In these pages ill try to summarize what references i have on the performance of. It is a very descriptive book where all the formal, structural, harmonic and contextual analysis of the work can be found. Claude debussy was a leading composer of the early 20th century known for his impressionistic style and use of nontraditional scales and tonalities as well as chromaticism. In 2008, i finished the first that i know of complete orchestration of debussy s first book of preludes for piano. As for his piano compositions, after he completed the second book of preludes the only.
The germanenglish pianist walter morse rummel, a student of leopold godowsky, gave the premiere of the entire second book of preludes in 19 in london. Unlike some notable collections of preludes from prior times, such as chopins op. They were composed and published in two books of twelve. 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. Unlike chopins, bachs and many other composers homonymous series, these pieces arent sorted by key signature.
Parting the veils of debussy s voiles page 47 doesnt feel as it should and by some sense of the poetic penumbra that still. Im only an amateur pianist, but have been playing debussy s piano works since the late 70s. The ending of this movement is one of debussys best moments. Claude debussys preludes are 24 pieces for solo piano, divided into two books of 12 preludes each. Well, debussy obviously agreed but that didnt stop him putting his own stamp on the genre. A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude. It consists in a series of 24 short pieces, equally subdivided into two books. Notice how debussy uses both extremes of the keyboard.
Debussys book of preludes is some of his most wellknown and last works for solo piano. See all formats and editions hide other formats and editions. This significant compilation of 12 preludes represents debussy s mature writing style and is filled with a great diversity of compositional styles. My analysis of canope debussy preludes for piano, book. Preludes book 1 by claude debussy for solo piano 1910 cd125l.
A different approach to analysis of claude debussys music with examples from preludes, books 1. Some pedaling marks at the bottom if these pages were cut off. Debussy s book of preludes are some of his most wellknown and last works for solo piano. Analysis debussy voiles claude debussy elements of music. Helpful english translations of french terms as well as debussy s performance. Helpful english translations of french terms as well as debussy s performance suggestions are included as well as dr. Unt theses and dissertations and was provided to unt digital library by the unt libraries. Nontraditional scales extended harmony traditional chords used in nontraditional context harmonic color tonal ambiguity. Despite the research i have done regarding the title, the results i have found are still only speculation. The primary purpose of this study is to examine various ways in which analysis can provide solutions to problems that may arise in the performance of debussy s preludes for piano. Scotts analysis a similar study to my own regarding gestural analysis has been conducted by douglas scott on mozarts flute quartet in d, k285. Originally recorded in 1953 and 1954 in monaural sound, walter giesekings magisterial performances of debussy s preludes were first released on cd in 1987 as a single disc, and they have been reissued in various guises many times since.
Initially, debussy and other pianists who gave early performances of the works including ricardo vines played them in groups of three or four preludes, which remains a popular approach today. Alfred masterwork library sheet music book by claude debussy 18621918. It is meant to depict an ancient egyptian city and egyptian burial urns. Debussy preludes, bk 1 alfred masterwork edition paperback march 1, 1986 by claude debussy composer, maurice hinson composer 4. Unt theses and dissertations and was provided to digital library by the unt libraries. Included are english translations of french terms, debussy s performance. Musical analysis as a technique for performance decisions in. Analysis debussy voiles claude debussy elements of. Not only is the title full of mystery, but the piece. Browse alfred music from alfred music at sheet music plus. Except for some mild, localized chromaticism and a short pentatonic passage, the entire piece uses the whole. Instrumental album alfred publishing this collection of pieces marked a turning point in debussy s approach to his piano compositions they challenge the potential of the instrument and exemplify his expressive sweeping style. Pdf debussy preludes bk 1 download full pdf book download.
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. World wide shipping follow this free score follow debussy, claude composer report problem sheet music sales from usa. Chapter 1 introduction analysis can be a valuable tool for the performer who is seeking solutions to performance problems. As part of an ma dissertation scott presented his own logicodeductive form of analysis based on hattens theories of music and gesture.
Preludes book 2 principal composer debussy, claude sheet music. An analysis of debussys preludes book 1 james omalley submitted in partial fulfilment of ma in performance and musicology nui. Debussy preludes, book 1 by claude debussy 18621918. A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude debussy page. 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.
Free sheet music l 117, debussy, claude preludes, book 1. Three years exist between the publication of the first and second book, with the former appearing in 1910. These preludes are well known for the unique way in which they are titled. Unlike them, however, he did not adhere to a system of one prelude for each. Please let me know if youre interested in doing one or more or all of them. Prelude 10, titled canope in his book of preludes no. The title of the piece may be translated to english as either veils or sails. Debussy s twentyfour preludes are among the composers last and bestknown works for piano. The paperback of the complete preludes, books 1 and 2. These compositions, while endearing themselves to both pianist and listener, also occupy an important place in musical. A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude debussy. Quietly teeming, delicate, and atmospheric, the texture is dominated by sweeping arpeggios that require a high degree of control on the part of the pianist.
Debussy les collines danacapri from preludes book 1 this page lists all recordings of les collines danacapri from preludes book 1 by claude achille debussy 18621918. This album contains the preludes, books 1 and 2 by debussy, presented by piano classics, a label of brilliant classics. As he plays debussys book 1 preludes, you notice how effortlessly his arms, hands, and fingers are choreographed to the music. Debussy engulfed cathedral youtube debussy the sunken cathedral analysis duration. These controls are experimental and have not yet been optimized for user experience. Unlike other collections of preludes by great composers, debussy s do not follow a strict pattern of key signature. Lessons 1 and 2 debussy preludes the student must look for the book the piano works of claude debsusy, by e. It is the second piece in a set of twelve preludes published in 1910. The purpose of this thesis is to discuss and give a descriptive analysis of twelve of the twentyfour preludes written by claude debussy.
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. In this prelude we find examples of harmonic procedures commonly used in claude debussy s music like. Hinsons suggestions for performance and an analysis of each prelude. Study composition at the university of the arts in philadelphia. This blog is dedicated to discussion of the performance of the piano pieces of claude debussy. Much analysis has been done on these piano rolls with the aim of revealing his. Debussy preludes, bk 1 alfred masterwork edition debussy, claude, hinson, maurice on. This significant compilation of 12 preludes represents debussys mature writing style and is filled with a great diversity of compositional styles. A descriptive analysis of the preludes book i of claude debussy thesis presented. This paper also includes a brief history of preludes as well as possible influences upon debussy and his compositions. Analysis of claude debussys preludes 1827 words bartleby. It is the eighth piece in the composers first book of preludes, written between late 1909.
This allows performers to choose preludes with which they have the strongest affinity, or those to which their individual interpretive gifts are. A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude debussy showing 14 of 68 pages in this thesis. Debussy s piano pieces require deep thought and understanding. Walter morse rummel, piano complete first pub lication. Voiles is a composition by claude debussy for solo piano from 1909.
There is a strong tonal relationship between the preludes that suggests that the published order of the preludes is not arbitrary. The music expresses a vast repertoire of emotions, colors and moods. Debussys twentyfour preludes are among the composers last and bestknown works for piano. Like vladimir horowitz and glenn gould, michelangeli employs a relatively flatfingered technique for sustained legato passages and certain rotary arpeggios such as those in ce qua vu le vent douest. Claude debussys performance of minstrels from preludes, book i, in the 1912.
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