Nontraditional scales extended harmony traditional chords used in nontraditional context harmonic color tonal ambiguity. Unlike some notable collections of preludes from prior times, such as chopins op. I was delighted that he has recorded debussy s preludes books 1 and 2 for dg in 2012 and decided to get them. Analysis can be a valuable tool for the performer who is seeking solutions to performance problems. Alexander melnikovs recording of book ii only, on a ca. By debussys death in march 1918, book i had been reprinted five times, making a total of 8,360 copies. Appendix bapproach to melodic analysis debussys use of sameness and continuity in melody fig. Gieseking more or less owned these pieces during his lifetime and his. Playing debussys piano works an amateurs thoughts about.
If you use and like, thank you to consider support donation. The fifth section will briefly compare the styles of the two composers, and the last section will draw a conclusion resulting from the preceding investigation. The article is about the first prelude for piano in book 2. Hinsons suggestions for performance and an analysis of each prelude. Except for some mild, localized chromaticism and a short pentatonic passage, the entire piece uses the whole. They were composed and published in two books of twelve. Nov 01, 2004 116 of over 3,000 results for debussy preludes book 2. The fifth prelude of book 2, entitled bruyeres heather, seems from its simple style to have been one of the earliest preludes that debussy might have written. The title of the piece may be translated to english as either veils or sails.
Debussy preludes, book 2 by claude debussy 18621918. This significant compilation of 12 preludes represents debussy s mature writing style and is filled with a great diversity of compositional styles. Harmonic innovations in historical and musical context by ford fourqurean a thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of requirements of the csu honors program for honors in the degree of bachelor of music in music performance college of the arts columbus state university thesis advisor cylx. Debussy s book of preludes are some of his most wellknown and last works for solo piano. Melodic analysis of debussys prelude a lapresmidi dun faune. Module 5 analysis of piano repertoire lessons 1 and 2 debussy preludes the student must look for the book the piano works of claude debsusy, by e. These works are distinct from debussy s images pour orchestre. He developed a highly original system of harmony and musical structure that expressed in many respects the ideals to which the impressionist and.
A different approach to analysis of claude debussys music with examples from preludes, books 1 and 2. Not only is the title full of mystery, but the piece itself leaves the listener in awe and wonder. The musical language of bach in the welltempered clavier volume 2. The leaps bring to mind the lefthand octaves in chopins etudelike 16th prelude. Helpful english translations of french terms as well as debussy s performance. Debussys first book of preludes was begun as early as. A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude. Ilya itin, piano this video was recorded at the golandsky institute international piano festival at princeton university. One of the easiest pieces in this collection is the girl with the flaxen hair, around a. Interpreting discontinuity in the late works of debussy academic. The music expresses a vast repertoire of emotions, colors and moods. Dg is proud to announce the new album of icon maestro pollini, coinciding with the debussy year 2018. Debussys twentyfour preludes are among the composers last and best. Claude debussys preludes are 24 pieces for solo piano, divided into two books of 12 preludes each.
These preludes are well known for the unique way in which they are titled. Pentatonic scale in debussy s voiles, preludes, book i, no. There are several works in which wholetone harmony plays an important role, such as cloches a travers les feuilles,i from images book 1 1905, and voiles, from preludes book 1 1909. Debussy s do not follow a strict pattern of key signature. 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. For 20 years we provide a free and legal service for free sheet music without asking you anything in exchange. With this recording pollini is closing the circle of debussy preludes with the long anticipated recording of the 2nd book 18 years after he recorded book 1, which is an evergreen in his discography. That this was general we can to some extent see from the sales figures quoted by roy howat. Preludes book 2 selections ii for piano claude debussy. Claude debussy s preludes are 24 pieces for solo piano, divided into two books of 12 preludes each. Debussy writes similar leaps for both hands in mirroring movements and builds the. The easiest debussy piano pieces and the most difficult. 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. Retrospect love of nature leading to love of mankind.
