This is the second part of susan waterfalls opportunity to treat your ears and eyes to an indepth exploration of debussy s colorful and captivating preludes for piano, book one, written in 190910. 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. Meanwhile, debussy s scenes au crepuscule, after regniers poetry, were completed in piano score in 1893, but before debussy had a chance to orchestrate them he attended the premiere performance of his string quartet in g minor in december, given by the ysaye quartet led by belgian violin virtuoso eugene ysaye. 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. Florent schmitt wrote two books of preludes, book 1, 3 preludes op. The complete preludes and etudes for pianoforte solo dover. This significant compilation of 12 preludes represents debussy s mature writing style and is filled with a great diversity of compositional styles. The first book was composed between 1901 and 1905, and the second book was composed in 1907.
Theyre both still quite the challenge for advanced players only. This is a complete list of compositions by claude debussy initially categorized by genre, and sorted within each genre by l. He then argues that debussys prelude reads this virtual book by making. What other collection of pieces manages to create so many utterly distinct and compelling worlds. Included are english translations of french terms, debussy s performance. These works are distinct from debussy s images pour orchestre. Claude debussy wrote two books of 12 preludes, book 1 1910 and book 2 19, for a total of 24 preludes. By chance, i came across a research methods book, transforming self and others through. April 11 1931, which included the performance of claude debussys prelude. The concert isabella stewart gardner museum podcast republic.
The influence of the symbolists and the impresssionists on claude. This was the first collection of debussy s preludes i ever owned and i have yet to hear another that surpasses it. Debussy preludes, book 2 download free sheet music musopen. Debussy complete solo piano music jeanefflam bavouzet pn. The title of the prelude is given at the end of the piece, while a roman numeral serves as the heading. The purpose of this thesis is to discuss and give a descriptive analysis of twelve of the twentyfour preludes written by claude debussy. Debussy s preludes book 2, this time and the roman sketches of charles griffes. There are several works in which wholetone harmony plays an important role, such as cloches a travers les feuilles,i from images book 1 1905, and voiles, from preludes book 1 1909.
The calm legato and the phrasing marked by debussy seem the two most important factors to recommend in the opening material. Module 5 analysis of piano repertoire lessons 1 and 2 debussy. Get to know all of the debussy preludes with christina mcmaster this month. The project goal was to revive the origins of chamber music organizing concerts on private settings. 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.
Despite some brilliant individual preludes, ive over time arrived at the position time that they are some of claude debussy s most overrated music. The fifth prelude of book 2, entitled bruyeres heather, seems from its simple style to have been one of the earliest preludes that debussy might have written. Debussys preludes break away from the character of. But he has prepared well, and every prelude glows, always rich in. This collection contains, among other things, thirty preludes which show definite advancement over those by ileborgh by being more extended and better developed, as can be seen in figure 2. Following the xundamentum was the buxheim organ book of 1475. Critically acclaimed pianist angela brownridge explores the debussy preludes books 1 and 2 for her third recording on challenge classics. Celebrating the pioneering french composers 150th birthday, it features aimards stellar interpretations of the complete cycle of both books of preludes. Debussy, c preludes, books 1 and 2 by elaine greenfield on. As always, his feeling for color is extraordinary and he homes in, where appropriate, on the quirky wit to perfectiongeneral lavine eccentric is very funnyand, with his son daniele, en blanc et noir is beautifully gauged.
A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude. Unlike other collections of preludes by great composers, debussys do not follow a strict pattern of key signature. He plays with the youthful virtuosity in, for example, feux d. One of the easiest pieces in this collection is the girl with the flaxen hair, around a.
Helpful english translations of french terms as well as debussy s performance. This double cd contains a very generous collection of major debussy piano works including both books of preludes, pour the piano, estampes, both sets of images and childrens corner. Ilya itin, pianothis video was recorded at the golandsky institute international piano festival at princeton univ. Debussy prelude book 2 no 11 les tierces alternees sheet. 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 s preludes are 24 pieces for solo piano, divided into two books of 12 preludes each. Images usually pronounced in french is a suite of six compositions for solo piano by claude debussy. Angela has appeared in all the major london concert halls, and has visited eastern and western europe, the usa, canada, the far east and australia, as well as performing extensively in the uk.
May 31, 2020 prelude book 2 no 11 les tierces alternees by claude debussy from preludes, livre 2 les tierces alternees alternating thirds debussy claude prelude piano solo book 2 no 11 2 11 prelude preludes livre preludes. This paper also includes a brief history of preludes as well as possible influences upon debussy and his compositions. Bruyeres pascal roge, piano debussy returns to the world of the popular music stage with general lavine eccentric. The pieces are extremely difficult to play, and debussy described them as a warning to pianists not to take up the musical profession unless they have remarkable hands. They are played by the legendary walter gieseking and were recorded in 1953 and 1955 the preludes and 1954 the other works on the second cd. This particularly applies to the 2nd book of 12, which contains by my count two memorable preludes dead leaves and the. 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. The music expresses a vast repertoire of emotions, colors and moods. The first book of preludes is slightly easier than the second, since the second collection features debussy s more mature writing style. Piano exam pieces 2019 and 2020, abrsm grade 6, with cd. They were published in two books series, each consisting of three pieces.
My personal journey through the 24 debussy preludes. Debussy friedrich gulda preludes book 2 1955, vinyl discogs. Book i was written between december 1909 and february 1910, and book ii. Its a wonderful bit of piano trickery that hides the melody in plain sight. Les sons et les parfums tournent dans lair du soir. Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on youtube. Pierrelaurent aimards profound affinity for the music of claude debussy is revealed again on this 2 cd album. Steven osborne tells us that in preparing this recording he was struck by the enormous scope of these preludes. Debussy preludes book ii richter aldeburgh 67 youtube.
Claude debussy composed his two books of preludes between late 1909 and early 19. Stream adfree with amazon music unlimited on mobile, desktop, and tablet. Two pieces for clarinet and piano clarinet and piano chester. Click subscribe for more beautiful music by debussy ev. The life of achilleclaude debussy is not an open book for. A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude debussy. There is much in american pianist ivan ilics performances of debussy s book 1 and 2 preludes to draw fresh responses from such wellknown works.
Ivan ilic, claude debussy, ivan ilic, ivan ilic claude debussys prel udes for piano, books 1 and 2 music. Feux dartifice translates into english as fireworks. Debussy wished to write these preludes of his second book, but did not feel them intimately and. Debussy wrote two books of preludes published in 1910 and 19. The easiest debussy piano pieces and the most difficult.
Each book contains twelve preludes for the piano, many of them known to todays musical audiences because of their great popularity with pianists worldwide. She has assembled memorable historic and current performances, and will guide you through the visual and literary images that inspired debussy to create sound worlds that had never before. The second set of debussy preludes is similar in conception to the first. Debussys scansion of the text in placet futile 230 figure 4.
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