Debussy preludes book 1 program notes for cpex

The project goal was to revive the origins of chamber music organizing concerts on private settings. Steven osborne tells us that in preparing this recording he was struck by the enormous scope of these preludes. Debussy preludes, book 1 download free sheet music. Complete preludes, books 1 and 2 dover music for piano debussy, claude accep. Both of these preludes seem to recall the beginning of book 1 in their sombre tone and slow tempos. Debussy composed childrens corner between 1906 and 1908. Engulfed cathedral, the tr longfield wind repertory project. Ws program notes 1 fulbright college university of arkansas. Debussy, claude martinu, bohuslav villalobos, heitor muczynski, robert. The music expresses a vast repertoire of emotions, colors and moods.

Order from your preferred classical music cd store arkivmusic. Included are english translations of french terms, debussy s performance. It is the eighth piece in the composers first book of. Most of the autograph of the work was thought to be lost until 1982, when it was discovered from the legacy of maurice dumesnil, a pupil of debussy s. The pieces are extremely difficult to play, and debussy described them as a warning to pianists not to take up the musical profession unless they have remarkable hands. It may have been written due to a request possibly from durand for a piece that would be accessible to skilled amateurs, as its simplicity is in stark contrast with the modernist works that debussy was writing at the time. Steven osborne has already made a name for himself in french music with a disc of alkan and a profoundly moving performance of messiaens vingt regards. Evolving performance practice of debussys piano preludes. Written in the short span of two months, december 7, 1909 1910, the preludes reveal the evolving impressionist style of the composer during the midpoint of his composing career. As he plays debussy s book 1 preludes, you notice how effortlessly his arms, hands, and fingers are choreographed to the music. These works have been central to stevens repertoire for many years and he brings them to the studio after.

He dedicated the suite to his daughter, claudeemma known as chouchou, 1 who was born on 30 october 1905 in paris. Pattern pieces abound in the piano literature, pieces. Program note from heritage encyclopedia of band music the engulfed cathedral by claude debussy is the tenth of twelve preludes for piano, book i. Audio recording, 2000 to 2099, debussy, claude, no. Debussy s preludes, book 1 in a 1949 recording by alfred cortot, one of the greatest interpreters of this music. Engulfed cathedral, the tr longfield wind repertory. Les sons et les parfums tournent dans lair du soir. If using paypal, please note that payment is made out to red balloon technology ltd, the official owner of. 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. Variation 1 features a shockingly spare, single line of melody noodling.

I can do just as good a water nymph as you in fewer notes. Images and the two books of piano preludes whose titles tend to be more concrete and descriptive. Debussy, claude martinu, bohuslav villalobos, heitor muczynski, robert lekic, mirna. Ilya itin, pianothis video was recorded at the golandsky institute international piano festival at princeton univ. This album contains the preludes, books 1 and 2 by debussy, presented by piano classics, a label of brilliant classics. In addition, perhaps because debussy s style is so prone to mannerism, several of the preludes in book ii bear strong similarities to those from the earlier set. 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. One only prays and hopes that the rest of debussy s piano music is somewhere in the near future, probably along with at least the core ravel piano works if not all the ravel piano music. Debussys piano prelude the sunken cathedral, based on the medieval legend. 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.

Also very convenient to have all 24 preludes contained in a single disc. In the three pieces published as images, book ii, one is reminded of this famous line from the poem ars poetica by paul verlaine, one of debussy s favorite poets. Recorded oktaven audio, yonkers, new york 2015 january 45 and 11 2015 april 7. Complete preludes, books 1 and 2 dover music for piano. That this was general we can to some extent see from the sales figures quoted by roy howat. Helpful english translations of french terms as well as debussy s performance. Variation 1 features a shockingly spare, single line of melody n. Some pedaling marks at the bottom if these pages were cut off. Claude debussy s etudes are a set of 12 piano etudes composed in 1915. Two excerpts from the emperor concerto, showing beethovens use of uneven groups of notes. Claude debussys preludes are 24 pieces for solo piano, divided into two books of 12 preludes each. 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. Audio recording, 2000 to 2099, debussy, claude, no linguistic. Hence, we find not only a great many sound pictures throughout his music, but no fewer than three groups of pieces actually entitled images, each a triptych in itself.

