Ravel (minuet)

Question 1

What does Neo-classicism in music involve?

Answer 1

The revisiting of stylistic features from earlier periods.

Question 2

What are some Baroque traits evident in the Menuet?

Answer 2

• Stately character of the minuet
• Ornamentation of the oboe solo mimics the mordent
• Melody consists of four-bar phrases
• Binary form with two repeated sections
• Normal ternary form

Question 3

What are some characteristics of the twentieth-century features in Ravel’s Menuet?

Answer 3

• Presence of dissonances not prepared or resolved traditionally
• Use of secondary sevenths and ninths in harmony
• Modal nature of some melodic writing
• Repetition of phrases with slight alteration

Question 4

Fill in the blank: The first section of the Menuet consists of two _______ phrases.

Answer 4

four-bar

Question 5

What is the tonal center of the first section of the Menuet?

Answer 5

G major

Question 6

What harmonic techniques does Ravel employ in the Menuet?

Answer 6

• Characteristic seventh and ninth chords
• Maintaining traditional functionality

Question 7

What is the significance of the trio section in Ravel’s Menuet?

Answer 7

It is entitled Musette and features a bagpipe-like drone.

Question 8

What compositional technique is used in the trio section of the Menuet?

Answer 8

Rounded binary form.

Question 9

How does Ravel introduce variation when bringing back the Menuet?

Answer 9

By combining it with the modal melody and parallel triads from the trio section.

Question 10

What key does the composition reach at b. 98?

Answer 10

The tonic key.

Question 11

What is the final chord of the Menuet characterized by?

Answer 11

A slightly ambiguous secondary ninth chord.

Question 12

Bar1-8

Answer 12

•tonic G major (Dorian mode)
•ornamentation mimics the morent
•imperfect cadence in E minor
•melody 2 4bar phrases

Question 13

Bar9-24

Answer 13

•melodic writing is modal in nature
•repetition of phrases
•Dorian mode transposed to A
•perfect cadence in Dmaj (dominant)

Question 14

Bar24-33

Answer 14

•alludes to first section (rounded binary form)
•whole tone chords
•modulation to Aminor
•chromaticism used and an octave higher than opening
•C9 reflects Gmaj

Question 15

Trio section

Answer 15

•modal flute melody played on low register
•clarinets harmonise with the parallel triads
•bassoon doubles flute melody

Question 16

Bar50-74

Answer 16

•transposed up a minor 3rd at 54
•parallel chords and melodic fragmentation
•transposed down minor 3rd at 60
•G pedal while dynamics increase
•melody on muted horn and trumpet

Question 17

Bar74-82

Answer 17

•minuet brought back with combined modal melody and parallel triads of trio section
•brief flute countermelody
•imperfect cadence Bmaj

Question 18

Bar82-98

Answer 18

•transposed up a major 3rd
•1st violins have the melody(not oboe)

Question 19

Bar98-end

Answer 19

•tonic key regained
•whole tone chords (Aminor w F# raised 6th) F#/amin
•cello arpeggios w/ tonic pedal
•material fragmental
•harmony descends in parallels
•lower aux note appears in augmentation
•final pause on an ambiguous secondary 9th (combined Gamj+Dmaj triad)