Provided to youtube by universal music group debussy. Debussy preludes, bk 1 alfred masterwork edition skip to main content. This paper also includes a brief history of preludes as well as possible influences upon debussy and his compositions. It is the eighth piece in the composers first book of preludes, written between late 1909 and early 1910. It was published in 1910 as the tenth prelude in debussy s first of two volumes of twelve piano preludes each. Unlike some notable collections of preludes from prior times, such as chopins op. As part of an ma dissertation scott presented his own logicodeductive form of analysis based on hattens theories of music and gesture. The easiest debussy piano pieces and the most difficult. Not only is the title full of mystery, but the piece itself leaves the listener in awe and wonder. Analysis of claude debussys preludes 1827 words bartleby.
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. The preludes book one are deeply insightful readings that hold the listener in rapt moments of thoughtful introspection, though at times they can be ever so slighltly frenetic michelangeli does have his idosyncracies from time to time. Debussy s twentyfour preludes are among the composers last and bestknown works for piano. He was too good a composer to imitate debussy, although there are a few examples of direct influence it was.
Included are english translations of french terms, debussy s performance. Under the pianistic viewpoint, one can say that the etudes are the logical technical continuation of the preludes. Songs around the word i offer thee by allen ridout 1. It is the sixth piece in the composers first book of preludes, written between late 1909 and early 1910.
Claude debussy, preludes, book i, no 12, minstrels, claude debussy rec. O there is blessing in this gentle breeze, a visitant that while it fans my cheek. A musical analysis music through the microscope book 1. Unt theses and dissertations and was provided to unt digital library by the unt libraries. Canope by claude debussy from preludes book 2 youtube. A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude. A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude debussy page.
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. A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude debussy. His readings of the first book of preludes, and the first set of images is going to be much, much, much more than soothing pastel background music listening. It was published in 1910 as the tenth prelude in debussys first of two volumes of twelve piano preludes each. Three years exist between the publication of the first and second book, with the former appearing in 1910. Claude debussy s preludes are 24 pieces for solo piano, divided into two books of 12 preludes each. Of wild and captive capuchins importance of knowledge management as a. Debussy preludes, bk 1 alfred masterwork edition debussy, claude, hinson, maurice on. Debussy preludes, book 1 by claude debussy 18621918.
Scotts analysis a similar study to my own regarding gestural analysis has been conducted by douglas scott on mozarts flute quartet in d, k285. Voiles, number 2 from book i of debussy s preludes. Oct 23, 2018 provided to youtube by universal music group debussy. Not only is the title full of mystery, but the piece. Voiles is a composition by claude debussy for solo piano from 1909. Helpful english translations of french terms as well as debussy s performance. Debussy regarded the titles as being of only secondary importance. Appraising background information the composer claude debussy 18621918 was the leading french composer of the end of the nineteenth and early. Claude debussys preludes are 24 pieces for solo piano, divided into two books of 12 preludes. Apr 28, 2020 most commentaries about the preludes conclude that this lovely piece refers to egyptian cantoptic funerary jars, which is the strict french meaning of the word. They were composed and published in two books of twelve.
Analysis of claude debussy s canope 77 words bartleby. These preludes are well known for the unique way in which they are titled. Debussy wrote two books of preludes published in 1910 and 19 respectively. Pdf debussy preludes, bk 1 alfred masterwork edition. Several of them look ahead to debussy s later style, in which the composers earlier impressionistic, almost romantic poetry was supplanted by a greater concentration upon technique and neoclassical objectivity. This allows performers to choose preludes with which they have the strongest affinity, or those to which their individual interpretive gifts are.
The title of the piece may be translated to english as either veils or sails. The paperback of the complete preludes, books 1 and 2. Aug 19, 2016 the paradox is that debussy succeeded in a series of piano works starting with estampes in 1903 and culminating in the two books of preludes in 1910 and 1912 respectively in creating what can only be called an impressionist technique. Chapter 1 introduction analysis can be a valuable tool for the performer who is seeking solutions to performance problems. This significant compilation of 12 preludes represents debussy s mature writing style and is filled with a great diversity of compositional styles. These marvelous gifts are captured wonderfully on this cd of piano works by claude debussy. The music expresses a vast repertoire of emotions, colors and moods. These compositions, while endearing themselves to both pianist and listener, also occupy an important place in musical. My analysis of canope debussy preludes for piano, book ii.
The title is in french and translates to footprints in the snow the piece is 36 measures long and takes approximately three and a half to four and a half minutes to play. Jan 09, 2010 voiles, number 2 from book i of debussy s preludes. Debussy preludes, bk 1 alfred masterwork edition debussy preludes, bk 2 alfred masterwork edition bach 18 short preludes. Inspired by the performances of the american dancer loie fuller, whose scarf dances were. Adopting the major piano works including the preludes, bartok absorbed the liberated message as deeply as he absorbed the idiom of the hungarian peasant. These definitions along with my own interpretive summary are presented in table format below. They have a natural sequence of more abstraction and somehow, difficulty, from the first to the second. It is characteristic of debussy in its form, harmony, and content. Maybe i am a lazy pianist but i like editions that have some fingering suggestions so i dont have so much work to do. Despite the research i have done regarding the title, the results i have found are still only speculation. It is the second piece in a set of twelve preludes published in 1910. It is the sixth piece in the composers first book of preludes, written between. I have one other schirmer debussy piano book and this compilation book was what led me to purchase this set of preludes.
The works in debussy s second book of preludes 1910 19 are similar in intent to those of book i 1907 1910. The first book of preludes is slightly easier than the second, since the second collection features debussy s more mature writing style. One of the easiest pieces in this collection is the girl with the flaxen hair, around a. My analysis of canope debussy preludes for piano, book. Debussys book of preludes is some of his most wellknown and last works for solo piano. Debussy s book of preludes are some of his most wellknown and last works for solo piano.
Debussy began book 1 in december 1909, finishing it 2 months later in. More proof, as if it were needed, that claude debussy was the master of creating dreamlike atmospheres in his piano music. Claude debussy was a leading composer of the early twentieth century known for his impressionistic style and use of nontraditional scales and tonalities as well as chromaticism. The purpose of this thesis is to discuss and give a descriptive analysis of twelve of the twentyfour preludes written by claude debussy.