Debussy s affinity with poetry was a great driving force behind much of his music. Preludes is a series of four short poems written by t. William wordsworths great long autobiographical poem in blank verse, the prelude, has many great passages, and this is one of the best, from the first book of the poem, describing the poets schooldays and his time among nature. Here eliot doesnt disappoint, though the poem isnt exactly twinkle twinkle little star. Debussy and the poetic image all classical portland. Debussys adventurous uses of harmony and orchestration would come to impact nearly every. Debussy preludes, bk 1 alfred masterwork edition paperback march 1, 1986. Three years exist between the publication of the first and second book, with the former appearing in 1910. Debussy began book 1 in december 1909, finishing it 2 months later in february. In this prelude we find examples of harmonic procedures commonly used in claude debussy s music like. 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. We just bet that this wont be the only parallel to eliots later work. A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude debussy, thesis, january.
Unlike some notable collections of preludes from prior times, such as chopins op. Debussy with english translation poem by federico garcia. William wordsworth was one of the founders of english romanticism and one its most central figures and important intellects. 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. Musical analysis as a technique for performance decisions in.
Wvk001 debussy preludes book 1 albums wave kinetics. 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 too dark, too subtle and eludes all efforts at analysis. Find upcoming concerts, watch performances, and learn more about the music. Composed in 1905 this volume of images, comprised of three contrasting pieces, demonstrates conciseness, deep dramatic content and colorful tonal imagery. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. While some believe that we are in control of nature, to make it do as we please and to use it to our benefit, others have proclaimed that we are at the mercy of nature, and that it is a powerful and terrifying thing.
Debussy s book of preludes are some of his most wellknown and last works for solo piano. Recorded live during the marion rubin berman 31 piano honors concert april 12, 2012 in necs jordan hall in boston. The prelude is one of debussys most recorded pieces, both in its original. Debussy took great care in assigning these titles, and several contain quotations from various poems. This material is amalgamated with the poets adult views of philosophy and art those views held during the writing and endless revision of the prelude, roughly from 1799. Debussy established impressionism as a pianistic style and used evocative terms to shed light on the mood or character of each piece. The winter evening settles down with smell of steaks in passageways. Indeed, in his book claude debussy and the poets, arthur wenk describes debussy s musical language as being one that suggests rather than states, and which casts doubt upon the separations between reality, memory and fantasy.
My analysis of canope debussy preludes for piano, book ii. I had not heard any of these pieces until i purchased this set, but all are wonderful. Debussys adventurous uses of harmony and orchestration would come to impact. The primary purpose of this study is to examine various ways in which analysis can provide solutions to problems that may arise in the performance of debussy s preludes for piano. The structural outline underlies the score and important motivic, thematic, and harmonic information appears at the time it.
Claude debussys preludes are 24 pieces for solo piano, divided into two books of 12 preludes each. 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. It was one of mallarmes earliest poems, written when he was only 20, and. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. These compositions, while endearing themselves to both pianist and listener, also occupy an important place in musical. The academy of american poets is the largest membershipbased nonprofit organization fostering an appreciation for contemporary poetry and supporting american poets. They were published in two books series, each consisting of three pieces. Claude debussys preludes are 24 pieces for solo piano, divided into two books of 12 preludes. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. Apr 12, 2012 this paper considers two debussy piano pieces, les sons et les parfums tournent dans lair du soir from the first book of preludes of 1910 and les soirs illumines par lardeur du charbon of 1917, in relation to the two baudelaire poems where these titles figure as lines, harmonie du soir and le balcon. Images usually pronounced in french is a suite of six compositions for solo piano by claude debussy. Debussy played nos 1, 2, 10 and 11 at a concert on 5 may and we know that all of them, apart possibly from no 7, were heard in paris over the next ten months. 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.
The next few measures go through a series of stacked chord progressions that eventually come full circle back to d. Preludes is a pretty name for the poem written by t. 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. Like mallarmes poem, debussys prelude is fluid and mysterious.
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. Preludes are musical interludes, so someone reading the title might expect the poem to sound like a song. Each book contains twelve preludes for the piano, many of them known to todays musical audiences because of their great popularity with pianists worldwide. For 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, bassoon, contrabassoon, 2 horns arr. The first book was composed between 1901 and 1905, and the second book was composed in 1907. It is the eighth piece in the composers first book of preludes, written between. The girl comes from a poem of the same name written by. Preludes krystian zimerman by debussy, claude on cd. Well let you know when eliot is using a word or image that hell later rely on in some of his more famous poems. For hundreds of years, poets and writers have written about mankinds relationship to nature.
Helpful english translations of french terms as well as debussy s performance. Not only is the title full of mystery, but the piece. Publication date 1910 topics preludes, for piano, scores featuring the piano, for 1 player collection. Analysis the piece starts with an introduction from measures 1 7. These controls are experimental and have not yet been optimized for user experience. Book 1 opens the narrative with the poet deciding to leave his life outside england and return to his native area in the lake district, away from cities and more open to the elements. Preludes book 1 by claude debussy for solo piano 1910 cd125l.
A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude debussy. It is a very descriptive book where all the formal, structural, harmonic and contextual analysis of the work can be found. Complete preludes, books 1 and 2 dover music for piano debussy, claude on. As he plays debussys book 1 preludes, you notice how effortlessly his arms, hands, and fingers are choreographed to the music. It is referencing the character from shakespeares a midsummer nights dream. Eliot it suggests music, and also the presage of an event, usually something exciting or something to look forward to. Debussy preludes, book 1 by claude debussy 18621918. Despite the research i have done regarding the title, the results i have found are still only speculation. Sep 05, 2012 claudeachille debussy 1862 1918 preludes, livre 2 1. A stylistic analysis of the piano works of debussy and ravel thesis presented to the graduate council of the north texas state teachers college in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of master of music by elizabeth rose jameson, b. They were published in two booksseries, each consisting of three pieces. Helpful english translations of french terms as well as debussy s performance suggestions are included as well as dr.
