A descriptive analysis of the preludes book i of claude debussy thesis presented. One of debussys 24 preludes is from book 1, prelude 12, also known as minstrels. A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude. At one time his music was made to sound bleached and anaemic, but pianists are now ready to show it in much sharper focus. Free sheet music l 117, debussy, claude preludes, book 1. He developed a highly original system of harmony and musical structure that expressed in many respects the ideals to which the impressionist and symbolist painters and writers of his time aspired. Claude debussys use of the tritone the book of threes. Along with hiroko sasakis very different version on an 1873 erard piano, as well as paul jacobss classic one, this is a cd of debussys endlessly bountiful preludes thats staying on my shelf. It was published in 1910 as the tenth prelude in debussys first of two volumes of twelve piano preludes each. I wont say that if you must own only one set, it should be this one, however. These preludes are well known for the unique way in which they are titled. Debussys twentyfour preludes are among the composers last and bestknown works for piano. Here in his first debussy recording for hyperion he presents the two books of images. Claude debussy s preludes are 24 pieces for solo piano, divided into two books of 12 preludes each.
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. Paul jacobss 1970s recordings of debussys preludes for nonesuch were included in the npr classical 50 list of essential recordings. Achilleclaude debussy august 22, 1862 march 25, 1918 was a french composer. This significant compilation of 12 preludes represents debussys mature writing style and is filled with a. With this recording pollini is closing the circle of debussy preludes with the long anticipated. Aug 19, 2016 the composer who benefited most from this liberation was bartok, who was introduced to debussys music by kodaly in 1907. Built by pairing two major triads a tritone apart, and then placing those notes in scale order, the tritone scale brings a nice level of tension to your lines that you can use to build energy when soloing over 7th chords in a jazz or fusion context. Debussys string quartet in g minor, one of his earliest masterpieces, combines alluring melodies with exhilarating rhythmic freedom and paved the way for prelude a lapresmidi dun.
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. It was published in 1910 as the tenth prelude in debussys first of two volumes. They were composed and published in two books of twelve. His subtle rubato helps make clear the despair debussy wished to portray. Debussy disliked the term impressionism, but the wash of. The game was originally planned to not have any music. One is that the titles occur at the end in the printed music, not at the beginning, each one preceded by an ellipsis and enclosed in parentheses. Debussys use of scales other than the major or minor. Debussys colouristic masterpiece, a bewitching compendium of scents, colours and sounds. The game was originally planned to not have any music in the game until the games composer, dan golding, worked with the studio when creating the trailer for the game. I also very much liked zimermans way with the adventurous what the west wind saw. Three years exist between the publication of the first and second book, with the former appearing in 1910. This blog is dedicated to discussion of the performance of the piano pieces of claude debussy. Friedrich gulda 16 may 1930 27 january 2000 was an austrian pianist and composer who worked in both the classical and jazz fields.
Playing debussys piano works an amateurs thoughts about. In a way, debussys choice of title for this work preludes marks a turning point in his output for piano. A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude debussy. This paper also includes a brief history of preludes as well as possible influences upon debussy and his compositions. Here he reaches between those two to tackle one of the pinnacles of the piano repertoiredebussys two books of preludes. In the three pieces published as images, book ii, one is reminded of this famous line from the poem ars poetica by paul verlaine, one. The paradox is that debussy succeeded in a series of piano works starting with estampes in 1903 and culminating in the two books of preludes in 1910 and 1912 respectively in creating what can only be called an impressionist technique. Contrasting these more lighthearted dance pieces, the little shepherd from the muchloved childrens corner suite is an established favourite which offers an exquisite introduction to debussys more. Musical analysis as a technique for performance decisions in selected preludes by claude debussy a monograph submitted to the graduate faculty of the louisiana state university and agricultural and mechanical college in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of doctor of musical arts in the school of.
Claude debussys preludes are 24 pieces for solo piano, divided into two books of 12 preludes each. A new album from marcandre hamelin is always cause for celebration. Contrasting these more lighthearted dance pieces, the little shepherd from the muchloved childrens corner suite is an established favourite which offers an exquisite introduction to debussys more etherial music, and points towards the deeper mysteries of the later prelude canope, which concludes the book. One of debussy s 24 preludes is from book 1, prelude 12, also known as minstrels. The purpose of this thesis is to discuss and give a descriptive analysis of twelve of the twentyfour preludes written by claude debussy. Claude debussy, french composer whose works were a seminal force in the music of the 20th century. Here onyx squeezed both books on one fullprice cd, a considerable saving. Website release date january february march april may june july august september october november december. One of the albums centrepieces is olafssons own rameau arrangement the arts and the hours.
