Complete your claude debussy paul jacobs collection. 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. From the enormity of the repertoire to the geography and travel. These compositions, while endearing themselves to both pianist and listener, also occupy an important place in musical. Aug 19, 2016 the composer who benefited most from this liberation was bartok, who was introduced to debussys music by kodaly in 1907. This disc is roges first complete recording of the preludes i presume from the liner notes that he had recorded a selection in the analogue era and that this marks the start of a complete debussy cycle.
The first book 1910 proved to be his most successful work. Databases and publications erasmus programme research service. Debussy s colouristic masterpiece, a bewitching compendium of scents, colours and sounds. 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. Canope preludes, book ii, 19 playing debussys piano works. It sounds reasonable, but its not whats on the page, and both play it as quarters when the theme recurs later in the prelude. 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. My mom who went through years of piano lessons with 5 kids heard my sixyearold play last week and couldnt believe it. Often dubbed a musical impressionist, but his music always has a strong sense of form. Debussys preludes demand a great deal from pianists. Here in his first debussy recording for hyperion he presents the two books of images. Claude debussy s preludes are 24 pieces for solo piano, divided into two books of 12 preludes each. Marcandre hamelin performs complete book 2 of debussys. While in an opera or ballet, a prelude may be a mood setting introduction to.
Dovers book of debussy preludes is made of extremely high quality print on heavier paper than usual. In brouillards, the fog is depicted by the simultaneous use of whitenote and. The three quarter notes in 68 time are played as three eighth notes in 38 time. Ilya itin, piano this video was recorded at the golandsky institute international piano festival at princeton university. Playing debussys piano works an amateurs thoughts about. Preludes ii, l1 debussy from cda67920 hyperion records. Adopting the major piano works including the preludes, bartok absorbed the liberated message as deeply as he absorbed the idiom of the hungarian peasant. 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.
Chandos records is one of the worlds premier classical music record companies, best known for its ground breaking search for neglected musical gems. 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. The two final preludes of book i are more lighthearted. Hiroko sasakis performances, on an immaculately restored piano from 1873. Unlike some notable collections of preludes from prior times, such as chopins op. This blog is dedicated to discussion of the performance of the piano pieces of claude debussy. These beautiful french works are a must for all pianists. Among the most important 20th century composers, and the most influential. A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude. The paperback of the complete preludes, books 1 and 2. A recording of the preludes, by artisteditor brian ganz, is.
For his sun oct 6 performance, our guest curator marcandre hamelin will end the concert with the complete debussy preludes book 2 unlike some notable collections of preludes from prior times, such as chopins op. Debussys piano pieces require deep thought and understanding. Debussy preludes, book 1 by claude debussy 18621918. This paper also includes a brief history of preludes as well as possible influences upon debussy and his compositions. A recording of the preludes, by artisteditor brian ganz, is also included with the print edition. Sep 29, 2009 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. Book i was written between december 1909 and february 1910, and book ii between the last months of 1912 and early april. The composer who benefited most from this liberation was bartok, who was introduced to debussy s music by kodaly in 1907.
Ilya itin, piano this video was recorded at the golandsky institute international piano festival at. It helps that we have a stellar teacher, of course, but this is really a terrific book. The one clear fault of the osborne recording is dynamic extremes, which is, i assume, an engineering decision. A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude debussy showing 14 of 68 pages in this thesis. Commons is a freely licensed media file repository.
Het programma op 16 april is haar dan ook op het lijf geschreven. 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. Another critic wrote that book 2 of the preludes is played more successfully than book 1. A new album from marcandre hamelin is always cause for celebration. Three years exist between the publication of the first and second book, with the former appearing in 1910. Also recorded here is the second book of preludes, in a poetic and evocative performance. Pucks aerial acrobatics are first interrupted by and then blended with trumpet and horn calls. The music becomes more dramatic toward the end of the set. Information from its description page there is shown below.
The sheer volume of piano tone pulled from the instrument on the. Some pedaling marks at the bottom if these pages were cut off. Jul 05, 2011 every part of conductors life is challenging. Hamelins stature, extraordinary from the start, increases with every new issue. In these pages ill try to summarize what references i have on the performance of. Im only an amateur pianist, but have been playing debussys piano works since the late 70s. In 1872 he entered the paris conservatoire, where he abandoned the plan of becoming a virtuoso. Standard notation, introductory text and performance notes does not include words to the songs.
The twentyfour preludes of debussy are published in two books of twelve preludes each. Both books 1 and 2 of debussys popular piano preludes are contained in this one sturdy volume. The works in debussys second book of preludes are similar in intent to those of book i 1907 1910. Claude debussy composed the second book of preludes during 1910 12. 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. Prelude and fugue in csharp minor bach 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. These two are the only pianists whom i have heard play this measure this way. But with time, the attractions of book ii have become clearer, and it seems likely.
The piano pronto book is exactly what they needed for their best start with the piano. He was too good a composer to imitate debussy, although there are a few examples of direct influence it was. Stravinskys influence is amply apparent in the barbarous repetitive rhythms that open the first movement prelude. General performance notes on the preludes and more detailed, individual notes for preludes nos. Jan 01, 2009 dovers book of debussy preludes is made of extremely high quality print on heavier paper than usual. Canope preludes, book ii, 19 playing debussys piano.
He was too good a composer to imitate debussy, although there are a few. The purpose of this thesis is to discuss and give a descriptive analysis of twelve of the twentyfour preludes written by claude debussy. Puck is shakespeares elf, in all likelihood found by debussy, as roy howat has suggested, in an edition of 1908 with illustrations by arthur rackham. Les sons et les parfums tournent dans lair du soir modere 3.
They require attention to myriad details, yet an air of often skittish improvisation. 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. 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. Brouillards is the first prelude in debussys second book of preludes and was completed at. Claude debussys preludes are 24 pieces for solo piano, divided into two books of 12 preludes each. 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.