Soyoung choe performs excerpts from debussys preludes, book 1. From book 1 of william wordsworths the prelude interesting. Achilleclaude debussy 22nd august 1862 25th march 1918 was a french composer. Poems of william wordsworth selected the prelude, book 1. Poems of william wordsworth selected the prelude book 1. These marvelous gifts are captured wonderfully on this cd of piano works by claude debussy. The next day he wrote to his publisher that the volume was finished, and it was in print as early as 14 april those were the days. Claude debussy s preludes are 24 pieces for solo piano, divided into two books of 12 preludes each. The paperback of the complete preludes, books 1 and 2. Complete preludes, books 1 and 2 dover music for piano. Debussy dover music for piano by claude debussy isbn.
Dressed in a chic tan turtleneck, untucked, but with a belt clasped around it, arturo benedetti michelangeli sits at the piano in an intimate studio in october, 1978. On being a pianist let us define the meaning of being a pianist. The music expresses a vast repertoire of emotions, colors and moods. Theres ferocity in debussys setting that seems to reflect what debussy called brusque oppositions of extreme violence and passionate tenderness. A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude. He is remembered as a poet of spiritual and epistemological speculation, a poet concerned with the human relationship to nature and a fierce advocate of using. Adopting the major piano works including the preludes, bartok absorbed the liberated message as deeply as he absorbed the idiom of the hungarian peasant. This significant compilation of 12 preludes represents debussy s mature writing style and is filled with a great diversity of compositional styles. The body of the poem employs flashbacks to describe the development of the poetic mind during youth. Debussy s book of preludes is some of his most wellknown and last works for solo piano. Debussy chose 4 poems from baudelaires book of poetry, les fleurs du mal the flowers of evil. 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. Like book 1, each piece was composed with the intention of being an individual piece, representing a visual.
These works are distinct from debussy s images pour orchestre. The purpose of this thesis is to discuss and give a descriptive analysis of twelve of the twentyfour preludes written by claude debussy. One of debussys most celebrated orchestral works, prelude a lapresmidi dun faune. Hinsons suggestions for performance and an analysis of each prelude. Unt theses and dissertations and was provided to digital library by the unt libraries. One of debussys most celebrated orchestral works, prelude a.
From book 1 of william wordsworths the prelude william wordsworths great long autobiographical poem in blank verse, the prelude, has many great passages, and this is one of the best, from the first book of the poem, describing the poet s schooldays and his time among nature. My analysis of canope debussy preludes for piano, book. He then argues that debussys prelude reads this virtual book by making. A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude debussy page. Eliot early in his career and published in his first collection, prufrock and other observations, in 1917. Ilya itin, piano this video was recorded at the golandsky institute international piano festival at princeton university. Both of these preludes seem to recall the beginning of book 1 in their sombre tone and slow tempos.
Music and poetry in mallarme and debussy ubc library open. Lessons 1 and 2 debussy preludes the student must look for the book the piano works of claude debsusy, by e. This introduction section a includes d minor and ddorian right next to each other. In addition, perhaps because debussy s style is so prone to. In the following post we intend to sketch out a brief summary and analysis of preludes, exploring the meaning of these. Preludes, book 2 another collection of 12 pieces composed as tone poems.
Here, in one volume, are two bodies of work that, perhaps more than any others, reveal the essence of claude debussy s extraordinary expressiveness and his innovative gifts for musical imagery. The description of the hill looming up as a young wordsworth. He was one of the most important figures in music at the turn of the 20th century. Course hero literature instructor russell jaffe provides an indepth summary and analysis of william wordsworths poem the prelude, book 1. Claude debussy composed his two books of preludes during a. In french literary circles, the style of this period was known as symbolism, a movement that directly inspired debussy both as a composer and as an active cultural participant. The start of book 1 finds wordsworth speaking from a mature point of view. As for his piano compositions, after he completed the second book of preludes the only. Prelude a lapresmidi dun faune prelude to the afternoon of a faun. Chapter 1 introduction analysis can be a valuable tool for the performer who is seeking solutions to performance problems. Pdf debussy preludes bk 1 download full pdf book download. The prelude is an extremely personal and revealing work on the. Aug 19, 2016 the composer who benefited most from this liberation was bartok, who was introduced to debussys music by kodaly in 1907.
Order from your preferred classical music cd store arkivmusic. From book 1 of william wordsworths the prelude william wordsworths great long autobiographical poem in blank verse, the prelude, has many great passages, and this is one of the best, from the first book of the poem, describing the poets schooldays and his time among nature. Prelude 10, titled canope in his book of preludes no. For if lapresmidi is the blossom of mallarmes poem, the. The title of the next work, voiles, carries a double meaning of either sails or veils. Debussy s music virtually defines the transition from lateromantic music to twentieth century modernist music. Debussy with english translation by federico garcia lorca. 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. Nontraditional scales extended harmony traditional chords used in nontraditional context harmonic color tonal ambiguity. That is what was produced whenever the master pianist, michelangeli, sat down at a piano to play debussy, as he did here in the complete cycle of debussy s preludes, book livre 1, a group of. These works have been central to stevens repertoire for many years and he brings them to the studio after.