If debussys career as a composer was developing during these years, the same could be said of his private life. Rosens account ofsonata forms the reason for the plural in his title should now be. Soyoung choe performs excerpts from debussys preludes, book 1. As in so much of debussys music, there are inner and outer layers to be conveyed.
See all 9 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. The purpose of this thesis is to discuss and give a descriptive analysis of twelve of the twentyfour preludes written by claude debussy. As part of an ma dissertation scott presented his own logicodeductive form of analysis based on hattens theories of music and gesture. Topclassicalmusic music history channel 22,720,297 views. Three years exist between the publication of the first and second book, with the former appearing in 1910. Figure 1 present an overview of motivic transformations and accompanying modality and bass harmony throughout the piece. Chopin, debussy composed twentyfour preludes in two books 1910 and 19. Claude debussys preludes are 24 pieces for solo piano, divided into two books of 12 preludes. Ce quq vu le vent douest is the most difficult prelude in book i.
Achilleclaude debussy august 22, 1862 march 25, 1918 was a french composer. A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude debussy. His preludes, book 2, and his etudes each brought in 12,000. 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 download free sheet music. My analysis of canope debussy preludes for piano, book. Debussys most dramatic contribution to music history was his disregard for traditional chord structures and tonality. This paper also includes a brief history of preludes as well as possible influences upon debussy and his compositions.
The titles are provided at the end of each prelude and left without dedication, with inspiration from impressionist artwork, literature, and nature. In this way, gesture becomes key to the understanding of musical meaning1 ole kuhl. Feux dartifice is the hardest prelude of book ii and overall. A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude. You get two discs for the price of one here, but the discs are only about 42 and 43 minutes worth. Debussys musical forms are nothing, if not intuitive. While the solo piano version of debussys preludes will always. Like images book i, book ii begins with two slow movements. Unlike other collections of preludes by great composers, debussy s do not follow a strict pattern of key signature. Musical analysis as a technique for performance decisions in. In order to navigate out of this carousel please use your heading shortcut key to navigate to the next or previous heading.
Debussys preludes book one, 1910, book two, 19 are historically. In this prelude we find examples of harmonic procedures commonly used in claude debussys music like. Debussys literary inspirations were mostly french, but he did not overlook foreign writers. Complete preludes, books 1 and 2 dover music for piano paperback april 1, 1989 by claude debussy author. As he plays debussys book 1 preludes, you notice how effortlessly his arms, hands, and fingers are choreographed to the music. 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. The preludes use postscripts rather than titles, and the etudes are labeled with practical description. 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. Achilleclaude debussy 22nd august 1862 25th march 1918 was a french composer. 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. One pleasure of staying with friends is to explore their collections of books and recordings. Indeed, in his book claude debussy and the poets, arthur wenk describes debussys musical language as being one that suggests rather than states, and which casts doubt upon the separations between reality, memory and fantasy.
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. Both books 1 and 2 of debussys popular piano preludes are contained in this one sturdy volume. Scotts analysis a similar study to my own regarding gestural analysis has been conducted by douglas scott on mozarts flute quartet in d, k285. Poissons dor, from images, book ii meiting sun piano. An analysis and discussion of the performance of five debussy preludes. Complete preludes, books 1 and 2 dover music for piano paperback april 1, 1989. The performances tell it like it is or almost, for not all debussys very demanding contrasts of dynamics are observed, and i imagine collard has small hands, though she makes splitting big stretches sound quite acceptable. Page 1 of 1 start over page 1 of 1 this shopping feature will continue to load items when the enter key is pressed. Not only is the title full of mystery, but the piece. Despite the research i have done regarding the title, the results i have found are still only speculation. Preludes books 1 and 2 paperback april 1, 1999 by claude debussy composer 4. Although you wont find krystian zimermans ultrarefined fingerwork and wide dynamic range, nor paul jacobs linear perception, theres much to.
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. It is quite hard for me to describe just how beautiful this music is, i. An analysis and discussion of the performance of five debussy. Debussy oeuvres completes, and edited seven multiauthored books on the. 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. 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.
Interpreting discontinuity in the late works of debussy columbias. He was too good a composer to imitate debussy, although there are a few. And so, while schepkin always approaches the music with curiosity and intelligence, there is a palpable sense of dark, of mystery, of surfaces borne up by well nigh inexplicable cosmic and tangential quantum depths below all the myriad surfaces of things in nature. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Complete preludes, books 1 and 2 dover music for piano. Two excerpts from the emperor concerto, showing beethovens use of uneven groups of notes. P ierrelaurent aimards muchpublicised recent claim in an interview with a german newspaper that debussy is a greater composer than wagner is by no.
Claude debussys preludes are 24 pieces for solo piano, divided into two books of 12 preludes each. While the analysis is not aimed at a conventional exposition of motives it is impossible to discuss the compositional application of register change without introducing and following the various motives throughout the piece. The paperback of the complete preludes, books 1 and 2. Recorded live during the marion rubin berman 31 piano honors concert april 12, 2012 in necs jordan hall in boston.
1315 395 1123 237 677 687 1530 307 619 809 757 838 64 191 403 1369 154 1432 722 409 216 1419 884 1096 869 958 325 606 1461 601 259