Debussy L'apres-midi d'un faune

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  • Created by: Harriet
  • Created on: 29-04-13 14:42

Debussy Texture

Texture

  • Monophonic opening (Flute melody)
  • Instruments often double each other (e.g. bar 40-42 Violins)
  • Pedal Points (e.g. Double Bass)
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Debussy Structure

Form/ Structure

  • Extended Ternary: A, B, A, Coda
  • Based around different variations of the melody
  • Coda bars 94-110
  • Lots of Sub sections
  • Fluid Form
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Debussy Melody

  • Opening melody ascending and descending with chromaticism between tritione
  • Use of different scales e.g. Whole tone (bar 31), Chromatic, Pentatonic (bar 37)
  • Constantly varied/ evolved rather than developed. e.g. bars 1-5 returning in bars 21-23
  • Chromatic melody throughout
  • Melodic lines often thickened by 2nds or complex chords.
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Debussy Tonality

  • Key not properly established until bar 21.
  • Key is E major/ C# minor
  • Clearly E major at end with perfect cadence
  • Passing modulations e.g. bar 55 Db major
  • sense of key ambiguous - use of different scales.
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Debussy Instrumental Forces

  • Very large orchestra
  • Strings muted for extended periods.
  • String techniques e.g. tremolo
  • harp used for effect e.g. glissando
  • octave unison doubling.
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Debussy Rhythm and Metre

  • Ties lead to ambiguous sense of time (e.g. first flute solo) - really in compound triple.
  • Long complex rhythms.
  • Homorhythm in some places
  • Cross Rhythms e.g. bar 67
  • 'B' section has a more stable metrical framework, remaining in Simple Time throughout.
  • Metre changes throughout
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Debussy Harmony

  • Non-functional - occasional hint of functional cadences
  • Extended chords
  • Non-diatonic (lots of chromaticisms)
  • Succesions of unrelated chords rather than progressions
  • Half diminsished chords (e.g. bar 4)
  • Non-resolving dominant (e.g. bar 5)
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