List C | Debussy | La Fille Aux Cheveaux De Lin

Question 1

Who is the composer?

Answer 1

Claude Debussy

Question 2

Where was he born?

Answer 2

France 1862-1918

Question 3

What period is the work from?

Answer 3

The Impressionist Period 1890-1920

Question 4

What are the general characteristics of the period?

Answer 4

Delicate textures
Fluid rhythms, sometimes syncopated
Parallel movement of chords and intervals
Softer end of the dynamic spectrum

Question 5

What are some other compositions typical of the period?

Answer 5

Rhapsodies and Sonatas

Question 6

Does the composer have a particular compositional style?

Answer 6

Vagueness in harmony, rhythm and form and an emphasis on the sensuous aspect of sound

Question 7

Was the composer influenced by any other composers or art forms?

Answer 7

Impressionist painters (Monet) 
Symbolist writers (Verlaine)

Question 8

Is the composer famous for any particular works (not necessarily flute)?

Answer 8

Clair de Lune

Question 9

Looking at the music….explain the key, key changes, form and modulations of the piece

Answer 9

Ternary form (ABA)
A flat major
A = bars 1-18 (main them mostly A flat major)
B = bars 19-23 (episode in F major- change in key and tempo but no new theme)
A = bars 24-39 (A flat major)

Question 10

Who were the composer’s contemporaries?

Answer 10

Faure and Sibelius

Question 11

Find “tres calm et document express if” on the music, look at what the music is doing at that point and explain the term

Answer 11

Very calm and sweetly expressive

Question 12

Find “sans rigeur” on the music, look at what the music is doing at that point and explain the term

Answer 12

Without rigidity

Question 13

Find “cedez” on the music, look at what the music is doing at that point and explain the term

Answer 13

Yield or give way

Question 14

Find // on the music. What does it indicate?

Answer 14

The end of the cedez, not a break

Question 15

Find “mouv” or “au mouv” on the music, look at what the music is doing at that point and explain the term

Answer 15

Return to the former speed

Question 16

Find “piu p” on the music, look at what the music is doing at that point and explain the term

Answer 16

More softly

Question 17

Find “piu” on the music, look at what the music is doing at that point and explain the term

Answer 17

More

Question 18

Find “tres peu” on the music, look at what the music is doing at that point and explain the term

Answer 18

A very little (referring to the crescendo)

Question 19

Find “un peu anime” on the music, look at what the music is doing at that point and explain the term

Answer 19

A little livelier

Question 20

Find “sans lourdeur” on the music, look at what the music is doing at that point and explain the term

Answer 20

Without heaviness

Question 21

Find “tres doux” on the music, look at what the music is doing at that point and explain the term

Answer 21

Very sweetly

Question 22

Find “murmur et en revenant peu a peu” on the music, look at what the music is doing at that point and explain the term

Answer 22

Murmured and becoming slower little by little

Question 23

Find “perdendo” or “perdendosi” on the music, look at what the music is doing at that point and explain the term

Answer 23

Dying away

Question 24

What is impressionism?

Answer 24

A style of art where a scene is depicted as someone would see it if they just caught a glimpse of it…an impression. Not literal.

Question 25

Explain the title “La file aux cheveux de lin”

Answer 25

“The girl with the flaxen hair”. From a collection of “Scottish songs” in a collection of poems by a french poet. About a girl with light brown hair and cherry lips.