Geisekings recordings of the preludes defintely rates as one of the best recordings of debussy piano music there is. Krystian zimerman is a prime example of the modern interpreter who presents debussy as a composer of sense as well as sensibility. The twentyfour preludes of debussy are published in two books of twelve preludes each. Mar 02, 2018 the poet leonpaul fargue, having watched debussy play, wrote that he would start by brushing the keys, prodding the odd one here and there, making a pass over them and then he would sink into. Preludes book 1 and preludes book 2 subtly evocative. We have one of the great pianists playing at the height of his powers the energy, the poetry, the way. 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.
One noticeable characteristic of what appears to be the first installment of a debussy cycle from pianist idil biret is the closeup, fullbodied engineeringa far cry from debussys oftquoted piano without. I have roges earlier decca recording of book 1 of the preludes. This paper also includes a brief history of preludes as. Any recordings you find of sviatoslav richter playing any of debussys preludes are also worthy of consideration. It is characteristic of debussy in its form, harmony, and content. If you wish to buy zimerman, you must do so with two separate fullprice dg discs, one for each book. 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. Joseph auner wrote, in all but a few cases, debussy showed little interest in remaining within any one scale, preferring instead a subtle. Both books are included here in performances by paul jacobs described by the new york times as absorbing, and sensuous in the most refined way.
To hear a new prelude every other day click the subscribe button or go to. With this recording pollini is closing the circle of debussy preludes with the long anticipated recording of the 2nd book 18 years after he recorded book 1, which is an evergreen in his discography. The more suggestive the music, the more diverse the ways it can be understood. Along with maurice ravel, he is considered one of the most prominent figures working within the field of impressionist. Claude debussys preludes are 24 pieces for solo piano, divided into two books of 12 preludes. The titles of the preludes are highly significant, both in terms of their descriptive quality and in the way they were placed in the written score. Roge displays individual touches throughout the cycle. The trailer featured minstrels, edited in such a way that contributed to the. Debussy preludes, bk 1 alfred masterwork edition paperback march 1, 1986.
Debussy wrote two books of preludes published in 1910 and 19 respectively. 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. Nov 28, 2019 one of debussys 24 preludes is from book 1, prelude 12, also known as minstrels. Claude debussy achilleclaude debussy french pronunciation. Unlike some notable collections of preludes from prior times, such as chopins op. Adopting the major piano works including the preludes, bartok absorbed the liberated message as deeply as he absorbed the idiom of the hungarian peasant. Olafssons album concludes with a piece that connects the two composers directly. I wont say that if you must own only one set, it should be this one. Debussys piano pieces require deep thought and understanding. Some pedaling marks at the bottom if these pages were cut off. Physical recordings are no longer a fashionable way of listening to music, but you will probably get closer to debussy if you shut down. They have a natural sequence of more abstraction and somehow, difficulty, from the first to the second. The trailer featured minstrels, edited in such a way. Dg is proud to announce the new album of icon maestro pollini, coinciding with the debussy year 2018.
Debussy s twentyfour preludes are among the composers last and bestknown works for piano. Debussy preludes book 2 richter showing 185 of 85 messages. I mentioned daniel ericourt above because he is an highly underrated pianist who does much for the music of debussy in a very special way. I mentioned daniel ericourt above because he is an highly underrated pianist who does much for the music of debussy in a very special way a keyboard colorist, which is what this music requires. But price is the least reason why i prefer this set. Under the pianistic viewpoint, one can say that the etudes are the logical technical continuation of the preludes.
Musical analysis as a technique for performance decisions in selected preludes by claude debussy a monograph submitted to the graduate. Debussy s string quartet in g minor, one of his earliest masterpieces, combines alluring melodies with exhilarating rhythmic freedom and paved the way for prelude a lapresmidi dun. Heretofore, my favorite artist for the preludes i and ii had likely been joan rowlands surrounded by debussy, preludes. As for his piano compositions, after he completed the second book of preludes the only. Im trying to write something different realities in a way. Im only an amateur pianist, but have been playing debussys piano works since the late 70s. Joseph auner wrote, in all but a few cases, debussy showed little interest in remaining within any one scale, preferring instead a subtle interchange among diatonic, wholetone, and octatonic elements. Aug 21, 2019 preludes, livre 2 debussy, claude there is no proof that debussy necessarily intended the preludes to be performed as a cycle, although the musical language throughout each book is so consistent that performers often do debusssy. Also recorded here is the second book of preludes, in a poetic and evocative performance.
Images and the two books of piano preludes whose titles tend to be more concrete and descriptive. The velvet revolution of claude debussy the new yorker. The two sets of images for piano take us to a higher level of abstraction. Preludes, book 1 alfred cortot 1949 recording youtube. Over the past few decades the way pianists play debussy has changed. Debussys preludes, book 1 in a 1949 recording by alfred cortot, one of the. Book i was written between december 1909 and february 1910, and book ii. 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. Debussy preludes, book 1 by claude debussy 18621918.
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