debussy Flashcards
why is it called pour le piano
Music that explores the instrument’s chameleon power to mimic the intimacy of the singing human voice, and, moments later, to roar with the grandeur of a symphony orchestra. Music that tests the piano’s seemingly infinite range of expression
- new and confident command of the keyboard
why is it ‘mature’ debussy
enough formal gestures of the past to place it at the end of his first phase
strong hints of the more searching, experimental music of his mature style.
Prior to its publication the most adventurous of Debussy’s piano works was the Suite Bergamasque.
- shows for the first time the harmonic elements, virtuosity, pianism and raw power that was to appear in Debussy’s subsequent piano works.
why is it called ‘prelude’
Baroque dance forms, the use of four-part writing, and a closing cathedral organ texture. He added
some pianistic elements such as a virtuosic cadenza.
Finally, he used some Romantic stylistic features such as harmonic development around a major/minor key relationship and fragmented melodic cycle
tempo di cadenza
an improvised or written-out ornamental passage played, usually in a “free” rhythmic style, and often allowing virtuosic display
A surprising fermata appears followed by a cadenza. The pause before the cadenza resembles the main feature of structural virtuosity from the concerto variation of
sonata form. After the pause, people will expect the soloist to improvise and show virtuoso
skill. Debussy offers an improvisatory flourish of size and scope large enough to create a
grand and vigorous ending
what is a sarabande
The Sarabande was one of the most popular Baroque instrumental dances. It originated in Latin America
Guitar strumming patterns combined with a freely ornamented, homophonic texture in a characteristically slow tempo. It is in triple meter with an emphasized/leaning on the second beat of the second measure.
“a dance of grave character”
The rhythm and melody are usually simpler than other dances
how is the second movement a sarabande?
- dignified dance in triple meter
- The beginning is marked as “with a grave and slow elegance”
- simplicity of the texture evokes
an antique Baroque character dance. The harmonic texture also remains grand and elegant
in its simplicity - first type of strumming guitar figure occurs before
the leaning of the second beat (rolling of chord)
who played suite pour le piano
rubinsteun
moravec
pletnev
satie sarabande
- made his acquaintance in 1890
- Satie held strong influence over Debussy, instructing him to avoid all popular Wagnerian influences of the time
- similarly sensuous harmony
french symbolist movement / impressionism
- lasted 10 years - from 1885 onwards
- rejection of naturalism and realist / clearcut forms
- hatred of emphasis + taste for indefinite and mysterious
- developments of free verse in poetry / lack of subject in painting - exploring issues of musical form
- 1887 was called impressionist - music focuses on mood and atmosphere, “conveying the moods and emotions aroused by the subject rather than a detailed tone‐picture”
- veiled melody lines, disintegration of sounds, predominance of colour in the orchestration
eric satie, maurice ravel, jean sibelius
considered himself essentially classical - clarity of form and expression are themselves an integral part of the musics expression
debussy influence from other composers
pedal effect - ravels sites auriculares
?? unresolved 7th and 9th chords - chabrier (formal and harmonic liberty) and grieg
chopin - preludes + dedicated his etudes (exact audible allusions are rare but lineage is spiritual in terms of formal and harmonic freedom)
EARLY - wagner - 5 poemes of baudelaire songs cycle (length, wide intervals, chromatic harmonies)
LATER 1889 - javanese gamelan (toccata pour le piano) - counterpoint and improvisation, chromatic instability (modality, indian raga)
spanish folk music ‘one of the richest in the world” - exposition
other debussy pieces
Over 15 Orchestral Works
(Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun) - symphonic poem
La mer (three symphonic sketches for orchestra)
Piano Trio
3 Sonatas
9 Images
Piano Duets - Six Epigraphes antiques
Toccata
is a virtuoso piece of music featuring fast-moving, lightly fingered or otherwise virtuosic passages or sections, generally emphasizing the dexterity of the performer’s fingers.
full chords, rapid runs, and other virtuoso elements
