Debussy a painter in sound by stephen walsh illustrated. Viewer request for jules hall in sheffield, england. Often dubbed a musical impressionist, but his music always has a strong sense of form. The classical prelude is a genre bred from improvisation, as early 19 thcentury performers keyboardists, especially would extemporize a kind of rolling introduction to another, composed work. The composer who benefited most from this liberation was bartok, who was introduced to debussy s music by kodaly in 1907. Pierre boulez, the cleveland orchestra, debussy images. John adams on debussy, the first modernist the new york. Fitting though it seemed to conclude with chopin, debussy, and boulez, it had actually. Pascal roges collection of debussys preludes marks both the launch. Calm debussy by claude debussy on amazon music unlimited.
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. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. 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. Philip hensher, the spectator an enjoyable and impressive achievement. A month ago, i had heard maurizio pollini perform the chopin preludes in london, at the royal festival hall, as part of an allchopin recital. The practice evolved as composers wrote formal sets of preludes in each of the major and minor keys, so that the pieces would be available as possible. It was composed in 1894 and first performed in paris on 22 december 1894, conducted by gustave doret. Provided to youtube by universal music group debussy. Claude debussy 22 august 1862 25 march 1918 was one of the most influential composers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries and is regarded as the founder of musical impressionism.
Nocturnes begins in a similar fashion, but the brisk and breezy nuages, with clouds flying by as in. Unlike some notable collections of preludes from prior times, such as chopins op. Having purchased boulez other debussy recording on dg with the cleveland orchestra which i enjoyed, i felt this cd was a safe bet, and i was not dissapointed. Societe musicale independante, claude debussy piano 19110503 in paris, salle pleyel complete jane mortier piano first pub lication. The title of the piece may be translated to english as either veils or sails. An extraordinary rendition of debussy s piano preludes, played not notebynote but shapebyshape, colourbycolour.
The disc opens with claudio abbados fleet and unsentimental prelude to the afternoon of a faun, in which he emphasizes the works cool beauty. Complete preludes, books 1 and 2 dover music for piano. Claude debussys preludes are 24 pieces for solo piano, divided into two books of 12 preludes each. Debussy s reputation as a musical impressionist led most people to think of him as a sort of musical claude monetall blurry outlines and fuzzy imagesbut boulez changed this perception, bringing an analytical clarity and razorsharp definition to the composers musical. Walter morse rummel, piano complete first pub lication. Ilya itin, piano this video was recorded at the golandsky institute international piano festival at.
Listen to your favorite songs from calm debussy by claude debussy now. Paul jacobs june 22, 1930 september 25, 1983 was an american pianist. Music for relaxation, reliance and relief 10,399,625 views 1. Adopting the major piano works including the preludes, bartok absorbed the liberated message as deeply as he absorbed the idiom of the hungarian peasant. The flute solo was played by georges barrere the composition was inspired by the poem lapresmidi. The purpose of this thesis is to discuss and give a descriptive analysis of twelve of the twentyfour preludes written by claude debussy. Here, in one volume, are two bodies of work that, perhaps more than any others, reveal the essence of claude debussys extraordinary expressiveness and his. A painter in sound concentrates on what truly matters. The booklet essay informs us that barenboim, like boulez, regards debussy as the founding father of musical modernism a nonprescriptive composer. Unlike other collections of preludes by great composers, debussy s do not follow a strict pattern of key signature.
He was too good a composer to imitate debussy, although there are a few. Claude debussy, pierre boulez, new philharmonia orchestra. Complete your pierre boulez, the cleveland orchestra, debussy collection. Phrase distinctions are based on the noticeable changes and configurations in the motives as well as changes in mode and general bass harmonic region. Walsh depicts debussy s paris with the same verve and scholarship that he applies to the man. Stream adfree with amazon music unlimited on mobile, desktop, and tablet. Listen to your favorite songs from the debussy edition by various artists now. Pierre boulez made his early reputation as a debussy conductor, and with good reason. Voiles is a composition by claude debussy for solo piano from 1909. This paper also includes a brief history of preludes as well as possible influences upon debussy and his compositions. Unlike some notable collections of preludes from prior. Published to mark the centenary of the composers death, debussy. Boulez once made the remark that the cleveland orchestra sounded more french than the french corchestras. Well, debussy obviously agreed but that didnt stop him putting his own stamp on the genre.
And the danses with alice chalifoux on harp, which close the set, are ethereal and marvelous. The sixth prelude proceeds through the proliferation and loose variation of melodies. Claude debussy s preludes are 24 pieces for solo piano, divided into two books of 12 preludes each. Claude debussy, pierre boulez, new philharmonia orchestra, cleveland orchestra debussy. Claude debussy, pierre boulez, the cleveland orchestra. Except for some mild, localized chromaticism and a short pentatonic passage, the entire piece uses. The debussy edition by various artists on amazon music.
The second disc opens with debussy s best known work, prelude a lapresmidi dun faune, another entry into a world of fantastic, soothing images. L numbers are also given from lesures original 1977 catalogue. He was too good a composer to imitate debussy, although there are a few examples of direct influence it was. Claude debussy, pierre boulez, cleveland orchestra. Formally, the piece divides into two approximately equal sections, a and a, from measure 115, and from 16 36. He was best known for his performances of twentiethcentury music but also gained wide recognition for his work with early keyboards, performing frequently with baroque ensembles. Among the most important 20th century composers, and the most influential. A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude. Pierre boulez and the cleveland orchestra deliver another top shelf performance.