Mar 21, 2020 claude debussy, french composer whose works were a seminal force in the music of the 20th century. Provided to youtube by universal music group debussy. Claude debussys preludes are two sets of pieces for solo piano, written in 191010 and 1912, and published as book i and ii respectively. 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 first book was composed between 1901 and 1905, and the second book was composed in 1907.
In his first book of preludes, discover the remarkable compositional innovations that allowed him to craft these superlative short pieces. Debussy rameau by vikingur olafsson on apple music. Debussy preludes, book 1 download free sheet music. The piece is 36 measures long and takes approximately three and a half to four and a half minutes to play. 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. Images usually pronounced in french is a suite of six compositions for solo piano by claude debussy. Mar 05, 2020 though he is without a doubt one of the mad genius pianists of the century, michelangelis reputation is sustained essentially by two recordings or groups of recordings. These works are distinct from debussys images pour orchestre. The playing and the recording had better be in the luxury class. He is particularly interested in sonorities and soundscapes, in which he is aided by a superb recording, but shape and sensuality are not neglected. The 23 greatest solo piano works the great courses plus.
Aug 19, 2016 the composer who benefited most from this liberation was bartok, who was introduced to debussys music by kodaly in 1907. Adopting the major piano works including the preludes, bartok absorbed the liberated message as deeply as he absorbed the idiom of the hungarian peasant. Debussy complete works for piano volume 1 jeanefflam. By the time he began writing the first book of preludes, claude debussy had established himself as an important and prolific composer having already. Book ii ends with a final joke and then a return home. 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. Giesekings set of both books of the preludes is one of the great classics of the gramophone. The purpose of this thesis is to discuss and give a descriptive analysis of twelve of the twentyfour preludes written by claude debussy. Debussys use of pianistic colour is absolutely central to this tremendous set from alexi lubimov. As part of debussys paris marking the 100th anniversary of the composers death this weekend, building a library is a live discussion between andrew and iain burnside on book 1 of debussys piano preludes. Debussy s colouristic masterpiece, a bewitching compendium of scents, colours and sounds.
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. These works are distinct from debussy s images pour orchestre. Three years exist between the publication of the first and second book, with the former appearing in 1910. Book i was written in a matter of months between 1909 and 1910. Along with maurice ravel, he is considered one of the most prominen. Jan 01, 2009 listen to your favorite songs from debussy.
One only prays and hopes that the rest of debussy s piano music is somewhere in the near future, probably along with at least the core ravel piano works if not all the ravel piano music. Claude debussy feux dartifice, from preludes, book ii. These compositions, while endearing themselves to both pianist and listener, also occupy an important place in musical history and, like the preludes. Debussy indicated he was not entirely happy with his two books of preludes, regarding both as somewhat artistically uneven. These compositions, while endearing themselves to both pianist and listener, also occupy an important place in musical. As he plays debussys book 1 preludes, you notice how effortlessly his arms, hands, and fingers are choreographed to the music. Claude debussy by walter gieseking preludes book one.
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. Sheet music and recordings of thousands of piano pieces by claude debussy and many other famous composers to view in your digital device, print out or listen to. Walter gieseking plays debussy preludes book 1 discogs. Compare and contrast the records of one of debussy 24. The american pianist ivan ilic who seems to be of serbian origin enters a very competitive arena in terms of debussys piano music and not least the two books of preludes whether it be gieseking, zimerman, roge, bavouzet, arrau particularly in book i, planes and ciccolini, to name just a few very distinguished interpreters of this endlessly fascinating music. Recorded live during the marion rubin berman 31 piano honors concert april 12, 2012 in necs jordan hall in boston. He was supposedly unhappy to see them programmed whole, preferring pianists to make selections from the sets instead. Preludes the 24 preludes composed by debussy in book 1 and 2 are short musical pieces that are meant to put across a specific atmosphere or feeling which is pointed out by.
