Debussy C. Preludes for piano

The sphere of piano music takes special place in the creation of Claude Debussy (1862–1918). Being the brilliant pianist Debussy resorted to piano composing all his life long. This passion for piano poured into the new piano style to have appeared. It was distinct for polуhedral facture, melodious stratum hidden inside the complicated harmonious modal ground, dissonant phonations, fanciful and fick1ing rhythmic.

The cycle of twenty-four preludes was created by Debussy in the last period of his life (the first volume — in 1910, the second volume in 1913). This is the kind of encyclopaedia, where the composer's stylistic and imaginative peculiarities were revealed. The genre of prelude was valued by Debussy for its unrestrained development, the invitation to improvisation, cake and ale for the composer-impressionist. Every prelude has its title, however adduced after each of them. Thus the composer demonstrates his main principle of giving freedom to both the performer's and listener's imagination. The subject is never connected with literature. That's why Debussy does not let his fantasy be embodied through mere musical imitative depicting. The composer enjoys the imprint recalled by the image, just emotional perception of phenomenon, produced through the aggregate of all possible acoustic associations.

Contents:

Delphian Dancers (Music text example)
Sail
Wind on the Plain
Odours and Sounds Hovering in Night Air
Anacapri Hills
Steps on the Snow
What the West Wind Has Seen
The Linen Hair Girl
Interrupted Serenade
Drowned Cathedral
Puck’s Dance
Minstrele
Fogs (Music text example)
Dead Leaves
Alhambra Gate
Fairies the Fine Dancers
Heather
General Lavine, the Eccentric
Terrace Visited by the Moonlight
Undine
Respectfully to S. Pickwick, Esq. P. P. M. P. C.
Canope (Music text example)
Alternating Thirds
Firework