Inspired by the performances of the american dancer loie fuller, whose scarf dances were. Claude debussys painterly preludes the subtle, elusive quality of debussys twentyfour preludes is captured perfectly by pianist paul jacobs, who plays them with a tolling, belllike sound. 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. Well, debussy obviously agreed but that didnt stop him putting his own stamp on the genre. Debussy preludes, book 1 download free sheet music. Still, as musicologist rollo myers notes, the pictorial element is not unduly stressed if stressed at all.
This particularly applies to the 2nd book of 12, which contains by my count two memorable preludes dead leaves and the muchloved fireworks and a lot of padding. This significant compilation of 12 preludes represents debussys mature writing style and is filled with a great diversity of. The germanenglish pianist walter morse rummel, a student of leopold. Following the model of bach and his 24 preludes and fugues from 1722, debussy also wrote his own set of preludes. Artists include martha argerich, pierrelaurent aimard, samson francois, renaud capucon, natalie dessay, andre cluytens, francoisxavier roth, jean martinon, michel plasson, kent nagano and carlo maria giulini. 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. Debussy was sharper than we think san francisco classical. Debussy began book 1 in december 1909, finishing it 2 months later in february 1910. The works in debussys second book of preludes are similar in intent to those of book i 1907 1910. Translate, english, french, spanish, portuguese, italian, dutch, polish, russian. Just as we had the mysterious voiles in the first book, this book opens with the equally mysterious brouillards mists. I have one other schirmer debussy piano book and this compilation book was what led me to purchase this set of preludes. This page lists all sheet music of voiles from preludes book 1 sails by claude achille debussy 18621918.
The purpose of this thesis is to discuss and give a descriptive analysis of twelve of the twentyfour preludes written by claude debussy. The easiest debussy piano pieces and the most difficult. Voiles meaning and origin of the name voiles wikiname. A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude debussy. Helpful english translations of french terms as well as debussys performance. Aug 19, 2016 the composer who benefited most from this liberation was bartok, who was introduced to debussys music by kodaly in 1907. As he plays debussys book 1 preludes, you notice how effortlessly his arms, hands, and fingers are choreographed to the music. Theyre both still quite the challenge for advanced players only. Unlike some notable collections of preludes from prior times, such as chopins op. Unlike other collections of preludes by great composers, debussy s do not follow a strict pattern of key signature. 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. The title of the piece may be translated to english as either veils or sails. Claude debussy s preludes are 24 pieces for solo piano, divided into two books of 12 preludes each. Its a gentle opening for the first book of preludes, full of mild and ruminative chords.
Use of the whole tone scale in debussys voiles 1910, prelude. Jul 10, 2018 of debussys piano compositions, two sets of preludes, totaling 24, stand above the mostly small suites and individual pieces. A good recording of the debussy preludes should feel like an occasion, and steven osborne delivers. The static, reflective music makes extensive use of the wholetone scale, a device highly characteristic of much of debussys music. One of the easiest pieces in this collection is the girl with the flaxen hair, around a. I did not originally plan to orchestrate all of debussys preludes. These compositions, while endearing themselves to both pianist and listener, also occupy an important place in musical. In writing them, between 1909 and 19, debussy did not follow the formulae used by such composers as bach and chopin, who wrote preludes and fugues in case of bach in every major and minor key. Despite some brilliant individual preludes, ive over time arrived at the position time that they are some of claude debussy s most overrated music. These compositions, while endearing themselves to both pianist and. Preludes, book 1 claude debussy s preludes are two sets of pieces for solo piano, written in 191010 and 1912, and published as book i and ii respectively. Debussy was sharper than we think san francisco classical voice. Sep 23, 2005 an introduction to the solo piano music of debussy and ravel, broadcast on bbc radio 3.
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. Types of triplets found in piano compositions of debussy and places where they are found. Voiles da preludi, libro i, per pianoforte debussy voiles preludes, book 1 no. 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. There is throughout the sense of going on a journey, even awe, to osbornes interpretations. The title is possibly an allusion to an exotic dancer.
The twentyfour preludes of debussy are published in two books of twelve preludes each. Compositions of debussy, the number of measures marked piano, and the number of measures marked forte. Just as we had the mysterious voiles in the first book, this book opens with. Voiles is a composition by claude debussy for solo piano from 1909. Minstrels heir to a great russian pianistic tradition via his teacher and mentor, galina eguiazarova who studied directly under a. Claude debussy composed the second book of preludes during 1910 12. 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. Claude debussys preludes are 24 pieces for solo piano, divided into two books of 12 preludes each. Other debussian devices include the regarding of the seventh chord e. Voiles music score from preludes book 1 debussy, claude at imslp notes on voiles on klaviernoten. Dsl92190 debussy starry night preludes book i other works. Please use the dropdown buttons to set your preferred options, or use the checkbox to accept the defaults. But where bach and chopin used their preludes as something of a technical exercise, composing one for each musical key, debussys were freeform and full of his signature expressive indulgences. Each of debussys preludes, book i 19071910 is a short but substantial work that conveys a particular mood or impression suggested by its title.
Jan 09, 2010 voiles, number 2 from book i of debussys preludes. His playing seeps with atmosphere and he delves deep into the composers sound world. But lets have a look at how someone else approached this. The title is a line quoted in a poem by verlaine that debussy had set in 1887. A special treat is nuit detoiles starry night, debussy s first published work, completed in 1880 when claude was only 18. Adopting the major piano works including the preludes, bartok absorbed the liberated message as deeply as he absorbed the idiom of the hungarian peasant. Debussy dover music for piano by debussy, claude isbn. An introduction to the solo piano music of debussy and ravel, broadcast on bbc radio 3. The music becomes more dramatic toward the end of the set. It is the second piece in a set of twelve preludes published in 1910.
Maybe i am a lazy pianist but i like editions that have some fingering suggestions so i dont have so much work to do. This album contains the preludes, books 1 and 2 by debussy, presented by piano classics, a label of brilliant classics. Claude debussys preludes are 24 pieces for solo piano, divided into two books of 12 preludes. The first book of preludes is slightly easier than the second, since the second collection features debussys more mature writing style. Voiles, number 2 from book i of debussy s preludes.
The great benefit of dividing the octave in these ways is to avoid traditional harmony, which seems to have been coltranes intention. 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. Each of debussys preludes, book i 1907 1910 is a short but substantial work that conveys a particular mood or impression suggested by its title. Thanks to matthew and colin at the lab at queens theatre for a fabulous venue and production, the wonderful audiences, and of course mum and dad the roadies for encouraging and making the whole thing possible. As for his piano compositions, after he completed the second book of preludes the only. Book 2 was started in late 1912 and finished in april 19. Debussy preludes, book 1 by claude debussy 18621918. To achieve this, debussy incorporates two unconventional scale patterns whose echoes will be heard throughout the preludes. A special treat is nuit detoiles starry night, debussys first published work, completed in 1880 when claude was only 18. Im thinking of voiles from the preludes, bk 1 of claude debussy. Nov 24, 2018 book 1s fantasy has been replaced by a certain weary or ominous realism, and you get the feeling that book 1 was more explicitly imagistic in nature, while book 2 is symbolic its going. These beautiful french works are a must for all pianists. After a twoyear break, debussy continued his work on the preludes, writing another 12 and again showing influences of all areas of popular and ancient culture and from artists, writers, and poets. Sheet music of preludes for the piano by claude debussy.
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