Canope (Canopic jar) is a mysterious work whose title refers to an Egyptian burial urn. It is one of the most technically approachable piano pieces by Debussy, though it is musically elusive. Claudio Arrau held it to be one of the greatest Préludes, saying, "It’s miraculous that he created, from so few notes, this kind of depth."
In this video lesson, Fred Karpoff explores how sonority is affected not only by pedalling but also by the overtones of the harmonic series. In Canope, Debussy constructed chords that clearly exploit this effect, likely influenced by his experience of gamelan music in the years prior to the composition of the Book II Preludes.
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Resources & linksClick here to download Fred's marked score for this work or click here to view open domain editions. |
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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