book i, 1909 1910 sep29 sails or veils i havent had a chance to write this piece up. Hiroko sasakis performances, on an immaculately restored piano from 1873.
The shifting layers of voiles, the introspection of feuilles mortes, the terraces of. 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. Maybe i am a lazy pianist but i like editions that have some fingering suggestions so i dont have so much work to do. As for his piano compositions, after he completed the second book of preludes the only. Files are available under licenses specified on their description page. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. 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. My analysis of canope debussy preludes for piano, book.
Provided to youtube by universal music group debussy. Despite the research i have done regarding the title, the results i have found are still only speculation. Claude debussy s preludes are 24 pieces for solo piano, divided into two books of 12 preludes each. 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. Maurizio pollini plays chopin, debussy and boulez new. The twentyfour preludes of debussy are published in two books of twelve preludes each. It is the second piece in a set of twelve preludes published in 1910. 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. The second version was written at the grand hotel, eastbourne, with new. The music becomes more dramatic toward the end of the set. Sheet music of preludes for the piano by claude debussy. These compositions, while endearing themselves to both pianist and. There is throughout the sense of going on a journey, even awe, to osbornes interpretations. 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.
Debussy dover music for piano by claude debussy isbn. A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude debussy. Recorded live during the marion rubin berman 31 piano honors concert april 12, 2012 in necs jordan hall in boston. Today, great colonnaded turnofthecentury hotels, banks and. Thus it seems that both books of preludes were notated in. Its intriguing to speculate on why debussy thought the word. The project goal was to revive the origins of chamber music organizing concerts on private settings. Also recorded here is the second book of preludes, in a poetic and evocative performance. Although i really enjoy the preludes, i think that a few of them are awful.
The first of the bars removed from the prelude shows. Debussy did nothing less than liberate music from the domination by functional harmony which had prevailed for three centuries. Ive not played this piece, but it is it possible to play the thirds with two hands one for top line and other for bottom. 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. I have the mp3s but its the first time im playig debussy or this kind of music and i dont know which one to choose. 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. Debussys most dramatic contribution to music history was his disregard for traditional chord structures and tonality. Voiles is a composition by claude debussy for solo piano from 1909.
As he plays debussys book 1 preludes, you notice how effortlessly his arms, hands, and fingers are choreographed to the music. He was one of the most important figures in music at the turn of the 20th century. Chopin, debussy composed twentyfour preludes in two books 1910 and 19. When acclaimed pianist hiroko sasaki was looking for aninstrument to record the debussy preludes on, she happened to spot a strange looking instrument, which turned out to be a pleyel concert grand built in 1873, and she instantly fell in love with it. Les sons et les parfums tournent dans lair du soir 5. His playing seeps with atmosphere and he delves deep into the composers sound world.
The real pollini emerged, for me, after intermission when he offered a group of debussy preludes from book i. His 193839 versions were staples of the 78 rpm catalog, as well as his 1951 and 1953 lp remakes. Dec 12, 2011 this project was cancelled due to lack of funding. Compositions of debussy, the number of measures marked piano, and the number of measures marked forte. Preludes, book 1 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. The reason i ask is that this would be be much more etherial at double tempo really lightening up on the fastest notes. Except for some mild, localized chromaticism and a short pentatonic passage, the entire piece uses the whole. Types of triplets found in piano compositions of debussy and places where they are found. A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude.
Unlike some notable collections of preludes from prior times, such as chopins op. Suggesting sailing boats anchored to a fixed pedalpoint, this prelude is a brilliant example of the composers use of the. Claude debussy composed the second book of preludes during 1910 12. Three years exist between the publication of the first and second book, with the former appearing in 1910. This page lists all sheet music of voiles from preludes book 1 sails by claude achille debussy 18621918. Similarly, the great german pianist walter gieseking seemed to have dibs on the debussy preludes. Voiles da preludi, libro i, per pianoforte debussy voiles preludes, book 1 no. Media in category preludes by claude debussy the following 28 files are in this category, out of 28 total. A good recording of the debussy preludes should feel like an occasion, and steven osborne delivers. But with time, the attractions of book ii have become clearer, and it seems. For an automatically generated alphabetical list of all available pieces, please see category.
These beautiful french works are a must for all pianists. These compositions, while endearing themselves to both pianist and listener, also occupy an important place in musical. Jan 09, 2010 voiles, number 2 from book i of debussys preludes. These works have been central to stevens repertoire for many years and he brings them to the studio after. 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. Debussy preludes, book 1 by claude debussy 18621918.
Among the most important 20th century composers, and the most influential. What debussy was doing in the preludes and earlier works with a similar inspiration. The works in debussys second book of preludes are similar in intent to those of book i 1907 1910. This page lists all recordings of voiles from preludes book 1 sails by claude achille debussy 18621918. The title of the piece may be translated to english as either veils or sails.
A list of works in the composer category that are not included here can be. Major classical artists often rerecord their specialties, from stokowskis four scheherezades to umpteen karajan beethoven cycles. The piano, built in a beautifully ornamented harpsichord case. Debussys colouristic masterpiece, a bewitching compendium of scents, colours and sounds.