Orchestral reimaginings of debussys piano pieces which are entertaining, intriguing and very satisfying. Chandos records is one of the worlds premier classical music record companies, best known for. Chandos records is one of the worlds premier classical music record companies, best known for its ground breaking search for neglected musical gems. Sometimes, too, a groundbreaking masterwork has to wait until well after its composers death to be appreciated. After traveling in europe and russia, debussy settled down in paris in 1887 and devoted himself to composing for the rest of his life. I have had several people request that i record some debussy preludes so here is the first. The 10 pieces in this book are arranged in approximate. Pianist imogen c ooper painted evocative sound pictures in a bbc radio 3 lunchtime recital featuring music by debussy, beethoven and chopin. Debussys colouristic masterpiece, a bewitching compendium of scents, colours and sounds.
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. Debussys two books of preludes amount to a revolution in piano writing, and reflect better that any of his other works the span of debussys achievement. The project goal was to revive the origins of chamber music organizing concerts on private settings. It is not necessary to be a virtuoso in order to play the notes of many of the pieces, but formidable technique and vision are required to create the colours and capture the changing moods. Images usually pronounced in french is a suite of six compositions for solo piano by claude debussy. 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. Not only is the title full of mystery, but the piece. A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude. The first book 1910 proved to be his most successful work. List of books and articles about claude debussy online.
Among french musics most avantgarde expressions, they also contain some of debussys most atonal sorties. Here in his first debussy recording for hyperion he presents the two books of images. Ilya itin, piano this video was recorded at the golandsky institute international piano festival at princeton university. Fortunately this was not the case when the first complete performance of debussys nocturnes was given in the concerts lamoureux series in paris on 27 october 1901. The sixth prelude of debussys second book takes its inspiration from the famous american juggler general lavine. Complete preludes, books 1 and 2 dover music for piano. The first book was composed between 1901 and 1905, and the second book was composed in 1907. Hinsons suggestions for performance and an analysis of each prelude. Sometimes the deepest revolutions are the quietest. 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.
This paper also includes a brief history of preludes as well as possible influences upon debussy and his compositions. 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. The recording is performed by jeremiah jones and is 5 minutes and 49 seconds in length. Publication date 19 topics preludes, for piano, scores featuring the piano, for 1 player collection imslp. I was delighted that he has recorded debussys preludes books 1 and 2 for dg in 2012 and decided to get them.
Schirmer library of classics volume 2001 piano solo paperback. The music becomes more dramatic toward the end of the set. The purpose of this thesis is to discuss and give a descriptive analysis of twelve of the twentyfour preludes written by claude debussy. Debussy sylvia jen piano youtube debussy preludes, book 2 duration. Complete preludes, books 1 and 2 dover music for piano debussy, claude on. I was very taken indeed with that disc so im delighted that the remainder of the. The harmonic pedal controllable sympathetic resonance while playing staccato for the first time. Krystian zimerman, piano youtube preludes complete 24 claude debussy krystian zimerman duration. They were published in two booksseries, each consisting of three pieces. Debussy may have contributed the last important evolution to the prelude. 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.
He was one of the most important figures in music at the turn of the 20th century. Passepied by claude debussy danse bohemienne by claude debussy. This page lists all recordings of preludes book 2 by claude achille debussy 18621918. Debussy preludes, book 2 by claude debussy 18621918. Achilleclaude debussy 22nd august 1862 25th march 1918 was a french composer. The eighth prelude ondine recalls, for me, the movement of the same name by maurice ravel. Although the composer did not think the preludes should be performed as a cycle, book two is perfectly symmetrical with two showpieces at the start and end on the twelve pieces. Debussy preludes, bk 2 by claude debussy, paperback. Debussy beautifully suggests the movement and play of water as the water nymph lures.
As he plays debussys book 1 preludes, you notice how effortlessly his arms, hands, and fingers are choreographed to the music. Despite the research i have done regarding the title, the results i have found are still only speculation. With great wit and humor, debussy captures the eccentrics of the performer within the form of the cakewalka dance that originated during the time of slavery on the plantations of the southern united states, but became quite. Prelude to debussy is a documentary about the music of claude debussy, directed by the american pianist ophra yerushalmi. 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. Claude debussy s preludes are 24 pieces for solo piano, divided into two books of 12 preludes each. My analysis of canope debussy preludes for piano, book. Claude debussys two books of preludes, implying homage to both chopin and bach, revel in the composers innovative piano techniques. Unlike some notable collections of preludes from prior times, such as chopins op. Claude debussy composed the second book of preludes during 1910 12. Debussys most dramatic contribution to music history was his disregard for traditional chord structures and tonality.
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