Claude Debussy ： Suite bergamasque “Prélude” F-Dur

The opening movement of Suite bergamasque, this prelude is bright and lively. Crisp rhythms and flowing movement drive the music forward, while the contrast between brilliant passages and more lyrical, gently singing sections gives the piece its appeal. The energetic opening develops through a succession of delicate figures, changes character along the way, and eventually regains its momentum before coming to a close. In performance, it is important to keep each note of the rapid passagework clear and even while maintaining the flow of the beat. Pedaling should be used with restraint to avoid blurring the texture, and careful attention to the balance between melody and accompaniment, as well as to the dynamic changes from one passage to the next, will bring out the work’s refined brightness.