Piano Literature : Character Pieces

Lecture VI: Scriabin and Debussy Preludes

 

Alexander Scriabin(1872-1915): 

influence of  Chopin on the Preludes op. 11

They resemble Chopin's 24 Preludes (op.28) in number, length, and in key relationship. Both begin in C major and progress to the relative minor keys through the circle of 5ths until the 24th in d minor.

#1 meter 2/2 sounds like 8/5 (rhythm)

#3 quick pattern: replace 16th running notes to triplets

#4 tempo, rhythm are similar, but melody exchanged from R. H to L. H, use the same texture, theme

#13 F# Major (Chopin)-Gb Major (Scriabin)

#15 ABA form but melody is different from Chopin

Programmatic-titles at the end of piece-not at beginning, and they are not as same as Chopin or Scriabin Preludes not using key relationship.

"Feuilles mortes" (Dead Leaves)

7th, 9th, Chord progression, very slow, and quiet

Jazz play style

Whole tone style

only in Book II required to read 3 score skip.

"Feux D'artifice" (Fireworks)

half step, tritone, whole step

 

Lisle Joyeuse-Progression from whole tone (intro.)

                                                        -acoustic scale (Indian)

                                                                  -whole tone-Lydian

                                                        -Acoustic scale-A major scale

                                                                  -whole tone

use of Golden section structurally

Debussy inspired by Watteau's painting

Estampes-Pentatonic=Pagodes #1

                                Hebanera (rhythm)=La Soiree dans Grenade (Evening in Grenade)

                      Tocatta-like=Jardins sous la Pluie (Gardens in the Rain)-Debussy disperses 2 French children's song 1) Nous n'irons plus au Bois (We will not go into the woods) in the middle section. 2) Do, Do, L'enfant do. (Sleep, sleep, the child sleep)

Granados and Albeniz