What playing technique are the instrumentalists using at the beginning?
Pizzicato.
2.
Does this extract begin in a major or minor key?
Minor moves to major, then returns to minor.
3.
Name two other playing techniques commonly used by string players that can be heard in this extract.
Vibrato, tremolo.
4.
A lyrical melody is heard on the violin at 0:16; which instrument repeats it at 0:21?
Viola.
5.
What rhythmic device can be heard in the cello part at 0:43?
Drone/ ostinato.
6.
The whole first section of the extract is repeated from 0:50-1.40. Name as many as you can of the differences that can be heard in this repeat.
Louder, more aggressive to begin with.
7.
What is the name given to the style of music that Ravel wrote?
Ravel wrote impressionist and expressionist music.
8.
What are the main characteristics of the style?
Impressionism
Mainly practiced in France.
Began late nineteenth century and continued into middle of twentieth century.
Focused on suggestion and atmosphere rather than strong emotion or the depiction of a story.
Impressionist music tends to make more use of dissonance and more uncommon scales such as the whole tone scale.
Expressionism
The central figures of musical expressionism are Arnold Schoenberg and the second Viennese school.
Focuses on a twelve tone technique, rejecting the idea of tonality.
As such, musical expressionism can be said to be chiefly centred upon the ideas and work of Arnold Schoenberg (1907-1923), although Berg and Webern did also contribute significantly to the genre.
Mainly practiced within the Weimar Republic and Austria.
Heavily influenced Serial composers like Pierre Boulez.
- Mainly practiced in France.
- Began late nineteenth century and continued into middle of twentieth century.
- Focused on suggestion and atmosphere rather than strong emotion or the depiction of a story.
- Impressionist music tends to make more use of dissonance and more uncommon scales such as the whole tone scale.
Expressionism