Ravel - String Quartet - Movement II Flashcards
What is ‘Point 1’ to be made about structure in Ravel’s String Quartet?
It uses a Ternary Form (ABA)
What is ‘Point 2’ to be made about structure in Ravel’s String Quartet?
The B section is half the speed of the A section
What is ‘Point 3’ to be made about structure in Ravel’s String Quartet?
The piece moves quite far in terms of key. It starts in Aeolian [a natural minor] mode and moves to Eb in the B section.
What is ‘Point 4’ to be made about structure in Ravel’s String Quartet?
It has many motivic links to the A material
What is ‘Point 5’ to be made about structure in Ravel’s String Quartet?
There are extensive links back to the final A section using material from both previous sections.
What is ‘Point 1’ to be made about harmony and tonality in Ravel’s String Quartet?
Broadly tonal with modal inflections
What is ‘Point 2’ to be made about harmony and tonality in Ravel’s String Quartet?
It frequently uses Aeolian and Dorian Modes with some subtle use of wholetone scale (bar.8)
What is ‘Point 3’ to be made about harmony and tonality in Ravel’s String Quartet?
Unusual resolution of augmented sixth to I at the end (usually goes to V)
What is ‘Point 4’ to be made about harmony and tonality in Ravel’s String Quartet?
When the violin descends chromatically at the end of the first A section, there is a series of added note chords.
What is ‘Point 5’ to be made about harmony and tonality in Ravel’s String Quartet?
The end of the movement has increasing chromaticism
What is ‘Point 1’ to be made about melody and rhythm in Ravel’s String Quartet?
Regular phrases (usually 2 or 4 bars)
What is ‘Point 2’ to be made about melody and rhythm in Ravel’s String Quartet?
Quite conventional melodies; conjunct with the occasional leap
What is ‘Point 3’ to be made about melody and rhythm in Ravel’s String Quartet?
Repitition of melodic/rhythmic motifs in the melody
What is ‘Point 4’ to be made about melody and rhythm in Ravel’s String Quartet?
Relatively diatonic to begin with, however becomes more chromatic as the movement progresses.
What is ‘Point 5’ to be made about melody and rhythm in Ravel’s String Quartet?
Motivic material is used to bridge sections and transition back to the final A section
What is ‘Point 1’ to be made about texture and sonority in Ravel’s String Quartet?
Big emphasis on colour and effect as it is Impressionist.
What is ‘Point 2’ to be made about texture and sonority in Ravel’s String Quartet?
Use of full string quartet pizzicato at the beginning.
What is ‘Point 3’ to be made about texture and sonority in Ravel’s String Quartet?
Tremolos and rapid repeated figures in the second idea of the A section
What is ‘Point 4’ to be made about texture and sonority in Ravel’s String Quartet?
At the beginning of the B section, the cello has the melody whilst the violin II has the bass part with the viola in the middle (i.e. the texture is completely upside-down)
What is ‘Point 5’ to be made about texture and sonority in Ravel’s String Quartet?
The string writing requires a wide range of techniques and effects from tremolo, though rapid arpeggio figures to the use of mutes
