Analysis of debussy preludes book 1

This allows performers to choose preludes with which they have the strongest affinity, or those to which their individual interpretive gifts are. Pdf debussy preludes bk 1 download full pdf book download. Debussys book of preludes is some of his most wellknown and last works for solo piano. This blog is dedicated to discussion of the performance of the piano pieces of claude debussy. 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. World wide shipping follow this free score follow debussy, claude composer report problem sheet music sales from usa. Analysis debussy voiles claude debussy elements of music. In 2008, i finished the first that i know of complete orchestration of debussy s first book of preludes for piano. 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. Well, debussy obviously agreed but that didnt stop him putting his own stamp on the genre. 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. Preludes book 1 by claude debussy for solo piano 1910 cd125l. Voiles is a composition by claude debussy for solo piano from 1909. Unlike them, however, he did not adhere to a system of one prelude for each.

Walter morse rummel, piano complete first pub lication. Musical analysis as a technique for performance decisions in. Debussy preludes, bk 1 alfred masterwork edition paperback march 1, 1986 by claude debussy composer, maurice hinson composer 4. Throughout his career debussy sought new ways to express his musical vistas. They were composed and published in two books of twelve. Browse alfred music from alfred music at sheet music plus. Claude debussys preludes are 24 pieces for solo piano, divided into two books of 12 preludes each. 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.

There is a strong tonal relationship between the preludes that suggests that the published order of the preludes is not arbitrary. The title of the piece may be translated to english as either veils or sails. As part of an ma dissertation scott presented his own logicodeductive form of analysis based on hattens theories of music and gesture. Claude debussys performance of minstrels from preludes, book i, in the 1912. The ending of this movement is one of debussys best moments. An analysis of debussys preludes book 1 james omalley submitted in partial fulfilment of ma in performance and musicology nui. My analysis of canope debussy preludes for piano, book. The purpose of this thesis is to discuss and give a descriptive analysis of twelve of the twentyfour preludes written by claude debussy. It is the eighth piece in the composers first book of preludes, written between late 1909. 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. A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude debussy page. Helpful english translations of french terms as well as debussy s performance. He was too good a composer to imitate debussy, although there are a few examples of direct influence it.

This album contains the preludes, books 1 and 2 by debussy, presented by piano classics, a label of brilliant classics. Lessons 1 and 2 debussy preludes the student must look for the book the piano works of claude debsusy, by e. A different approach to analysis of claude debussys music with examples from preludes, books 1. Notice how debussy uses both extremes of the keyboard. Much analysis has been done on these piano rolls with the aim of revealing his. 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. The paperback of the complete preludes, books 1 and 2.

As for his piano compositions, after he completed the second book of preludes the only. Unt theses and dissertations and was provided to unt digital library by the unt libraries. It is a very descriptive book where all the formal, structural, harmonic and contextual analysis of the work can be found. Analysis debussy voiles claude debussy elements of. Debussy s book of preludes are some of his most wellknown and last works for solo piano. A descriptive analysis of the preludes book i of claude debussy thesis presented. Not only is the title full of mystery, but the piece. In these pages ill try to summarize what references i have on the performance of.

This paper also includes a brief history of preludes as well as possible influences upon debussy and his compositions. Debussy preludes, bk 1 alfred masterwork edition debussy, claude, hinson, maurice on. 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. It is the second piece in a set of twelve preludes published in 1910. This significant compilation of 12 preludes represents debussy s mature writing style and is filled with a great diversity of compositional styles. Three years exist between the publication of the first and second book, with the former appearing in 1910.

Unlike chopins, bachs and many other composers homonymous series, these pieces arent sorted by key signature. In addition, perhaps because debussys style is so prone to mannerism, several of the preludes in book ii bear strong similarities to those from the earlier set. Unlike some notable collections of preludes from prior times, such as chopins op. Debussy s twentyfour preludes are among the composers last and bestknown works for piano. It is meant to depict an ancient egyptian city and egyptian burial urns. Study composition at the university of the arts in philadelphia. 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.

Unt theses and dissertations and was provided to digital library by the unt libraries. Debussys twentyfour preludes are among the composers last and bestknown works for piano. See all formats and editions hide other formats and editions. This significant compilation of 12 preludes represents debussys mature writing style and is filled with a great diversity of compositional styles. Debussy preludes, book 1 by claude debussy 18621918. 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.

The music expresses a vast repertoire of emotions, colors and moods. Unlike other collections of preludes by great composers, debussy s do not follow a strict pattern of key signature. Im only an amateur pianist, but have been playing debussy s piano works since the late 70s. Example 1, cited by reti, is according to him, representative of melodic. Chapter 1 introduction analysis can be a valuable tool for the performer who is seeking solutions to performance problems. These compositions, while endearing themselves to both pianist and listener, also occupy an important place in musical. Despite the research i have done regarding the title, the results i have found are still only speculation. Parting the veils of debussy s voiles page 47 doesnt feel as it should and by some sense of the poetic penumbra that still.

Preludes books 1 and 2 paperback april 1, 1999 by claude debussy composer 4. It consists in a series of 24 short pieces, equally subdivided into two books. Some pedaling marks at the bottom if these pages were cut off. A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude debussy. These preludes are well known for the unique way in which they are titled. In this prelude we find examples of harmonic procedures commonly used in claude debussy s music like. Gieseking more or less owned these pieces during his lifetime and his performances have been judged as definitive by many critics since they were first issued. Debussy s book of preludes is some of his most wellknown and last works for solo piano. 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. These controls are experimental and have not yet been optimized for user experience. Free sheet music l 117, debussy, claude preludes, book 1. Though cathedral is scheduled for a performance, the rest remain undone. Except for some mild, localized chromaticism and a short pentatonic passage, the entire piece uses the whole.

A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude debussy showing 14 of 68 pages in this thesis. Prelude 10, titled canope in his book of preludes no. Preludes book 2 principal composer debussy, claude sheet music. Scotts analysis a similar study to my own regarding gestural analysis has been conducted by douglas scott on mozarts flute quartet in d, k285. A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude. Debussy engulfed cathedral youtube debussy the sunken cathedral analysis duration. Hinsons suggestions for performance and an analysis of each prelude.

Please let me know if youre interested in doing one or more or all of them. Included are english translations of french terms, debussy s performance. Alfred masterwork library sheet music book by claude debussy 18621918. Analysis of claude debussys preludes 1827 words bartleby. As he plays debussys book 1 preludes, you notice how effortlessly his arms, hands, and fingers are choreographed to the music.