It is one of the most recorded of debussys pieces, both in its original version and various. Classical debussy royalty free music library stock. The title is in french and translates roughly to the girl with the flaxen hair. The prelude is one of debussys most recorded pieces, both in its original. Although you wont find krystian zimermans ultrarefined fingerwork and wide dynamic range, nor paul jacobs linear perception, theres much to. Claude debussys preludes are 24 pieces for solo piano, divided into two books of 12 preludes each. As for his piano compositions, after he completed the second book of preludes the only.
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. Pascal roge recorded debussys preludes book 1 for decca some time ago, and he has remade them, together with book 2, marking the start of a complete cycle of this composers piano works. But the piano playing is superbly brilliant and precise, and the more energetic pieces, like no. Piano preludes book 1 as part of debussys paris marking the 100th anniversary of the composers death this weekend, building a library is a. The piece is 39 bars long and lasts about two and a half minutes. 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. Chandos records is one of the worlds premier classical music record companies, best known for. Preludes, book 1 alfred cortot 1949 recording youtube. Preludes books 1 and 2 paperback april 1, 1999 by claude debussy composer 4. A novelty about these preludes is that the titles are not printed as a header above the first page, but as a footer on the last page, almost like an afterthought, suggesting that the title is inspired by the music and not the other way around.
Debussys preludes, book 1 in a 1949 recording by alfred cortot, one of the greatest interpreters of. This significant compilation of 12 preludes represents debussys mature writing. It is the eighth of the composers preludes, book i 19091910. I thought walter legge had produced both books, but no, geraint evans was responsible for book 1. Three years exist between the publication of the first and second book, with the former appearing in 1910. Debussy preludes, bk 1 alfred masterwork edition claude debussy, maurice hinson on. Soyoung choe performs excerpts from debussys preludes, book 1. Two of the titles were set in quotation marks by debussy because they are, in fact, quotations. That this was general we can to some extent see from the sales figures quoted by roy howat.
The girl with the flaxen hair debussy, preludes book 1. It has a tender, dreamy quality, which makes it perfectly suited. The works in debussys second book of preludes are similar in intent to those of book i 1907 1910. The piece is 39 measures long and takes approximately two and a.
This paper also includes a brief history of preludes as well as possible influences upon debussy and his compositions. Recorded live during the marion rubin berman 31 piano honors concert april 12, 2012 in necs jordan hall in boston. The piece is 39 bars long and has a running time of about two and a half minutes. These compositions, while endearing themselves to both pianist and listener, also occupy an important place in musical. P ierrelaurent aimards muchpublicised recent claim in an interview with a german newspaper that debussy is a greater composer than wagner is by no. The girl with the flaxen hair by claude debussy on amazon music. As he plays debussys book 1 preludes, you notice how effortlessly his arms, hands, and fingers are choreographed to the music. It is one of the most recorded of debussys pieces, both in its original version. This piano piece was initially published in the year 1908 and is included in preludes by debussy. 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. I have recently been listening repeatedly to samples of pascal roges latest recording of debussy s preludes, and i must say i like what ive heard. 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 first scene that he wrote was act 4 scene 4, the climactic love scene between pelleas and melisande. It is the eighth number from the composers preludes, book i. It is the eighth piece in the composers first book of preludes, written between late 1909 and early 1910. Debussys method of composition was fairly systematic. Ivan march, gramophone 52000 walter giesekings set of both books of the debussy preludes is a different matter one of the great classics of the gramophone. Along with maurice ravel, he was one of the most prominent figures working within the field of impressionist music, though he himself intensely disliked the term when applied to his compositions. Two excerpts from the emperor concerto, showing beethovens use of uneven groups of notes. The purpose of this thesis is to discuss and give a descriptive analysis of twelve of the twentyfour preludes written by claude debussy. 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. Provided to youtube by naxos of america preludes, book 1.
Debussy finished the short score of the opera without detailed orchestration on 17 august 1895. Several of them look ahead to debussys later style, in which the composers earlier impressionistic, almost romantic poetry was supplanted by a greater concentration upon technique and neoclassical objectivity. O there is blessing in this gentle breeze, a visitant that while it fans my cheek. Aug 19, 2016 the composer who benefited most from this liberation was bartok, who was introduced to debussys music by kodaly in 1907. Unlike some notable collections of preludes from prior times, such as chopins op. Tres calme et doucement expressif the girl with the flaxen hair. Claude debussy s preludes are 24 pieces for solo piano, divided into two books of 12 preludes each. Preludes books 1 and 2 piano solo hal leonard online.
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