Preludes Livres 1/2 Comp

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Composer : Claude Debussy
Performer : Walter Gieseking

Product Details

Binding : Audio CD
EAN : 0724356726222
Label : Angel
Number of Discs : 1
Product Group : Music
Release Date : 2002-09-10
Running Time : 70minutes
UPC : 724356726222

ASIN : B00004R8TM

Track Listings for

Disc-1
1. Prlds, Book I: I. ...Danseuses De Delphes (Lent Et Grave)
2. Prlds, Book I: II. ...Voiles (Modere)
3. Prlds, Book I: III. ...Le Vent Dans La Plaine (Anime)
4. Prlds, Book I: IV. ...Les Sons Et Les Parfums Tournent Dans L'air Du Soir (Modere)
5. Prlds, Book I: V. ...Les Collines D'Anacapri (Tres Modere)
6. Prlds, Book I: VI. ...Des Pas Sur La Neige (Triste Et Lent)
7. Prlds, Book I: VII. ...Ce Qu'a Vu Le Vent D'Ouest (Anime Et Tumultueux)
8. Prlds, Book I: VIII. ...La Fille Aux Cheveux De Lin (Tres Calme Et Doucement Expressif)
9. Prlds, Book I: IX. ...La Serenade Interrompue (Moderement Anime)
10. Prlds, Book I: X. ...La Cathedrale Engloutie (Profondement Calme)
11. Prlds, Book I: XI. ...La Danse De Puck (Capricieux Et Leger)
12. Prlds, Book I: XII. ...Minstrels (Modere)
13. Prlds, Book II: I. ...Brouillards (Modere)
14. Prlds, Book II: II. ...Feuilles Mortes (Lent Et Melancolique)
15. Prlds, Book II: III. ...La Puerta Del Vino (Mouvement De Habanera)
16. Prlds, Book II: IV. ...Les Fees Sont D'exquises Danseuses (Rapide Et Leger)
17. Prlds, Book II: V. ... Bruyeres (Calme)
18. Prlds, Book II: VI. ...General Lavine - Eccentric (Dans Le Style Et Le Mouvement D'un Cakewalk)
19. Prlds, Book II: VII. ...La Terrasse Des Audiences Du Clair De Lune (Lent)
20. Prlds, Book II: VIII. ...Ondine (Scherzando)
21. Prlds, Book II: IX. ...Hommage A S. Pickwick, Esq., P.P.M.P.C. (Grave)
22. Prlds, Book II: X. ...Canope (Tres Calme Et Doucement Triste)
23. Prlds, Book II: XI. ...Les Tierces Alternees (Moderement Anime)
24. Prlds, Book II: XII. ...Feux D'artiface (Moderement Anime)

Customer Reviews

Gieseking's Preludes (2002-11-22)

Listening to Gieseking play Debussy is like listening to a pianist who sat at his instrument with the composer's score stripped of all dynamic markings and performance instructions and interpreted what he saw like it were Beethoven. There are crescendos where there shouldn't be crescendos and violent and sharply biting outbursts in passages where Debussy is asking of the pianist the most gentle and delicate touch possible. I'm not saying Gieseking isn't a phenomenal pianist from a technical standpoint, but he displays so little regard for the composer's intentions. By all means, buy this record if you want to hear Gieseking, but not if you want to hear Debussy.

Save me! I'm drowning... (2002-01-27)

The watery allusions to Debussy music seem to have been taken far too literally by many pianists as well as piano music fans. Attempting to describe something inexpressible in concrete terms is inherently flawed, and to take an irrational "impression" and attempt to distill it down even further, results in loss of clarity. Though the music may be "softer," and less "rigid" and thus more flexible to subjective interpretation, it is distanced from the artist's first message; the music itself. Debussy's music speaks clearly, without the need for "Gaullic" over-sentimentalizing. I've never understood the arguments about Gieseking's Germanic interpretation, as if genetics and not culture were the main influence in one's artistic make-up. Though other great pianists who have recorded these Preludes caress wonderful tones from their instruments(Pollini, Moravec, Arrau), compared to Gieseking's mastery and control of colors and his tonal variety they sound overly warm, mushy even. Listening to Gieseking playing Debussy is to be at the water's edge, sight unimpeded by any mist rising from the surface of the pond, gazing upon a reflection of the moon that is not hazed in by clouds. After him, listening to other recordings is like peering at the same lunar image from the bottom of the pond. Save me Gieseking, I'm drowning...

Perfect (2000-09-10)

If you want Debussey's piano preludes, and you want them played perfectly, then this is for you. It's a terrific after dinner album, of durring a nice bath.

This disk won: The Grammophone Award in the UK The Diapason d'Or in France The Prix de l'Academie de disque francais, also in France.

To quote Gramophone magazine, "The difinitive version and an outstanding issue. Neither the playing nor the recording can be faulted." I couldn't agree more.

Highly recommended (2000-09-06)

I hear that Gieseking was a rather horrible human being, but this pristine rendition of Debussy's Preludes is musically flawless. Even the sound quality (from the early fifties) isn't bad at all. Admittedly I haven't heard every version of these much-recorded pieces, but this has to be one of the best. Another great addition to the EMI Great Recordings of the Century series.

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