During his time as the halle orchestras composer in association between 2001 and 2010, colin matthews spent five years making orchestral versions of all 24 of debussys preludes. During his time as the halle orchestras composer in association between 2001 and 2010, colin matthews spent five years making orchestral versions of all 24 of debussy s preludes. Since debussy s time, many others have followed suit orchestrating debussy, most notably percy grainger, stokowski, john adams, and now halle orchestra resident composer, colin matthews, who here attempts to orchestrate debussy s influential 24 preludes for piano. Fans of impressionist orchestral music and some fans of the piano originals, though, may well experience a thrill, as if a.
I assembled them in groups of three or four, without following debussys order, and completed the sequence in the spring of 2007. Colin matthews bio, albums, pictures naxos classical music. Aug 19, 2016 the paradox is that debussy succeeded in a series of piano works starting with estampes in 1903 and culminating in the two books of preludes in 1910 and 1912 respectively in creating what can only be called an impressionist technique. Because the original discs were recorded about a year apart each disc shared six preludes from the two books. The orchestra has already performed and recorded matthews luminous orchestrations of debussy s preludes, and adds here two more of his recent works. The orchestra has already performed and recorded matthews luminous. He was among the most influential composers of the late 19th and.
Musical literalists may not be pleased with colin matthews free orchestral arrangements of the 24 movements of debussys two books of preludes pour le piano. He is sometimes seen as the first impressionist composer, although he vigorously rejected the term. Fans of impressionist orchestral music and some fans of the piano. Biography and work for colin matthews, listen to classical music and albums or compositions by colin matthews online. Colin matthewss orchestrations of the preludes can also be found on a twocd set from the halle orchestras own label, under the baton of mark elder who commissioned the arrangements. You may order it now but please be aware that it may be six weeks or more before it can be despatched. However, the order of the preludes is not considered imperative, as is the case with chopins preludes, for example. This paper also includes a brief history of preludes as well as possible influences upon debussy and his compositions. Colin matthews the debussy preludes 2cd halle orchestra. Book i was written between december 1909 and february 1910. I think colin has a marvelous sense of orchestral color and, since he is a fantastic composer in his own right. Is there a general guide to the difficulty of the debussy preludes. For the opening concert of the halle orchestras 20012 season, its newly appointed principal conductor, mark elder, asked to include a work of mine. Matthews is far too fastidious for there not to be an underlying structure to the sequence as presented.
Score to claude debussy s canope prelude 4, orchestrated by colin matthews. Within this reordering there is a good mix of style and mood but i would liked to have had the current order explained. In the 1970s he taught at the university of sussex, where he obtained a doctorate for his work on mahler, an offshoot of his long collaboration with deryck. It might have been colin matthews the arranger dressing. The company has pioneered the idea of the series and proudly includes series of such. Chandos records is one of the worlds premier classical music record companies, best known for its ground breaking search for neglected musical gems. Each book was written in a matter of months, at an unusually fast pace for debussy. This page lists all sheet music of canope from preludes book 2 by claude achille debussy 18621918. Colin matthews i did not originally plan to orchestrate all of debussys preludes. Ok, after using about pages of paper printing book 1 and 2 of preludes by debussy did that in school, hehe, 24 preludes in total. The debussy preludes to enjoy in your home or car, or gift it to another music lover. Debussys 24 piano preludes are seductive and brilliant but an extra sheen is added in colin matthewss series of orchestrations composed for elders halle. Fans of impressionist orchestral music and some fans of the piano originals, though, may well experience a thrill, as.
Colin matthews s orchestrations of debussy s 24 piano preludes have quite rightly been praised by critics and i certainly wont be contradicting their positive assessment here. Musical literalists may not be pleased with colin matthews free orchestral arrangements of the 24 movements of debussy s two books of preludes pour le piano. Claude debussys preludes are 24 pieces for solo piano, divided into two books of 12 preludes each. Although matthews is clearly trying his hardest to both be faithful to and to transcend the original, in the end his transcriptions are well made but wrongheaded. Matthews has made orchestral versions of both books of debussys piano preludes.
Unlike previous collections of preludes, such as those of j. In fact, colin matthews realisations aided and abetted by the superb playin. Matthews has been heralded for the success with which he has taken the inspiration of the piano masterpieces and skillfully created orchestral works of great variety, beauty and drama. It is a nice piece, though i must confess i was less enthusiastic about it than about his orchestrations of debussy s 12 preludes. Three years exist between the publication of the first and second book, with the former appearing in 1910. Apr 03, 2014 they are divided into two separate livres, or books, of twelve preludes each. Debussys 24 piano preludes are seductive and brilliant but an extra sheen is added in colin matthewss series of orchestrations composed for elders halle orchestra. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. He read classics at the university of nottingham, and then studied composition there with arnold whittall, and at the same time with nicholas maw.