The first remarkable change in debussy s piano literature occurs in pour le piano, which was published in 1901. In this prelude we find examples of harmonic procedures commonly used in claude debussy s music like. A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude debussy. Despite the research i have done regarding the title, the results i have found are still only speculation. Theyre both still quite the challenge for advanced players only. Three years exist between the publication of the first and second book, with the former appearing in 1910. Reluctantly, we have had to pass on some of this increase in our standard airmail prices. Unlike other collections of preludes by great composers, debussy s do not follow a strict pattern of key signature. Impressionism piano sheet music by claude debussy to download and print instantly.
Debussy s piano pieces require deep thought and understanding. Musical analysis as a technique for performance decisions in. One of its significant characteristics is the way in which debussy treats tonality. Apr 01, 2016 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. Analysis of claude debussys preludes 1827 words bartleby. This blog is dedicated to discussion of the performance of the piano pieces of claude debussy. The purpose of this thesis is to discuss and give a descriptive analysis of twelve of the twentyfour preludes written by claude debussy. My analysis of canope debussy preludes for piano, book. Prelude 10, titled canope in his book of preludes no. This paper also includes a brief history of preludes as well as possible influences upon debussy and his compositions.
These compositions, while endearing themselves to both. The third section will make a stylistic analysis of the piano works of 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. They were published in two books series, each consisting of three pieces. Both of these preludes seem to recall the beginning of book 1 in their. Roy howat delved into debussys use of the golden section in his book, debussy in proportion.
Images usually pronounced in french is a suite of six compositions for solo piano by claude debussy. Voiles is a composition by claude debussy for solo piano from 1909. The first book of preludes is slightly easier than the second, since the second collection features debussy s more mature writing style. Debussy preludes, bk 2 by claude debussy, paperback. Schooltime continued cliffsnotes study guides book. Debussy s book of preludes is some of his most wellknown and last works for solo piano. Book ii had been reprinted twice, making a total of 4,000 copies. Youtube, youtube channel, video marketing, youtuber, igtv, erika vieira, video, instagram hatecast clint taylor. Bruyeres pascal roge, piano debussy returns to the world of the popular music stage with general lavine eccentric. Preludes book 2 selections ii for piano claude debussy analysis preludes book 2 nos.
The titles of the preludes are written at the end of each work, thus allowing the performer to. 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. My analysis of canope debussy preludes for piano, book ii. As part of an ma dissertation scott presented his own logicodeductive form of analysis. An analysis of the harmonic unity of debussys prelude a l. These works have been central to stevens repertoire for many years and he brings them to the studio after. Debussy may have contributed the last important evolution to the prelude. Claude debussy, french composer whose works were a seminal force in the music of the 20th century. It is the second piece in a set of twelve preludes published in 1910. Along with hiroko sasakis very different version on an 1873 erard piano, as well as paul jacobss classic one, this is a cd of debussy s endlessly bountiful preludes thats staying on my shelf.
Debussys book of preludes is some of his most wellknown and last works for solo piano. In these pages ill try to summarize what references i have on the performance of. Agraph of the melody of the prelude, simplified by enharmonic change. Not only is the title full of mystery, but the piece. A different approach to analysis of claude debussys music.
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. Debussys twentyfour preludes are among the composers last and bestknown works for piano. Im only an amateur pianist, but have been playing debussy s piano works since the late 70s. Debussy s twentyfour preludes are among the composers last and bestknown works for piano. Several of them look ahead to debussys later style, in which the composers earlier impressionistic, almost romantic poetry was supplanted by a greater concentration upon technique and neoclassical objectivity. In the first movement, prelude, debussy introduces a large section based on wholetone harmony ih which the tonal cerite is suspended. Edition peters preludes by claude debussy compositions compositions. 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. This significant compilation of 12 preludes represents debussys mature writing style and is filled with a great diversity of compositional styles. For all that variety, which invites players to pick and choose among them, they are also true cycles, and the composer gave some thought to the sequence in each book. The first book was composed between 1901 and 1905, and the second book was composed in 1907. It is meant to depict an ancient egyptian city and egyptian burial urns. The works in debussys second book of preludes 191019 are similar in intent to those of book i 19071910. Play help info if interpreting the movement in light of veils, the eerie, mysterious mood of the a section sounds veiled.
89 522 1039 1244 432 820 1320 1342 1371 1420 1398 563 986 281 504 1267 197 1217 795 95 1105 1418 521 1078 188 1158 1404 1440 804 1128 1384 1246 590 1083 760 319