Sorcerer's apprentice

Question 1

composer

Answer 1

Paul Dukas

Question 2

type of piece

Answer 2

symphonic poem

Question 3

date

Answer 3

performed in 1897

Question 4

what was it inspired by?
- explain

Answer 4

Inspired by ‘Der Zauberlehring’, a poem by Goethe, which tells the story of an apprentice and a broom. One day, an old sorcerer leaves his workshop with mundane chores for his apprentice to complete. He attempts to enchant the broom so that it does the work for him, but he hasn’t mastered the skill and loses control of the broom, causing chaos.

Question 5

Instrumentation

Answer 5

Consists of 2 flutes, piccolo, 2 oboes, 2 soprano clarinets, bass clarinet, 3 bassoons, contrabassoon, 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 2 cornets, 3 trombones, timpano, glockenspiel, bass drum, cymbals, triangle, harp and strings.

Question 6

key signature

Answer 6

key signature- is f minor

Question 7

tonality at beginning

Answer 7

At the beginning, no real sense of tonality

Question 8

what are used at the beginning to create a mysterious timbre?

Answer 8

Artificial harmonies on the violas and cellos to create an ethereal, mysterious timbre.

Question 9

when is the water motif introduced?
what is it based on? (harmony)

Answer 9

b2- water motif is introduced in violins, based on a descending diminished 7th chord, further destabilising any sense of tonality.

Question 10

when is the broom motif introduced?
- harmony

Answer 10

b3- broom motif is introduced in the soprano clarinets, fragmented. Begins with a 6th in f minor, introducing a sense of tonality.

Question 11

how is the water motif different in b7 compared to b2?

Answer 11

water motif appears again in b7, but has gone up a major third (b- e flat). No longer built on diminished 7th, now a minor 7th chord.

Question 12

b9- what instrument is the broom motif heard in?
- what’s the harmony bansed on?

Answer 12

b9- broom motif in clarinet, based on a 5th interval.

Question 13

what bar is the apprentice motif introduced?
- what’s is characterised by?

Answer 13

b14- apprentice motif introduced, lively, characterised by chromaticism (descending chromatically)

Question 14

what’s heard in the horns at bar 24?
- effect?

Answer 14

b24- whole tone scales (F, A D flat) in the horns and the trumpets. Creates dissonance/ a sense of mystery.
- also a fanfare- used whenever there is an implication of a spell being cast

Question 15

why is the texture sparse from b42-71?
what happens at b72?

Answer 15

b42-71- very sparse texture, generally silence to create suspense, with staccato chord stabs throughout. This represents the broom stirring.
b72- full broom motif appears in the bassoon.

Question 16

what harmony is heard at b85 and what does this create a sense of?

Answer 16

b85- tritone (b natural and f). Clashy chromatic harmony creates a sense of mystery, danger, magic. Followed by diminished triads.

Question 17

b117- where is the water motif heard?

Answer 17

b117- water motif in the strings

Question 18

b130- alternating between that 2 motifs?

Answer 18

b130- alternating between there broom and water motif.

Question 19

melodic technique at b171?

Answer 19

from b171- fragmentation (the melody is being passed between different instruments). From mid-strings descending to high woodwind ascending).

Question 20

what appears at bar 249?
harmony?

Answer 20

b249- main broom motif appears. D natural in the oboe- extended chromatic harmony.

Question 21

b327- dev of broom motif

Answer 21

b327- broom motif played more legato in the cello and bass clarinet

Question 22

b330- how is apprentice motif developed ?

Answer 22

b330- the apprentice motif played legato in high strings. Rhythmic augmentation, compared to first time we heard it.

Question 23

what happens in bars b363- 399? ( building climax)

Answer 23

b363- apprentice motif heard resolute, backed up by orchestral chords on the beat.
b399- broom motif cuts it off (power of magic).

Question 24

what rhythmic technique is used?
- what does this give the impression of?

Answer 24

hemiola- rhythm have been altered to create rhythmic tension. Gives impression of 2/8, although still in 3/8.

Question 25

harmony in b402?

Answer 25

Lots of chromaticism - e.g in ascending chromatic scale, b402.

Question 26

what does the fanfare represent in b531

Answer 26

b531- the fanfare spell casting.

Answer 27

b552- water motif in octaves in high strings, accompanied by an ascending chromatic scale (tension)

Question 28

what happens evrytime the spell catches up? - example

Answer 28

Eveeytime the spell catches up (through the fanfare), the harmony is altered. e.g- b558- fanfare is heard and everything moves up a second.

Question 29

b606- what do stab chords represent?>

Answer 29

b 606- orchestral stabbing chords represent him chopping up the broom with an axe

Question 30

b607- fragments of what 2 motifs are heard here?

Answer 30

b607- fragments of the broom motif in the trumpet between the chords.

Question 31

tonality I b638 - symbolism

Answer 31

b638- bitonality. Bass éclairent in d flat major, contrabassoon in b flat minor. Parallel 10th dissonance, these 2 instruments represent each new broom (2).

Question 32

b651- tonal shift

Answer 32

b651- no longer bitonality, now in B flat minor.

Question 33

b669- what motifs combine?

Answer 33

b669- the broom and apprentice motifs combine- fragment and interact w each other

Question 34

what motifs are overlapping at b723 and what instruments are playing them?

Answer 34

b723- horn playing broom motif, high woodwind and strings playing apprentice motif. They are overlapping.

Answer 35

b792- full orchestral tutti. Franric, chaotic, intense. The broom is winning over the apprentice, asa the apprentice motif isn't anywhere to be seen.

Answer 36

b843- contrary motion, the water motif (descending melody) against the ascending accompaniment.

Answer 37

b915- duplets (interesting rhythmic feature). destabilises the sense of rhythm

Answer 38

b924- spell motif (augmented triad) - the music subdues a lot as the sorcerer used magic to put it all to a stop.

Answer 39

b931- water motif b932- broom motif (spell has just been cast)

Question 40

b932- one bar what? what does this portray?

Answer 40

b932- one bar viola solo based off the apprentice motif. No energy to ut, seems to almost be apologising. The fact that the apprentice motif is being accompanied by a slow statement of the broom motif represents the apprentice cleaning the house with mundane methods.

Question 41

what motif does it end with

Answer 41

ends with broom motif- almost like back chat

Question 42

form/ style

Answer 42

It is a scherzo; very modified, no repetition of sections. / no exact repetition - like a constant development- things kept escalating