Debussy: No.2 - 'Pagodes'

Question 1

what musical features can be commented on?

Answer 1

structure/melody, harmony(possibly dynamics/ rhythm metre and tempo)

Question 2

what is an overall term for structure?

Answer 2

loose ternary form (central sections has elements of A)

Question 3

what music influenced this piece?

Answer 3

javanese gamelan

Question 4

what features of oriental style are recreated?

Answer 4

• opening - gong - openfifths
• added notes
• slendro scale (pentatonic) - metallophone
• varying speed

Question 5

comment on structure/melody/harmony in bars 1-2

Answer 5

• 2-bar intro
• open fifths
• added notes (g - sixth)

Question 6

comment on structure/melody/harmony in bars 3-4

Answer 6

• 2-bar pentatonic melody (brevity) using 4 pitches

Question 7

how does harmony differ in bars 5-6

Answer 7

added flat seventh to bass

Question 8

what harmonic device continues from 1-10?

Answer 8

pedal on B - tonal centre

Question 9

what is aded in bars 7-10

Answer 9

scalic countermelody

Question 10

comment on melody and harmony in bars 11-14

Answer 10

• new melody - new pedal on G#
• pentatonic
• parallel octaves
• use of piano pedal - misty

Question 11

comment on melody and harmony in bars 15-18

Answer 11

• new melody
• LH: triplets ostinato
• RH: simple oriental melody (cross-rhythms)

Question 12

comment on melody and harmony.rhythm in bars 19-22

Answer 12

• new idea links
• triplets in octaves now in RH
• melody in octaves interchanged between hands

Question 13

comment on melody and harmony in bars 23-26

Answer 13

• theme from bar 11 in contrary motion

- low B pedal

Question 14

comment on structure/melody &harmony in bar 27-32

Answer 14

• use of sustaining pedal
• LH: countermelody
  RH: fourths and fifths - avoids tonal 3rds
• two bar linking section with reference to intro

Question 15

comment on melody harmony and rhythm in 33-36

Answer 15

• syncopated close 2nds in LH

- whole tone melody

Question 16

comment on melody and harmony in bars 37-40

Answer 16

• pentatonic scales - in RH

- low tessitura - extensive ra

Question 17

comment on melody and harmony in bars 41-44

Answer 17

both hands in unison using parallel harmonies in octaves (2 oct apart)
(also climactic point)

Question 18

comment on melody rhythm and harmony in bars 46-49

Answer 18

whole tone melody from bar 33 returns octave lower and in LH
- syncopation refernence in 2nds

Question 19

comment on structure and melody in bars 50-52

Answer 19

• use of trills - link for return for A’

- melody repeated with variation

Question 20

comment on structure bars 53-78

Answer 20

same as A without 2 bar intro

Question 21

describe the new ostinato in bar 78

Answer 21

• demisemiquavers - high tessitura

LH: triplets ostinato

Question 22

what reoccurs in bar 84?

Answer 22

countermelody from bar 7

Question 23

how does the piece end?

Answer 23

fades away ‘laissez vibrer’ - dampens pedal until notes fades