Debussy preludes book 1 program notes for faure

Adopting the major piano works including the preludes, bartok absorbed the liberated message as deeply as he absorbed the idiom of the hungarian peasant. Mar 09, 2018 he hasnt lost his touch, and though the pieces may often appear simpletheyre the kind of things budding pianists playtheyre rarely given with this kind of artistry, drawn of a lifetime at the keyboard. The rolls that survive are of the romance sans paroles no 3, barcarolle no 1, prelude no 3, nocturne no 3, theme et variations, valsescaprices nos 1, 3 and 4, and piano versions of the pavane, and the sicilienne from faures music for pelleas and melisande. His piano works include two books of preludes and two of etudes. The next two preludes take us abroad for the last time. Often dubbed a musical impressionist, but his music always has a strong sense of form. Cross and biographical notes on the performers in english 7 pages inserted in container. Preludes books 1 and 2 piano solo sheet music schirmer.

Debussy, ravel, faure, chabrier roy howat an essential resource for scholars and performers, this study by a worldrenowned specialist illuminates the piano music of four major french composers, in comparative and reciprocal context. Nature was central to debussy s artistic aesthetic. Among the most important 20th century composers, and the most influential. The beams on even the 32nd notes are very easy to distinguish many printers do not get such a high resolution and the spaces between 2 or 3 beams are often poorly defined resulting in fat black patches instead of distinct lines. It demonstrates yet again what an outstanding exponent katz was, and of a wide variety of music from the refinement of his bach to the bravura of his read more khachaturian and all stops in between.

For him, personal idiosyncrasy or impediment a determination to be different at all costs would affront debussys genius, and so he offers profoundly expressive yet lucid and. Apr 03, 2014 unlike previous collections of preludes, such as those of j. Claude debussy, nocturnes and mandoline the choral. Book ii was composed between late 1912 and april of 19. Preludes books 1 and 2 paperback april 1, 1999 by claude debussy composer 4. Debussys piano prelude the sunken cathedral, based on the medieval legend. Each book was written in a matter of months, at an unusually fast pace for debussy. Stephen porter reveals debussys preludes the boston. In these pages ill try to summarize what references i have on the performance of. The 20 essential debussy recordings wqxr blog wqxr. He was too good a composer to imitate debussy, although there are a few examples of direct influence it.

He was one of the most important figures in music at the turn of the 20th century. Complete preludes, books 1 and 2 dover music for piano. Debussys two books of preludes were composed between late 1909 and 19. The form of the keyboard prelude research online uow. After the intermission, ivan gusev presented a set of debussy preludes. A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude. But where bach and chopin used their preludes as something of a technical exercise, composing one for each musical key, debussy s were freeform and full of his signature expressive indulgences. Tircis, aminte, clitandre, and damis are all pastoral names in keeping with the outdoor theme of the poem. Each book was written in a matter of months, at an.

Volume one, containing his first twenty songs, need not detain us long. Not only are 24 short works a great deal to take in at one time, but there are some stylistic differences between them also. He was too good a composer to imitate debussy, although there are a few examples of direct influence it was. Claudio arrau considered it to be one of debussy s greatest preludes and said its miraculous that he created, in so few notes, this kind of depth. Notes of debussy, ravel and faure charlotte symphony. As for his piano compositions, after he completed the second book of preludes the only. 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 piano pieces require deep thought and understanding. Original poster 1 point 1 year ago thats fantastic, thank you. The composer who benefited most from this liberation was bartok, who was introduced to debussy s music by kodaly in 1907. Both books 1 and 2 of debussys popular piano preludes are contained in this one sturdy volume.

Playing debussys piano works an amateurs thoughts about. Three years exist between the publication of the first and second book, with the former appearing in 1910. Debussy may have contributed the last important evolution to the prelude. This piano piece was initially published in the year 1908 and is included in preludes by debussy. Several of these rolls have been transferred to cd. Unlike some notable collections of preludes from prior times, such as chopins op. Poissons dor, from images, book ii meiting sun piano.

To debussy, preludes were the musical equivalent of impressionistic painting. Hence, we find not only a great many sound pictures throughout his music, but no fewer than three groups of pieces actually entitled images, each a triptych in itself. He gave introductory comments about each of the preludes before playing each book on each half of the program, in this, his eighth appearance on the frederick collections series last sunday. He was a truly innovative composer and his works assisted in new ideas that developed 20th century composition. Lisle joyeuse i love pictures images almost as much as music, debussy once wrote. A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude debussy.

I would suggest that each book of the preludes be listened to separately. These compositions, while endearing themselves to both pianist and listener, also occupy an important place in musical. I spent some of this year trying different composers, to widen my technique, and while i did benefit from playing bach and mozart i didnt really enjoy it, i struggled to get the performance beyond mediocre because i just didnt care. Mindru katz plays french masterworks faure, debussy, ravel. I had not heard any of these pieces until i purchased this set, but all are wonderful. These beautiful french works are a must for all pianists. Book i was written between december 1909 and february 1910, and book ii. 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. Some pedaling marks at the bottom if these pages were cut off. Debussy s colouristic masterpiece, a bewitching compendium of scents, colours and sounds. The position of gabriel faure in the contemporary musical. His compositions for piano, written between the 1860s and the 1920s, include some of his best known works.

