Though its repeated employment of wholetone and some pentatonic scales as well as a consistent b. The purpose of this thesis is to discuss and give a descriptive analysis of twelve of the twentyfour preludes written by claude debussy. 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. That is what was produced whenever the master pianist, michelangeli.
Barries peter pan in kensington, a book given to debussy s daughter emmaclaude, known as chouchou, with illustrations by arthur rackham. The project goal was to revive the origins of chamber music organizing concerts on private settings. Click subscribe for more beautiful music by debussy ev. Other debussian devices include the regarding of the seventh chord e. The wholescale serves as an organizing factor through most of the work. One of the easiest pieces in this collection is the girl with the flaxen hair, around a. Debussy voiles from preludes book 1 this page lists all recordings of voiles from preludes book 1 sails by claude achille debussy 18621918. Voiles, from debussys first book of preludes, certainly displays some of debussys compositional affinities. Written between 1909 and 19, preludes are probably claude debussy s most important work for piano.
Theyre both still quite the challenge for advanced players only. Here we have the famous two books of preludes that were written in 1910 and 19. This significant compilation of 12 preludes represents debussy s mature writing style and is filled with a great diversity of compositional styles. He was the eldest of the five children of manuelachille debussy and his wife, victorine, nee manoury. It is the second piece in a set of twelve preludes. A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude debussy. Indeterminacy and technology parting the veils o debussy s voiles page 48 heedless o analytical invasions, impenetrable and distant, the enigmatic musical object that is voiles continues to oscillate beore our eyes as i suspended dans le doute du jeu supreme within the doubt o the supreme game. I would argue the tonality of this piece as being primarily based in c major. Use of the pentatonic scale in debussy s voiles 1910, prelude. Provided to youtube by universal music groupdebussy.
A descriptive analysis of the preludes book i of claude debussy thesis presented. They were composed, fairly quickly in comparison with his other works, slightly earlier, in late 1909 and 1910, and in 1912, respectively, but not in the order in which they were. Analysis debussy voiles claude debussy elements of music. Jun 04, 2012 claude debussy published his preludes, deliberately modeled on those of frederic chopin, in two books of twelve each, book i in 1910, and book ii in 19. Debussy senior ran a china shop and his wife was a seamstress.
This paper also includes a brief history of preludes as well as possible influences upon debussy and his compositions. He is sometimes seen as the first impressionist composer, although he vigorously rejected the term. Michelangeli and debussy the two names bring to mind beautiful masterpieces for piano. Unlike chopins, bachs and many other composers homonymous series, these pieces arent sorted by key signature. This page lists all sheet music of voiles from preludes book 1 sails by claude achille debussy 18621918. The easiest debussy piano pieces and the most difficult. These compositions, while endearing themselves to both pianist and listener, also occupy an important place in musical history and, like the preludes.
Get to know all of the debussy preludes with christina mcmaster this month. Achilleclaude debussy 22nd august 1862 25th march 1918 was a french composer. Debussy was born on 22 august 1862 in saintgermainenlaye, seineetoise, on the northwest fringes of paris. This double cd contains a very generous collection of major debussy piano works including both books of preludes, pour the piano, estampes, both sets of images and childrens corner. The story of debussys preludes 1909 classical music. Claude achille debussy 18621918 showing 1 10 of 162 results. Stephen porter reveals debussys preludes the boston. Voiles, from debussy s first book of preludes, certainly displays some of debussy s compositional affinities. Four pieces from book i have this construction in common. The title of the next work, voiles, carries a double meaning of either sails or veils.
Claude debussy voiles preludes book i youtube voiles is a composition by claude debussy for solo piano from 1909. Bruyeres pascal roge, piano debussy returns to the world of the popular music stage with general lavine eccentric. 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. Oct 20, 1998 the first three volumes are just as successful debussy. Though the method of development in the preludes varies, debussy s themes in. Parting the veils of debussy s voiles page 47 doesnt feel as it should and by some sense of the poetic penumbra that still. Debussy s most dramatic contribution to music history was his disregard for traditional chord structures and tonality. Pierrelaurent aimards profound affinity for the music of claude debussy is revealed again on this 2cd album. After training at the paris conservatory, debussy took several jobs to support. Discophiles have been impatiently awaiting his recording of the towering preludes, but philippe bianconi has taken his time before entering the studio to capture what he calls the quintessence of debussy s art. The fifth prelude of book 2, entitled bruyeres heather, seems from its simple style to have been one of the earliest preludes that debussy might have written.
He was among the most influential composers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Included are english translations of french terms, debussy s performance. Just as we had the mysterious voiles in the first book, this book opens with the equally mysterious brouillards mists. The second piece is voiles translates as veils or sails and that is exactly how debussy. This page lists all recordings of preludes book 2 by claude achille debussy 18621918. They are played by the legendary walter gieseking and were recorded in 1953 and 1955 the preludes and 1954 the other works on the second cd. Some practical suggestions for debussys voiles practising. Currently set for abrsm grade 8, it offers the player vast scope for creating variety in touch and. Debussy has always been part of my life says the pianist about the composer so close to his heart.
The piano image is warmer and better placed in the aural picture in 1971. Voiles can mean either veils or masks or sails or sailboats. Debussy preludes, book 1 by claude debussy 18621918. It makes typical use of debussys original harmonic idiom and the wholetone scale. Analysis debussy voiles claude debussy elements of. It is the second piece in a set of twelve preludes published in 1910. Debussy did nothing less than liberate music from the domination by functional harmony which had prevailed for three centuries. The material on this cd comes from two sessions the images session in 1971 and a preludes session in 1978. Debussy voiles from preludes book 1 this page lists all sheet music of voiles from preludes book 1 sails by claude achille debussy 18621918. The project goal was to revive the origins of chamber music organizing concerts on private.
It consists in a series of 24 short pieces, equally subdivided into two books. Three years exist between the publication of the first and second book, with the former appearing in 1910. Omens of springdances of the youths and maidens part i. Information from its description page there is shown below. A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude.
The music expresses a vast repertoire of emotions, colors and moods. If the wholetone scale itself is ambiguous, so is the title. In his later works, debussy took greater chances, implementing more nonresolving dissonances selfproclaimed floating chords and fragmented forms. Voiles, often serves merely to exemplify both his early modernist musical.
The twentyfour preludes of debussy are published in two books of twelve preludes each. Some pedaling marks at the bottom if these pages were cut off. He was one of the most important figures in music at the turn of the 20th century. Aug 19, 2016 debussy did nothing less than liberate music from the domination by functional harmony which had prevailed for three centuries. These works have been central to stevens repertoire for many years and he brings them to the studio after.
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