Debussy: Nuages

Question 1

What does ‘Nuages’ mean?

Answer 1

Clouds

Question 2

When was it composed?

Answer 2

1899

Question 3

How many nocturnes are in this set of pieces, of which ‘Nuages’ is one of them?

Answer 3

3

Question 4

What style of music is ‘Nuages’?

Answer 4

Impressionism

Question 5

What is an octatonic scale?

Answer 5

A scale of alternating tones and semitones (or semitones and tones)

Question 6

What is the structure of ‘Nuages’?

Answer 6

Loose rounded binary or loose rounded ternary

Question 7

How many rotations are there in ‘Nuages’?

Answer 7

5

Question 8

What instrument plays the main theme in the B section?

Answer 8

Flute and harp

Question 9

What term describes the use of chords made up of perfect 4ths?

Answer 9

Quartal harmony

Question 10

Why is quartal harmony ambigious?

Answer 10

It needs to have a major or minor 3rd for the chord to be major or minor

Question 11

What type of scale does the B melody mainly consist of?

Answer 11

Dorian
D# minor

Question 12

What notes form an acoustic scale (starting on G)?

Answer 12

G, A, B, C#, D, E and F

Question 13

What 2 modes make up the acoustic scale?

Answer 13

Lydian (the raised 4th note i.e. C# if starting on G)
Mixolydian (the flattened 7th i.e. F if starting on G)

Question 14

Name some of the performance techniques heard by the strings

Answer 14

Double stopping, tremolo, arco, pizzicato, sur la touche (near the fingerboard), 8va, divisi and mutes

Question 15

Which instrument plays the Y theme?

Answer 15

Cor anglais

Question 16

What kind of scale does Debussy also use that consists of one recurring interval?

Answer 16

Whole tone scale

Question 17

Name ways in which Debussy creates ambiguity in ‘Nuages’

Answer 17

Lack of cadences
Non-functional harmony
Longer note values
Unconvential scales such as whole tone, acoustic and modes
Paralell dominant 9th chords that don’t resolve properly
Thin texture in accompaniment
Pedal notes
Whole tone polyphonic sections

Question 18

What interval do the horns play as a melodic idea heard during the Y melody section?

Answer 18

Tritone

Question 19

How does Debussy create a sense of ‘return’ in the final A section

Answer 19

Returns to original tonal centre (B minor)
Themes heard previously (X, Y, pentatonic and tritone) are heard in a fragmented fashion

Question 20

What is the tonal centre at the start of ‘Nuages’?

Answer 20

B minor

Question 21

What two types of instruments play at the start of ‘Nuages’?

Answer 21

Bassoons
Clarinets

Question 22

What percussion is used in ‘Nuages’?

Answer 22

Timpani
Harp (although it can be seen as strings instead/too)

Question 23

How does ‘Nuages’ contrast to the late Romantic style?

Answer 23

Fewer intsruments
Shorter length of pieces
Smaller range of dynamics and emotion
Focus on unconventional scales; whole tone, modal, acoustic and octatonic

Question 24

How does ‘Nuages’ compare to the late Romantic style?

Answer 24

Non-functional harmony
Loose structures
Chromaticism in the harmony and melody
Rhythmic complexity/less conventional time signature combinations
Modulations to unrelated keys
Lack of tonal centre
Lack of ‘correct’ resolution of chords
Inclusion of extended/added chords