The most substantial and revelatory thing however is the performance of debussy s book 1 preludes from the jerusalem radio concert. And here in his latest album he subdues his legendary, transcendent technique to convey debussys very essence with a surpassing ease and naturalness. Canope preludes, book ii, 19 playing debussys piano. The notes to the present collection describe literary or pictorial associations intended by debussy.

This blog is dedicated to discussion of the performance of the piano pieces of claude debussy. Debussy rather admired english sangfroid those were the days, but was not beyond giving it the occasional dig in the ribs, as here in his. Canope preludes, book ii, 19 playing debussys piano works. Each book contains twelve preludes for the piano, many of them known to todays musical audiences because of their great popularity with pianists worldwide. This paper also includes a brief history of preludes as well as possible influences upon debussy and his compositions. Like book 1, each piece was composed with the intention of being an individual piece, representing a visual. Debussy s most dramatic contribution to music history was his disregard for traditional chord structures and tonality. Breiner for orchestra debussy completed his two books of preludes in 1910 and 19 respectively, and they contain some of his most visionary and poetic writing for piano. In a similar way, the society became a steppingstone in the careers of many younger composers, including claude debussy and after him maurice ravel. Five of the dreamier preludes from debussys book 1 sit at the heart of the program and are a joy. His second book of preludes published in 19 consists of twelve generous vignettes painted in a pastel kaleidoscope of pianistic colors. Roy howats editions of debussy piano music for the. Gifted from his early years with a preternatural and keen understanding of writing for the piano, this cd displays debussys prodigious gifts in full display as rendered by baldis sensitive playing.

Im only an amateur pianist, but have been playing debussy s piano works since the late 70s. Debussy was the composer who freed western music from the claustrophobic confines of functional harmony, the set of rules that for 300 years had governed which chords fit best with which others according to how well their bass notes got along. Debussy was one of the first 20th century composers to use nontraditional scales and reject conventional harmony by exploring the use of parallel chords and hinting at tonal centres rather preludes sticking with a definitive key. Dovers book of debussy preludes is made of extremely high quality print on heavier paper than usual. Im only an amateur pianist, but have been playing debussys piano works since the late 70s. But thats not what we get in debussys two 12strong books of preludes. Debussys piano pieces require deep thought and understanding. Preludes book 2 debussy preludes, opus 32 rachmaninoff by lawrence budmen while an entire concert of preludes may seem repetitive at first glance, the term had a very different meaning to various composers. Sep 29, 2006 claudio arrau considered it to be one of debussys greatest preludes and said its miraculous that he created, in so few notes, this kind of depth. Debussys literary inspirations were mostly french, but he did not overlook foreign writers. Debussy rather admired english sangfroid again, those were the days, but was not beyond giving it the occasional dig in the ribs, as here in. Achilleclaude debussy 22nd august 1862 25th march 1918 was a french composer. 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. Shop and buy the french piano collection 48 pieces by chaminade, couperin, debussy, faure, ravel, and satie sheet music.

A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude debussy showing 1 4 of 68 pages in this thesis. Maybe debussy, who distrusted prolixity and technical brilliance, was saying. The first book 1910 proved to be his most successful work. The pierpont morgan library music manuscript reprint series. Both books 1 and 2 of debussy s popular piano preludes are contained in this one sturdy volume.

Music for relaxation, reliance and relief 10,533,468 views 1. Having spent more than half a century with the great beaux arts trio, menahem pressler has enjoyed a balmy indian summer as a solo. Claude debussy s preludes are 24 pieces for solo piano, divided into two books of 12 preludes each. There are evocations of calm seascapes, delicate wind tracery, and snowcovered landscapes. While in an opera or ballet, a prelude may be a mood setting introduction to. Like images book i, book ii begins with two slow movements. As edward lockspeiser writes, these songs provide the most moving revelations of the hedonistic, pagan art of debussy, a reminder that the antique grace and splendour of the. Two excerpts from the emperor concerto, showing beethovens use of uneven groups of notes. Often dubbed a musical impressionist, but his music always has a. I can do just as good a water nymph as you in fewer notes. With so many interpretations of debussy committed to recordings including. Debussy s two books of preludes amount to a revolution in piano writing, and reflect better that any of his other works the span of debussy s achievement. 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. Debussy, a lifelong admirer of verlaines poetry, had taken a copy of the collection with him when he went to study in rome in 1885.

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. Preludes, book 1 6 epigraphes antiques en blanc et noir robert and gaby casadesus 1956 ns 0105. Order from your preferred classical music cd store arkivmusic. Here in his first debussy recording for hyperion he presents the two books of images. 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. Debussy described his prelude to the afternoon of a faun as a very. The pavane, one of the most popular works by french composer gabriel faure, exists. The preludes use postscripts rather than titles, and the etudes are labeled with practical description. Well, debussy obviously agreed but that didnt stop him putting his own stamp on the genre.