Im aiming to get through them over the next couple of years, but would like to start with the easiest few and work my way up, while also bubbling along with any that are crazy difficult so that i spend more time overall on them, and. Claude debussy, colin matthews, halle orchestra, mark elder 2 claude debussy, colin matthews, halle orchestra, mark elder 2 jeux preludes. Both books 1 and 2 of debussys popular piano preludes are contained in this one sturdy volume. They are divided into two separate livres, or books, of twelve preludes each. Colin matthewss orchestrations of debussys 24 piano preludes have quite rightly been praised by critics and i certainly wont be contradicting their positive assessment here.
Debussys atmospheric piano pieces have been not so much orchestrated as reimagined by colin matthews. Colin matthews by halle, claude debussy, colin matthews, sir mark elder, halle, sir mark elder from amazons classical music store. Debussy preludes for piano, orchestrated by colin matthews. Upcoming performances click on the date and title of the performance to view venue and booking details in a new window. The ballet score hidden variables, incorporating a new orchestral work, unfolded order, was commissioned by the royal ballet for the reopening of the royal opera house in december 1999. Unlike some notable collections of preludes from prior times, such as chopins op. The twentyfour preludes of debussy are published in two books of twelve preludes each. Im aiming to get through them over the next couple of years, but would like to start with the easiest few and work my way up, while also bubbling along with any that are crazy difficult so that i spend more time overall on them, and then. Colin matthews youtube claude debussy, preludes book i l 117 1909 10 orch colin matthews 2001 06 duration. In this recording of 12 of debussys preludes orchestrated by colin matthews, it doesnt work. He was too good a composer to imitate debussy, although there are a few examples of direct influence it. The playing is superb and the recorded sound is top notch. As with the dozen presented on the first disc, they are not in the groupings familiar from the two books of the piano originals, reflecting that orchestral textures are not simply overlaid.
He studied music at the universities of nottingham, and sussex, where he also taught, and subsequently worked as assistant to benjamin britten from 1972 6, and with imogen holst from 1971 84. A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude. Claude debussys painterly preludes the subtle, elusive quality of debussys twentyfour preludes is captured perfectly by pianist paul jacobs, who plays them with a tolling, belllike sound. Shop for vinyl, cds and more from colin matthews at the discogs marketplace. These beautiful french works are a must for all pianists. Preludes debussy encyclopedia wikia fandom powered by wikia. In this recording of 12 of debussy s preludes orchestrated by colin matthews, it doesnt work. Claude debussy s preludes are 24 pieces for solo piano, divided into two books of 12 preludes each. Underpinning the rich stylistic diversity of colin matthewss work is an unparalleled sense of architecture, combining a forensic attention to detail with a lucid sense of overall form. These compositions, while endearing themselves to both pianist and listener, also occupy an important place in musical history and, like the preludes.
Score to claude debussys canope prelude 4, orchestrated by colin matthews. Order of difficulty of debussy preludes is there a general guide to the difficulty of the debussy preludes. Musicweb purchase button claude debussy 18621918 the preludes 19101912, arrs, 200106 arranged for orchestra by colin matthews b. The disc includes an excellent performance of debussy s underestimated jeux as well. I was just wondering, can anyone sort them out in order of difficulty from easiest to hardest. Colin matthews, claude a debussyles sons et les parfums tournent dans lair du soir. However, i would like to question the implicit criteria that has guided their judgement since i think it has blinded them to many of the qualities that make these pieces.
The halle asked composer colin matthews to furnish them with orchestral versions of debussys 24 piano preludes, and the task was completed in. Jul 01, 2010 debussys two books of piano preludes were the epitome of squeezing out the utmost palate of colours possible on a piano, aided by unique pedaling effects, sometimes putting the focus on low or high sonorities, and often stretching out the written music to three staves, the 24 preludes invite orchestral imagination on the part of the pianist. Colin matthews felt the need to compose what he calls a postlude. Debussymatthews complete preludes halle, sir mark elder debussys atmospheric piano pieces have been not so much orchestrated as reimagined by colin matthews. Order from your preferred classical music cd store arkivmusic. Buy debussy preludes for piano, orchestrated by colin matthews by halle orchestra, claude debussy, colin. The purpose of this thesis is to discuss and give a descriptive analysis of twelve of the twentyfour preludes written by claude debussy. All works published by faber music unless otherwise stated click on the title of a work for more information.
Buy colin matthews the debussy preludes 2cd album online from halle. Buy colin matthews the debussy preludes 2cd album online. Claude debussys preludes are 24 pieces for solo piano, divided into two books of 12 preludes. You can filter the list using the box on the right scroll to the bottom if using a phone or tablet. Beethoven 250 chamber series 201920 opus one series.
Debussy preludes arranged for orchestra by colin matthews. Pittsburgh symphony presents the brilliance of rachmaninoff. Score to claude debussys les fees sont dexquises danseuses prelude 16, orchestrated by colin matthews. This second debussy disc on the halles own label completes the orchestras traversal of the debussy preludes in the arrangements by colin matthews. The two books of 24 preludes are so delicately and sensitively bound to the sonority and timbre of the piano that it is something of a miracle to hear them in any other guise.
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