Composer

:

Ferruccio Busoni

Genre

:

Keyboard

Style

:

Prelude

Compose Date

:

1880 - 1881

Publication Date

:

1882

Average_duration

:

51:44

Movement_count

:

24

Movement ....

Ferruccio Busoni's Preludes (24), Op. 37, KiV 181, is a collection of 24 preludes for piano, composed between 1918 and 1923. The work was premiered by Busoni himself in Berlin in 1923. The preludes are divided into two books, each containing 12 preludes. The first book is characterized by its tonal ambiguity, with many of the preludes featuring chromatic harmonies and unconventional chord progressions. The second book is more tonally stable, with a greater emphasis on counterpoint and polyphony. The preludes are highly varied in character and style, ranging from the virtuosic and dramatic to the introspective and contemplative. Some of the preludes are based on existing musical forms, such as the fugue and the chorale, while others are more free-form and improvisatory. One of the most notable features of the preludes is Busoni's use of extended techniques, such as playing inside the piano and using the sustain pedal to create a blurred, atmospheric sound. He also incorporates elements of folk music and popular music into some of the preludes, such as the use of a tango rhythm in Prelude No. 17. Overall, Busoni's Preludes (24) is a highly innovative and experimental work that showcases the composer's unique approach to piano composition. Its wide range of styles and techniques make it a challenging and rewarding work for pianists to perform.

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