Unlike some notable collections of preludes from prior times, such as chopins op. This paper also includes a brief history of preludes as well as possible influences upon debussy and his compositions. Jan 31, 2018 get a free mp3 of claude debussy preludes, book 1. These works have been central to stevens repertoire for many years and he brings them to the. Preludes book 1 childrens corner by nelson freire now. Claude debussy 18621918 wrote two books of preludes for the piano, the first published in 1910, the second in 19. The twentyfour preludes of debussy are published in two books of twelve preludes each. Debussy composed the entire collection of preludes over a period of three years 191019 and divided them into two separate books, each book containing twelve preludes. The music expresses a vast repertoire of emotions, colors and moods. You get two discs for the price of one here, but the discs are only about 42 and 43 minutes worth. He was one of the most important figures in music at the turn of the 20th century. Soyoung choe performs excerpts from debussys preludes, book 1. Begin this lecture with reflections on debussys personality and artistic influences, including that of french symbolist poetry, as they influenced his musical creations. Included are english translations of french terms, debussy s performance.
Piano preludes book 1 as part of debussy s paris marking the 100th anniversary of the composers death this weekend, building a library is a live discussion between andrew and iain. When pianist hiroko sasaki was looking for an instrument 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. Each book was written in a matter of months, at an unusually fast pace for debussy. Two discs, retailing at a high midprice and playing for a total of 84 minutes.
This one, brouillards mists, the first from book ii, is one of the more compelling efforts in either set. As for his piano compositions, after he completed the second book of preludes the only. For early advanced to advanced piano alfred masterwork edition by claude debussy and maurice hinson. 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. Book i was written between december 1909 and february 1910, and book ii between the last months of 1912 and early april 19. Some have rightfully regretted that the pianists technique was not more. This significant compilation of 12 preludes represents debussy s mature writing style and is filled with a great diversity of compositional styles. These works have been central to stevens repertoire for many years and he brings them to the studio after. They were published in two booksseries, each consisting of three pieces. 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. Achilleclaude debussy 22nd august 1862 25th march 1918 was a french composer. The pianist himself considers it possibly the best recording of his career.
He is one of the most important exponents of the whole tone scale in classical music history. Claude debussys preludes are 24 pieces for solo piano, divided into two books of 12 preludes each. His compositions flowed without a strict sense of metre or rhythm, and are considered the pioneering works of the impressio read more. But such sensitively conceived and wonderfully executed debussy playing stands, at the very least, on a level with a classic recording such as giesekings, or a comparably idiomatic modern one such as martino tirimos. 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. He uses the characterful sonorities of two pianos from close to debussys time.
Find upcoming concerts, watch performances, and learn more about the music. Canope, in contrast, is one of debussys timeless pieces, inspired by the canopic jar tops of egyptian funerary urns, two of which stood on debussys mantelpiece. Free sheet music resource for new musicians and enthusiasts. Complete preludes, books 1 and 2 dover music for piano. Gieseking more or less owned these pieces during his lifetime and his performances have been judged as definitive by many critics since they were first issued on lp.
A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude. Here he reaches between those two to tackle one of the pinnacles of the piano repertoiredebussys two books of preludes. A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude debussy. Stream adfree with amazon music unlimited on mobile, desktop, and tablet. Achilleclaude debussy august 22, 1862 march 25, 1918 was a french composer.
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. Whether i would be persuaded to pay around twice as much as for his singledisc rivals im not so sure. His readings of the first book of preludes, and the first set of images is going to be much, much, much more than soothing pastel background music listening. Helpful english translations of french terms as well as debussy s performance. Debussy preludes, book 1 by claude debussy 18621918. Both books 1 and 2 of debussys popular piano preludes are contained in this one sturdy volume. The performances tell it like it is or almost, for not all debussy s very demanding contrasts of dynamics are observed, and i imagine collard has small hands, though she. 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. Here in his first debussy recording for hyperion he presents the two books of images. Podcast for kids nfb radio 101 sermon podcast pauping off all steak no sizzle podcast church of the oranges daily chapel spring 2012. Previous sheet music next sheet music preludes book 1 12 pieces l 117 claude debussy.