Debussy Essay Question Answer Scheme

Question:

Give the titles of each of the movements of this suite and describe how they depict their titles. Refer to specific passages in your answer.

1st movement: Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum

- Mockery of the studies by Clementi with the same title "Gradus ad Parnassum".

-Ceaseless perpetual movement through the use of semiquaver movements.

Tempo is kept animated and moderate like other piano studies.

Opening of the movement where the RH plays 'tiritiri' figure (motif a).

This figure is changed to ascending and descending scalic movements in the Lydian mode.

Variety is created through modified repetitions. For eg, scalic movement in Lydian mode has a lowered 3rd (Ab) in the next 2 bars.

-To depict this movement as a study, there is an exploration of the piano range/register to demonstrate the technical skills of the pianist.

In the middle of Section A, there is a concentration of the middle keyboard range.

In section B, although the opening 1 and a half bars are the same as in section A, the music leads to a cross hand passage in e minor, causing a disjunct and slow melodic line amidst the moving semiquavers.

Even when the motif slow down ( where the opening motif is augmented in the key of Bb major), that motif is repeated at different octaves (thereby exploring the piano range)

The ending of the movement starts from a high treble range working its way down to the bass, ending at a very low C.

2nd movement: Jimbo's Lullaby

-Name of Chou-chou's old toy elephant

-Slower than moderate tempo reflects the lullaby for this toy and the movement of the animal toy.

-Use of low ranges to depict the nature of the toy.

Pentatonic theme at an extreme low range depicting the movement of the elephant toy?

Theme C also used at low register, for example, the passage immediately after the 1st return of theme A where theme C is played in chords in the middle range. The theme moves lower down the register each time.

-Use of static movements to portray the movement of the toy elephant.

Use of ostinato to create a static atmosphere

Ostinato accompaniment in the 1st return of theme A which is made up of descending major 2nd intervals derived from motif B.

Accompaniment in theme C also uses ostinato, metrical displacement and on an Ab pedal. Here again the music is stagnant like in impressionistic art.

Major 2nd intervals predominate the movement

Existence of the major 2nd interval often interrupts the music. For example, the beginning of the movement where after the first phrase finished, the harmonic 2nd interval makes its appearance. As the interval is dissonant, the music seems clumsy, which depicts the nature of the elephant.

This interval is also used at the last return of theme A where it is embedded and also used in the accompaniment. The music ends with the dissonant interval over a tonic pedal.

Use of exotic scales / different hramony to create variety

After the first statement of theme C, the LH leaves the ostinato Ab pedal and plays alternating octaves based on the 'A' whole tone scale.

3rd movement: Serenade of the Doll

Use of suitable articulation/accompaniment to suit the title

Written in the bright key of E major in a fast but not too fast tempo.

Alternating tonic and harmonic 5th interval reminds of plucked lute. Staccato and omission of 3rd creates the hollow and light atmosphere.

Omission of the 3rd achieves the creation of a renaissance style.

Theme has acciaccaturas which helps in making the music light. The use of pentatonic scale, which limits the number of notes used, hence leads the theme to play with the 3 notes (F#,G#,C#).

Modulation to distant keys shifts the focus to other scenes

Sudden key changes to distant keys, for example, C major from E major the tonic key. It then modulates to d minor, eb minor.

Use of other idiomatic influence to also shift the focus (create variety)

After the 1st return of theme A, a jazz inspired dance prevailed, accompanied by the ostinato rhythm on C#.

A variety of themes are used to create different scenes by which the doll to experience

Total of 6 themes are used, each with different accompaniment, different moods.

4th movement: The Snow is dancing

Using layers of sound to depict the layers of snow

Gamelan influence, as the music is organised in layers/ linear. Movement is perpetual and never ending, like falling snow. This is achieved through the opening motif 'ti-do-re-mi' which is further subdivided into semiquavers.

1st bar begins the 4 note motif twice and is followed by the second layer, a semiquaver beat behind.

A semibreve melodic line beginning on Bb is embedded within the moving semiquavers in the beginning.

Variation of accompaniment portrays change of scenery

Change of accompaniment from similar motion to contrary motion and further changed to alternating ascending then descending movement to indicate perhaps the direction of the snow fall/dance.

Use of different keys / intervals for programmatic purposes

Sudden change of key from d minor to Gb major, which creates a sudden change of the direction of the snow.

Use of tritone interval melodic line in unison thus creates a bleak atmosphere, perhaps due to the darkening of skies.

Use of rhythmic devices and dynamics to vary the never ending accompaniment

In section B, the accompaniment is joined by a syncopated pedal, with a cross-rhythmic melodic line in the RH complicates the music. This leads to sforzando dynamic marking. Perhaps to indicate a sudden gush of wind.

The climax of section B is achieved through forte dynamic level with repeated staccato Eb as accompaniment with sporadic sforzando.

Change of register to change the tone colour and thereby scenery

In the middle of section B, semiquaver accompaniment is in the RH and first appearance of a low melodic line. Possibly a more dramatic gush of snow than before.

Movement ends at a higher register, indicating perhaps the ending snow fall.

5th movement: The Little Shepherd

The improvisatory nature of the monophonic melodic line probably depicting the sound of a shepherd's pipe.

Next phrase leads to a change of mood with the help of the change of the tempo to 'plus mouvemente' where its filled with dotted rhythms which conveys a dance-like gaiety.

6th movement: Golliwogg's cake walk

Jazz idiomatic writing probably due to the doll's origin.

-Use of rhythm / articulation / dynamics

Rhythm is jazz like - ti-ri-ti. Depict the movement of the doll.

Ostinato accompaniment with alternating 5ths and 2nds to indicate continous movement - 'cake walk'

Possibly depicting the doll tip-toeing: Use of acciaccaturas and staccatos played in alternation in pp dynamics.

Forte marking in the beginning energises the music right from the start.

General dynamic level is loud contrasted with soft.

Use of contrasting themes to portray the different walking steps. For example, the derivation of 'Tristan and Isolde' theme is contrasted with the staccato acciaccatura theme. The contrast of register from the middle range to the high range also contributes to the contrast.