Piano Forum

Hi there,
will not attempt a classification as I believe this depends on the performer.

depends what you mean by difficulty...creating difficult contrasts, colours?? difficult technique?

none of the preludes are difficult technically in the sense of Liszt or Chopin etudes.

There are two pieces that require advanced technique: Ce qua vu le vent d'Ouest and Feux d'Artifice.
Generally in terms of technique, emphasis is on trills and combined arpeggios rather than single hand scales or arpeggios. Moderate octave technique. Occasional glissandos. Rhythm is a major issue and can get complex. It can help to sing the piece or learn it in your head before actually sitting down on the piano.

This apparent ease can be misleading, as IMO preludes like "Canope" are extremely difficult, as you have very little time and material to create a very difficult and fragile structure. Thats where the real difficulty lies.

I would actually go and buy the two books as their are staple repertoire and can serve you well musically :-)

Fun thing to do: read an informative book by a Paul Robert called Debussys Piano Music (if my memory serves me well). Also, try to find parallels, progressions, links between the preludes. For example the chord clusters opening the first and last preludes of the second set. Also, Debussy hid a lot of references in his preludes, f. ex. the french national anthem... (those of you familiar with the preludes will know where this crops up). Also important to grasp the comedy element in some preludes.

Still as you ask for a classification, Ill attempt to give you mine without much thought :-) from hardest to easiest (purely in terms of technique, in the traditional sense), As starters I could suggest those in the last bunch, for example, Cheveux de Lin or Bruyeres.

Feux d'Artifice
Ce qu'a vu le Vent d'Ouest

Danse de Puck
Tierces alternees
Brouillards
Ondine
Fees
Vent dans la Plaine
Collines dAnacapri

Terrasse des audiences
Cathedrale Engloutie
Feuilles mortes

Danseuses de Delphes
Les sons et les parfums...
Voiles
Canope
Puerta del Vino
Fille aux Cheveux de Lin
Pickwick
Pas sur la neige
Serenade interrompue
Lavine
Bruyeres
Minstrels

Have fun with these, and I look forward to this thread!

Edouard