Saariaho

Question 1

Where did Kaija study?

Answer 1

IRCAM

developing techniques of computer assisted composition

Question 2

What is she known for?

Answer 2

mixing electronic sounds with classical instruments

emphasis on slow transformation of dense masses of sound

Question 3

what is spectralist music?

Answer 3

style pioneered by Gerard Grisey

based on the computer analysis of the sound-spectrum

Question 4

where is the music material from?

Answer 4

‘Nymphea’ meaning ‘Waterlilly’

Question 5

what extended techniques are used?

Answer 5

Sul tasto (S.T) - string bowed near fingerboard
Sul ponticello (S.P) - near or above bridge
L.H pizz
Arrow - gradual change from one sound to another
filled in crescendo - add bow pressure - scratching sound

Question 6

what dynamics are used?

Answer 6

e. f with dim/ - decrease bow pressure to soft noise
e. f with cresc. and dim. = decrease then add bow pressure gradually
dim. with circle = to nothing
cresc. with circle = from nothing

Question 7

what suggests the performer has freedom?

Answer 7

filled in triangle - highest note possible lasting approx 20 secs

Question 8

what microintervals are used?

Answer 8

cross = note raised 1/4 tone

backwards b = note lowered 1/4

Question 9

describe the structure

Answer 9

one continuous movement lasting approx 9 mins

alteration of slow lento passages and rapid ones

Question 10

does the score use barlines?

Answer 10

no

Question 11

what is the sound person expected to do?

Answer 11

adjust according to space

Question 12

what is reverb?

Answer 12

reflections of sound

Question 13

what is the harmonizer?

Answer 13

pitch shifter which combines “shifted” pitch with the original pitch

Question 14

describe the acoustic sonority

Answer 14

traditional cello playing
staccato and slurs
lengthy trills and tremolo
glissando

Question 15

what are the more ‘unusual’ techniques used?

Answer 15

long trills
harmonics
glissandi
microintervals
unusual bow pressure

Question 16

what does the intro say reverb should result in?

Answer 16

‘clear and bright sound’

Question 17

describe the dynamics

Answer 17

extreme
silence - ppp - fff
‘clear and rich sound’
loud but not ‘painfully so’

Question 18

describe the texture

Answer 18

monophonic - solo cello
rich sound through harmonizers and reverb
two part textures
harmonics
double stopping
colouristic blocks of sound
densities of sound

Question 19

what does the tempo alternate between

Answer 19

Lento and a faster tempo

Question 20

how long should each stave last?

Answer 20

at least 20 secs

Question 21

describe the final section

Answer 21

extremely slow

Question 22

do the dotted barlines have any metrical meaning?

Answer 22

no

they show where particular events end/begin

Question 23

is there a tonality?

Answer 23

no

Question 24

when is a tonal centre created?

Answer 24

section 6

repeated C

Question 25

where do diads appear?

Answer 25

at the end of some staves

Question 26

how would you describe the tonality?

Answer 26

colouristic

Question 27

when is there no harmony?

Answer 27

when just a single pitch is heard

Question 28

when does harmony occur?

Answer 28

when two or more distinct notes are heard simultaneously

Question 29

Is there a sense of harmonic progression?

Answer 29

no

brief moments where pitches are heard

Question 30

how is the sound heard like a melody?

Answer 30

harmonics which are usually heard simultaneously are heard individually

Question 31

where is the melody typically heard?

Answer 31

faster moving sections

Question 32

what does the first energetic section feature?

Answer 32

quarter-tone micro-intervals
glissandi
ascending figure

Question 33

describe the second energetic section

Answer 33

more melodic
greater diversity of interval size
descending figures

Question 34

what’s the difference between A and B?

Answer 34

A = fragile, colouristic passages
B = energetic event, with clear rhythmic and melodic character

Question 35

How do melodies A and B appear?

Answer 35

in alteration

Question 36

what does the reverb vary in?

Answer 36

percentages

Question 37

what does the harmoniser do?

Answer 37

microtonal pitch shifting

Question 38

Are there harmonics?

Answer 38

yes

Question 39

What is a harmonic?

Answer 39

Pure, high note

Question 40

Penderecki - Threnody

Answer 40

Song for victims of Hiroshima
word painting
large orchestra - 24 violins and 8 bassoons 
high shrieking violins (instructions to play highest note)
no bar numbers - seconds held
sudde dynamic changes ff-pp
pizz and arco
contrapuntal
sul tasto and sul ponticello
lots of bow pressure
cresc. and dim.
imitation
vocables

Question 41

Berio, sequenza III

Answer 41

nonsense vocables
instructions rather than music
changes with performer e.g highest note possible
monophonic
detailed instructions e.g 'whistful'

Question 42

Ionisation for 13 percussionists

Answer 42

sirens and lions roar
focus on texture
timbres handled with delicacy e.g merging

Question 43

Tristan Murail - La Baroque mystique

Answer 43

crescendos and diminendos
fluttertongue flute
lengthy trills
fast moving passages
varying bow pressure
complex web of sounds
syncopation
silence
pedals
dialogue
pizz and arco strings

Question 44

Iannis Xenahis - Metastasis

Answer 44

series of instructions
relatively free e.g highest note
silence 
pizz and arco
tremolo strings
piercing sirens
Imitation
structure alternstes between calm and chaotic
polyphony