Taught by renowned instructor
Jean-Yves Thibaudet
Join one of the world’s most celebrated concert pianists and recording artists Jean-Yves Thibaudet at his home Steinway in Los Angeles for an exploration of Debussy’s most evocative piano music, the two books of Preludes. In this course, Thibaudet reveals what makes Debussy’s Preludes so unique in the piano repertoire and revels in the magic you can conjure at the keyboard by paying close attention to the detailed markings in the score. He then takes a deep dive into Preludes representing three utterly different sound worlds: the The Sunken Cathedral, "General Lavine" - eccentric, and The Girl with the Flaxen Hair. After exploring the three scores, he treats you to a breathtaking performance of each.
Entering Debussy’s Atmosphere
In the last decade of his life, Claude Debussy composed two books of 12 Preludes for piano; 24 in all – following in the tradition of Bach and Chopin. But the French composer's intentions were different than that of his preluding forebears. As Jean-Yves Thibaudet reveals, Debussy invented an entirely new musical language in his Preludes and used it to generate two-dozen magical miniatures. Few pianists are as intimately familiar with these works as Thibaudet, one of the leading pianists of his generations whose discography includes the complete works of Debussy. In this video, Thibaudet introduces you to the solar system of Debussy's Preludes and visits some of the most fascinating sound worlds in the whole piano repertoire.
The Sunken Cathedral
Join Jean-Yves Thibaudet as he submerges himself within Debussy’s majestic Sunken Cathedral, the 10th Prelude from Book I. Moving phrase by phrase through the expansive waters evoked by the music, Thibaudet shows how he manipulates his touch to achieve specific effects that help create the impression of timelessness and infinite space. A master class in creating color and sonority, and a nuanced portrait of an artist immersed in his craft, this video is necessary viewing for pianists and music lovers alike.
The Sunken Cathedral (Performance)
To complement his underwater tour of Debussy's Sunken Cathedral, Jean-Yves Thibaudet treats you to a performance of this majestic Prelude
General Lavine – eccentric
In this lesson Jean-Yves Thibaudet introduces you to General Lavine, an eccentric clown immortalized by Debussy's satirical cakewalk in this 6th Prelude from Book II. Debussy represents the clown's movements and speech patterns through highly detailed dynamic and rhythmic markings. As Thibaudet demonstrates, capturing the comedy of the music is as straightforward a task as following Debussy's markings very precisely. Easier said than done, which is why Thibaudet also reveals the ways he's cultivated his touch to execute the irregular patterns in the score.
General Lavine – eccentric (Performance)
In this video, Jean-Yves Thibaudet treats you to a performance of Debussy's "General Lavine" - eccentric.
The Girl with the Flaxen Hair
In this lesson Jean-Yves Thibaudet explores the most beloved Prelude Debussy composed, the "Girl with the flaxen hair." Audiences instantly recognize the soft, caressing opening theme, which requires exquisite touch and sensitivity. Timing is crucial to this music, and as Thibaudet demonstrates, one must careful observe the durations Debussy wrote – even when they are counterintuitive – to achieve the most sublime effects. Thibaudet shows how he uses all three pedals and controls his dynamics to create an intimate portrait of innocence and beauty.
The Girl with the Flaxen Hair (Performance)
In this video, Jean-Yves Thibaudet treats you to a performance of Debussy's "The girl with the flaxen hair."
Recording Debussy's Preludes
In this bonus interview segment, Jean-Yves Thibaudet shares the story of his recording career with Decca, and the making of his complete Debussy Preludes record.
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Unlock Course →For more than three decades, Jean-Yves Thibaudet has performed world-wide, recorded more than 50 albums, numerous film scores, and built a reputation as one of today's finest pianists.
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