Complete Preludes, Books 1 and 2

by Claude Debussy

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. Each book contains twelve preludes for the piano, many of them known to today's musical audiences because of their great popularity with pianists worldwide. Ranging from the mystical "La Cathédrale engloutie" to the capricious "Ondine" to the explosive "Feux d'artifice," they offer special joys to pianists of varying levels of ability.
Other favorites from the piano repertoire in this collection "Danseuses de Delphes," "Ce qu'a vu le Vent d'Ouest," "La fille aux cheveux de lin," "La danse de Puck," and "Feuilles mortes." Some are technically simple, others comparatively difficult. All of them afford pianists an unparalleled opportunity to explore and develop their expressive range.
This authoritative edition of the complete Preludes, with a helpful glossary of French terms, has been carefully printed on durable paper and sturdily bound to provide students and lovers of fine music a lifetime of study and enjoyment of these beloved masterpieces of piano composition.

Genres: Music, Scores

128 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1989

About the author

Claude-Achille Debussy (22 August 1862 – 25 March 1918) was a French composer. Along with Maurice Ravel, he was one of the most prominent figures associated with Impressionist music, though he himself disliked the term when applied to his compositions. He was made Chevalier of the Legion of Honour in his native France in 1903. Debussy was among the most influential composers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and his use of non-traditional scales and chromaticism influenced many composers who followed.

Debussy's music is noted for its sensory content and frequent usage of non-traditional tonalities. The prominent French literary style of his period was known as Symbolism, and this movement directly inspired Debussy both as a composer and as an active cultural participant.

Reviews

[Bill FromPA · Rating 4 out of 5]

A minor quibble: I prefer editions where the titles are printed at the ends of the pieces, like the answer to a riddle, rather than at the beginning.