Debussy Analysis

Question 1

Figure X

Answer 1

Ambiguity of time
6/4 or 3/2
Steady Crochets

Question 2

Figure Y

Answer 2

Fog-horn motif
Never changes
Refrain like quality

Question 3

Rotation 1

Answer 3

Bat 1-10

Question 4

What is implicated in B3-4?

Answer 4

Implication of 3/2

Question 5

What scale is used in the upper voice in B1-2?

Answer 5

B Minor

Question 6

What scale is used in the lower voice in B1-2?

Answer 6

B Octatonic

Question 7

What does div. mean?

Answer 7

Divinsi - divided into groups

Question 8

What does sourdines mean?

Answer 8

Muted

Question 9

What theme is introduced in B5-7?

Answer 9

Figure Y or the Foghorn Theme

Question 10

What chord is used in B5?

Answer 10

Dyad of G and B - tonally unclear

Question 11

What interval does the Foghorn Theme consist of?

Answer 11

Rising Tritone

Question 12

What scale is the Foghorn motif based on?

Answer 12

B Octatonic

Question 13

What chord is used in B7?

Answer 13

The introduction of F and D with C and A implies a G# chord in 1st inversion.

Question 14

In B9 there is a dyad of G# which is what above the previous one in B5?

Answer 14

A semitone

Question 15

Decribe the scoring from B5 to B10

Answer 15

Delicate - divinsi vln. 1 up an octave to previous bars with low dynamic timpani roll.
Brass and woodwind in pp dynamic and middle/low registers.

Question 16

Rotation 2

Answer 16

Bars 11-28

Question 17

Div. 6 in the violins creates what?

Answer 17

A fuller texture

Question 18

What is the material in B13?

Answer 18

Linking Material - chromatically rising 3rds

Question 19

What 2 pentatonic scales are used in B14?

Answer 19

Eb Minor and G minor

Question 20

Decribe the harmony in B14.

Answer 20

Parrellel dominant 9ths

Question 21

What are the two intervals used in B14?

Answer 21

6th and 3rds

Question 22

What is the interval played in the double bass?

Answer 22

Perfect 5th

Question 23

What does pizzicarto mean?

Answer 23

Plucked

Question 24

In B17 what chord is outlined and what does it create?

Answer 24

G 7th dominant chord is outlined creating a sequenced.

Question 25

What scale is used in B17-18?

Answer 25

D Minor Pentatonic

Question 26

What does the cellos play in B17-18?

Answer 26

Constant crochet pulse

Question 27

What chord is outlined in B20?

Answer 27

Eb 9th

Question 28

What scale is implied in B20?

Answer 28

Bb Dorian

Question 29

What happens to the double bass in B20?

Answer 29

Marked Divinsi - it's divided

Question 30

What material is in the violins B21?

Answer 30

Crochet oscillation.

Question 31

What chord is outlined in B21?

Answer 31

G9

Question 32

What does 'tres expressif' and 'un pue en dehors' mean?

Answer 32

Very expressive | A little emphasised

Question 33

What two scales does the returned figure Y emphasise?

Answer 33

Octatonic and G acoustic

Question 34

What do the horns play in B23?

Answer 34

Falling Tritone motif

Question 35

What does the falling tritone idea create?

Answer 35

A mirror image against the riding tritone in the Cor anglais

Question 36

Rotation 3

Answer 36

B29-56

Question 37

What significant change occurs at the start of rotation 3?

Answer 37

The dynamics change to forte

Question 38

What intervals does the melody in B29-30 emphasise?

Answer 38

Major 2nd and Perfect 4th

Question 39

Describe the harmony in B29.

Answer 39

Parrellel simple triads

Question 40

What chord does the music resolve to in B31?

Answer 40

To a G7/ dominant in C major

Question 41

What do the woodwind do from Bar 32?

Answer 41

Retain a 3/2 pulse

Question 42

Decribe the orchestration of the strings from B32?

Answer 42

Chromatic

Question 43

What do the horns emphasise in B32?

Answer 43

The 3rd of the chord which creates a bridge between the tonal ambiguity and tonal Clarity.

Question 44

What do the horns emphasise in B32?

Answer 44

The 3rd of the chord which creates a bridge between the tonal ambiguity and tonal Clarity.

Question 45

Decribe the orchestration of the strings in B32?

Answer 45

Doubled in Octaves

Question 46

What do the strings retain from B32?

Answer 46

6/4 pulse

Question 47

What technique is used in B33-38?

Answer 47

Sequance

Question 48

What note is played in Octaves in B39?

Answer 48

Ab

Question 49

What technique is used in B39-41?

Answer 49

Rising sequance

Question 50

When the 6 material returns in B43 what has changed?

Answer 50

It has been extended

Question 51

What two chords are alternated in B43?

Answer 51

C# and G7

Question 52

Decribe the double bass in B43.

Answer 52

B Drone