Danseuses de Delphes (Préludes, Book I, No. 1)

Claude Debussy · Level 6 (Expert) · Impressionist · Piano

The first of the Préludes of Book I (1910), inspired by an ancient column in the Louvre on which three carved dancers seem to move: a slow, solemn dance of soft chords and intertwining lines. A piece by Debussy, a leading figure of musical Impressionism. B♭ major, 3/4, 31 bars (about 2 minutes), complete score.

▶ Play this piece with the interactive score

How to practise it

• Listen first: the site plays it while the score scrolls.
• Wait mode: the score waits for you at every note, at your own pace.
• Tempo challenge: play in time, with a score and a map of the bars you got right.
• Slow and grave, without heaviness: keep a calm, even pulse and let the inner voices that move between the held chords be heard. Fine, frequently changed pedal and very soft dynamics: look for colours rather than power. One hand sometimes plays two voices: hold the long notes for their full value and let the main line sing louder than the accompaniment. For chords, shape the hand in the air before landing, all notes together.

More pieces by Claude Debussy

• Les sons et les parfums tournent dans l’air du soir (Préludes, Book I, No. 4)
• Deuxième Arabesque (L66 No.2)
• Arabesque No. 1 in E major
• Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum (Children’s Corner No. 1)
• Jimbo’s Lullaby (Children’s Corner No. 2)
• Sarabande (Pour le piano No. 2)
• Valse romantique
• Clair de lune (Suite bergamasque)

Source : Mutopia Project · CC BY-SA 4.0