Debussy

Question 1

State a word that describes the metre

Answer 1

Polymetrical

Question 2

What is the tonal centre?

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Describe the x motif

Answer 3

Oscillating regular crotchets with repetition

Question 4

What scale is the top line of the x motif based on?

Answer 4

B minor

Question 5

Which scale is the bottom line of the x motif based on?

Answer 5

B octotonic

Question 6

What is interesting about the bassoon part at the beginning?

Answer 6

Bassoons play at a high register

Question 7

Describe how the violins play when they first come in

Answer 7

Parallel octaves

Divided strings

Question 8

Describe three things about the x motif

Answer 8

• ambiguous time signature (6/4 and 3/2)
• steady crotchets
• open 5ths

Question 9

Describe 4 things about the Y motif

Answer 9

• no clear tonality with tritones
• ‘foghorn’ motif
• never transposed —> maintains its shape, register and timbre
• used like a refrain

Question 10

What are the chords of the crotchets in bar 14

Answer 10

Parallel dominant 9ths

Question 11

What does “en dehors” mean?

Answer 11

Bring forward

(Important to bring out over the other instruments)

Question 12

What scale is the y motif based on?

Answer 12

G acoustic scale

Question 13

State what is interesting about the metre of the y motif

Answer 13

It is metrically dissonant

Question 14

Which interval is played in the horns in bar 23 after cor anglais plays y motif?

Answer 14

Tritone

Question 15

What does “sur la touché” mean?

Answer 15

On the fingerboard

Question 16

What does “sourdine” mean?

Answer 16

Muted

Question 17

How would you describe the string writing in bar 39?

Answer 17

Static pedal in strings

Question 18

What does the double bass play in bar 47 (rehearsal mark 5)?

Answer 18

B pedal note

Question 19

What does “sans retarder” mean?

Answer 19

“Without getting slower”

Basically don’t get slower

Question 20

What does “un peu anime”?

Answer 20

A bit faster

Question 21

When is the Z motif introduced?

Answer 21

Bar 65
Start of section B

Question 22

When does the harp double the flute?

Answer 22

Start of section B

Question 23

What chord is in bar 80?

Answer 23

Dominant 7th inversion

Question 24

What does “plus lent” mean?

Answer 24

More slowly

Question 25

Describe the timpani part 5 bars before the end

Answer 25

Rolls oscillating between 2 notes

Question 26

How would you describe the harmony at the end of the movement?

Answer 26

Static harmony

Question 27

How does Debussy create an interesting texture in the strings at the end of the movement?

Answer 27

Divides them to play 2 different pitches and 2 different techniques

Question 28

What do the cellos and double basses play 3 bars before the end of the movement?

Answer 28

Pivot note

Question 29

Give the bar number that has descending parallel dominant 9ths

Answer 29

Bar 14

Question 30

Give the bar number in which section B starts

Answer 30

Bar 64

Question 31

How many rotations are there?

Answer 31

5

Question 32

What is the form of this movement?

Answer 32

Ternary form