La cathédrale engloutie (The Sunken Cathedral) from the first book of Preludes, is one of Debussy’s most popular and well-known works. Inspired by a Breton legend where a sunken cathedral rises above the ocean before receding, Debussy created a piece filled with grandeur, mystery and majesty. Pentatonic and modal scales, dynamic extremes, and playing of sevenths and chords with open intervals all contribute to the engrossing landscape of this extraordinary piece.
In this video lesson, Fred Karpoff shows how to create a wide tonal palette, interpret the composer’s oft-misunderstood meter markings, pedal imaginatively and much more!
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Resources & linksClick here to download Fred's marked score for this work or click here to view open domain editions. |
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Winner of the Frances Clark Keyboard Pedagogy Award presented by MTNA, Fred Karpoff has performed as soloist and collaborative pianist on four continents and presents workshops throughout the world. After recovering from a career-threatening injury, his life’s work is realised through guiding teachers and pianists toward more efficient, healthful and expressive playing as the Artistic Producer of Entrada Piano. Fred has served as Professor of Piano at Syracuse University and Visiting Professor at the Eastman School of Music. He holds the DMA from the Peabody Conservatory and is an international Steinway Artist.
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