Soyoung choe performs excerpts from debussys preludes, book 1. They were published in two booksseries, each consisting of three pieces. A 2001 reissue in philips 50 great recordings series offered 24bit remastering that yielded more palpable room ambience, clearer definition, and a more natural equalization of the piano than the excellentsounding original release. He was one of the most important figures in music at the turn of the 20th century. Publication date 1910 topics preludes, for piano, scores featuring the piano, for 1 player. The purpose of this thesis is to discuss and give a descriptive analysis of twelve of the twentyfour preludes written by claude debussy. Helpful english translations of french terms as well as debussys performance. Debussy may have contributed the last important evolution to the prelude. Debussy is known for having a much more blurry style, and a few of your pauses made the rhythm feel awkward and choppy rather than smooth and flowing. Leslie cain performs in richard goodes alldebussy master class, march 27 2015.
The first more youthful and still imbued with a certain romanticism in some aspects, and then from the peak of his maturity as debussy reached the apex of his artistic and compositional mastery. The only quibble i have is its putting the titles at the head of each piece. The recording is performed by jeremiah jones and is 5 minutes and 49 seconds in length. Professor christopher guzman, piano produced by the. Among the most important 20th century composers, and the most influential. Lorsque au soleil couchant les rivieres sont roses. Debussy himself decried the concept of musical impressionism.
Preludes by steven osborne, none from amazons classical. Chandos records is one of the worlds premier classical music record companies, best known for. The first book was composed between 1901 and 1905, and the second book was composed in 1907. List of books and articles about claude debussy online. 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. This significant compilation of 12 preludes represents debussys mature writing style and is filled with a great diversity of compositional styles. 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. Recorded live during the marion rubin berman 31 piano honors concert april 12, 2012 in necs jordan hall in boston. Evolving performance practice of debussys piano preludes. The first of the bars removed from the prelude shows. Debussy played nos 1, 2, 10 and 11 at a concert on 5 may and we know that all of them, apart possibly from no 7, were heard in paris over the next ten months. This is frequently forgotten in the interpretation as well as the assessment of his oeuvre. The clarity in his playing, and minimal use of pedal, gives sharp definition where others prefer a more reverberant haze.
Often dubbed a musical impressionist, but his music always has a. Debussy dover music for piano by debussy, claude isbn. These works are distinct from debussy s images pour orchestre. Unlike some notable collections of preludes from prior times, such as chopins op. The pianist sandro baldi presents these seminal piano works of debussy and the release includes two different periods in debussy s development. In his two books of preludes, debussy did not write the titles until the end of each piece. Debussys orchestral works include prelude a lapresmidi dun faune 1894, nocturnes. After traveling in europe and russia, debussy settled down in paris in 1887 and devoted himself to composing for the rest of his life. Achilleclaude debussy 22nd august 1862 25th march 1918 was a french composer. Collectors may want to know how philips latest incarnation of mitsuko uchidas 1989 debussy etudes differs from earlier cd issues. But lets not forget that debussys inspiration was not the mighty pacific or balmy mediterranean, but the english channel outside his hotel in eastbourne so if mark. His piano works include two books of preludes and two of etudes. Complete preludes, books 1 and 2 dover music for piano paperback april 1, 1989 by claude debussy author 4.
However, in places i could tell it was a style choice. Chandos records is one of the worlds premier classical music record companies, best known for its ground breaking search for neglected musical gems. Looking for free piano sheet music scores and more. I have had several people request that i record some debussy preludes so here is the first. 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. Prelude from pour le piano this piece sits rather well with the bach toccata as it is debussys nod back to his baroque antecedents specifically couperin, rather than bach, and has very distinct toccata elements in its constant forward motion and the divine arabesque of bach. Each book was written in a matter of months, at an unusually fast pace for debussy.
Book i was written between december 1909 and february 1910, and book ii between the last months of 1912 and. The most important early example of the prelude being exemplified in the forty eight preludes and fugues of books i and ii of the well tempered clavier of bach, where the prelude served to establish the tonal center of the fugue that followed it. A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude debussy. There is much in american pianist ivan ilics performances of debussys book 1 and 2 preludes to draw fresh responses from such wellknown works. Debussy preludes, book 1 by claude debussy 18621918. We offer hundreds of pieces for free download, and the entire collection of many, many s of pieces through affordable subscriptions. I was very taken indeed with that disc so im delighted that the remainder of the. Claude debussys preludes are 24 pieces for solo piano, divided into two books of 12 preludes each. This paper also includes a brief history of preludes as well as possible influences upon debussy and his compositions. To mark the centenary, here is a playlist of my top ten debussy.
This piano piece was initially published in the year 1908 and is included in preludes by debussy. Some pedaling marks at the bottom if these pages were cut off. The complete piano music by gordon fergusthompson, claude debussy from amazons classical music store. Preludes, book 1 claude debussy concerts, introduction.
Complete preludes, books 1 and 2 dover music for piano. Profondement calme the sunken cathedral was composed by claude debussy. Dates for book ii are harder to come by, but the volume was published almost exactly three years after the first, on 19 april 19. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Debussy preludes, bk 2 by claude debussy, paperback. Nov 08, 2015 the debussy preludes, which originated as a tribute to chopin, are made for piemontesi.
Debussy is closer to the expressionism of schoenberg than to the chiselled sonorities of a chopin or the extravagant virtuosity of a liszt, even if his refined art can still be seen in the line of tradition of 19thcentury music. Debussys most dramatic contribution to music history was his disregard for traditional chord structures and tonality. A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude. See all 9 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Publication date 1910 topics preludes, for piano, scores featuring the piano, for 1 player collection imslp. Sheet music archive downloadable sheet music plus free. The music expresses a vast repertoire of emotions, colors and moods. These works are distinct from debussys images pour orchestre.