Pierrot lunaire op 21 overall and no 18

Question 1

What year was this work written?

Answer 1

1912

Question 2

What technique was used in this work for the first time?

Answer 2

Sprechstimme

Question 3

What Genre is this work?

Answer 3

song cycle

Question 4

Fill in the blanks:
With a style that blends ________ with ________, the soloist takes us on a musical journey as we __________________ who is a _______________ from the _______________ tradition. Heard against a _____________ background, the voice part is ______ and ________.

Answer 4

With a style that blends speaking with singing, the soloist takes us on a musical journey as we trace the exploits of Pierrot, who is a sad but impish clown character from the Italian commedia dell’arte tradition. Heard against a pointillistic background, the voice part is haunting and dramatic.

Question 5

Language

Answer 5

German (translated from the original French)

Question 6

English translation of title

Answer 6

Moonstruck PIerrot

Question 7

Source of text

Answer 7

21 poems by Albert Giraud

Question 8

Structure

Answer 8

21 songs, arranged in three groups of 7

Question 9

Name the performing forces for this work, and some special skills required of them.

Answer 9

solo voice (mezzo soprano) and eight instruments, played by five instrumentalists:
a violinist/violist
a flute/piccolo player
a clarinet/bass clarinet player
a cellist
a pianist

Question 10

What is the name of no. 18 of this song cycle?

Answer 10

Der Mondfleck

Question 11

Which instruments are required for no. 18?

Answer 11

voice, piccolo, clarinet, violin, cello and piano. So the piccolo rather than flute, and violin rather than viola.

Question 12

What is they key. form, tempo and time signature of no. 18?

Answer 12

atonal, rondeau, Sehr rasche (very quickly) and 3/4

Question 13

Summarize the text of no. 18

Answer 13

Pierrot is strolling about in the evening seeking fun and adventure when he sees a white fleck on his jacket and thinks that it is a speck of plaster. He tries very hard to get it off to no avail, because it is just a moonbeam!

Question 14

Fill in the blanks:

No. 18 abounds in __________ complexities, including a ________________ in the piano, with ___________ in other parts.

Answer 14

No. 18 abounds in contrapuntal complexities, including a three voice fugue in the piano, with canonic imitation in the other parts.

Question 15

In what ways is the vocal line a good example of typical Expressionistic style?

Answer 15

it spans a wide range and demonstrates disjunct movement

Question 16

d______ and r_________ techniques demonstrated.

Answer 16

diminution and retrograde