Debussy: No.2 - 'La soirée dans Grenade'

Question 1

what musical features can be commented on ?

Answer 1

• structure/melody
• harmony
• rhythm, metre and tempo

Question 2

where does Habanera originate from?

Answer 2

cuban dance - spread into southern spain in 19th century

Question 3

describe habanera featured in intro (1-16)

Answer 3

• distinctive rhythm of dotted semiquaver, semiquaver and two quavers
• simple duple time
• staccato
• first note is low pitched

Question 4

what features of flamenco is in this piece?

Answer 4

• spread/arpeggiated chords - reference to guitar which is essential in flamenco music
• heard in trés rythmé section at the end of 1st six bars
• augmented 2nd of b# to A

Question 5

what moorish influence is heard in section A?

Answer 5

• moorish lament melody (bar 7)
• ornamentation - improvisatory- feels in free time
• dissonance of d with c in first entry
• mainly conjunct apart from augmented 2nd

Question 6

describe the structure

Answer 6

• highly sectional

- sense of loose ternary structure - because lament returns near end

Question 7

comment structure/melody/harmony in bars 17-20

Answer 7

tempo giusto (strictly in time)

• flamenco idea
• parallel seventh chorfd

Question 8

comment on structure/rhythm in bars 21-22

Answer 8

linking habanera section

Question 9

comment on structure/melody/harmony/rhythm in bars 23-28

Answer 9

• tempo rubato
• new stepwise idea
• uses C# pedal in habanera rhythm
• whole tone scale (impressionist)

Question 10

comment on structure/melody/harmony/rhythm in bars 29-37

Answer 10

reoccurrence of tempo guisto section - transposed over F# pedal
- extended at bar 33 - uses triplets/syncopation

Question 11

comment on structure/melody/harmony/rhythm in bars 38-60

Answer 11

start of section B - tres rythmé section

• 4 bar intro - with flamenco feature (spread chords)
• uses fourths/fifths and added notes
• tonal melody at bar 43 in octaves - conjunct
• tonal centre on A

Question 12

comment on structure/melody/harmony in bars 61-66

Answer 12

• start of section C - rubato melody without whole tone scale but uses augmented 2nd
• over C# pedal

Question 13

comment on structure/melody/harmony/rhythm in bars 67-77

Answer 13

• wider ranging syncopated idea from bar 33
• more disjunct
• over F# pedal
• G double sharp acts as chromatic apoggiatura
• use of A naturals - blue notes

Question 14

comment on structure/melody/harmony in bars 78-91

Answer 14

• rubato theme again - smoother

- continous parallel triadic chords

Question 15

comment on structure/melody/harmony/rhythm in bars 92-108

Answer 15

• tempo giusto theme - now in A major
• moves to three staves - wide pitch range
• parallel chord accompaniment

Question 16

comment on structure/melody/harmony/rhythm in bars 109-121

Answer 16

• new rhythmic idea - murmur of sound
• chromatic
• syncopated theme inbetween

Question 17

comment on structure/melody/harmony/rhythm in bars 122-136

Answer 17

• moorish lament appears
• arpeggiated chords
• cross hands
• music fades away - quiet dynamics