A special treat is nuit detoiles starry night, debussy s first published work, completed in 1880 when claude was only 18. Maybe debussy, who distrusted prolixity and technical brilliance, was saying. Theyre both still quite the challenge for advanced players only. Unlike other collections of preludes by great composers, debussy s do not follow a strict pattern of key signature. These works have been central to stevens repertoire for many years and he brings them to the. The next two preludes take us abroad for the last time. Unlike some notable collections of preludes from prior times, such as chopins op. Debussy s colouristic masterpiece, a bewitching compendium of scents, colours and sounds. I have to confess that the choice of repertoire took me somewhat aback. The first book of preludes is slightly easier than the second, since the second collection features debussy s more mature writing style. Claude debussy s preludes are 24 pieces for solo piano, divided into two books of 12 preludes each.

Dovers book of debussy preludes is made of extremely high quality print on heavier paper than usual. This significant compilation of 12 preludes represents debussy s mature writing style and is filled with a great diversity of compositional styles. She is described as a lively and friendly child who was adored by her father. Just as we had the mysterious voiles in the first book, this book opens with the equally mysterious brouillards mists.

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. Critically acclaimed pianist angela brownridge explores the debussy preludes books 1 and 2 for her third recording on challenge classics. Chopins funereal, passacaglialike prelude in c minor from his collection of 24. Also recorded here is the second book of preludes, in a poetic and evocative performance.

Before delving into an analysis of debussys performances i intend to first. Without any intention of typecasting you, i had put you more on the side of the german classicists and romantics and, in any event, on the side of the. Program notes and biographical note on the performer in english 1 folded sheet. Here he reaches between those two to tackle one of the pinnacles of the piano repertoire debussy s two books of preludes. Program notes debussy and chausson philadelphia orchestra. Preludes, book 1 pierpont morgan library music manuscript. The suite, which was composed from 1886 to 1889, was first performed on 2 february 1889 by debussy and pianistpublisher jacques durand at a salon in paris. What other collection of pieces manages to create so many utterly distinct and compelling worlds. Preludes, book 1 pierpont morgan library music manuscript reprint series. In general i prefer arrau to most recordings of debussy, but even he struggles to bring out the best of book 2. One of the easiest pieces in this collection is the girl with the flaxen hair, around a. Most pianists play book 2 as though they had to make the best out of a debussy whose creative power had fallen since book 1. Dec 01, 1987 preludes, book 1 pierpont morgan library music manuscript reprint series debussy, claude on. Here in his first debussy recording for hyperion he presents the two books of images.

Debussy rather admired english sangfroid again, those were the days, but was not beyond giving it the occasional dig in the ribs, as here in. By the time he began writing the first book of preludes, claude debussy. Debussy preludes book 1 subscribe here claude debussy s preludes are two sets of pieces for solo piano. The two sets of images for piano take us to a higher level of abstraction. Debussy preludes, book 1 by claude debussy 18621918.

Theres ferocity in debussy s setting that seems to reflect what debussy called brusque oppositions of extreme violence and passionate tenderness. This is the ultimate source for these beloved piano preludes by debussy, in a newly engraved and researched critical edition from durand, the original publisher of this music. Angela has appeared in all the major london concert halls, and has visited eastern and western europe, the usa, canada, the far east and australia, as well as performing extensively in the uk. Lisle joyeuse i love pictures images almost as much as music, debussy once wrote. The autograph score by debussy, claude pages can have notes highlighting. Photographs included in the original manuscript have been reproduced xerographically in this copy. This brings us to the ideal moment to talk about your latest venture into the album, with book 1 of debussy s preludes. The easiest debussy piano pieces and the most difficult. A new album from marcandre hamelin is always cause for celebration. 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.