Pagodas

Task: Answer these questions about section A

How long is the introduction?

How is the oriental scene set at the beginning?
What technique will the pianist need to play the opening 2 bars of this piece?
Name the harmonic device which appears in the first 10 bars.
What note replaces the Gong sound?
What key is suggested by the key signature of five sharps?
Why do you think Debussy uses the black notes of the piano?
How do you think a tonal centre is different than a key?
What scale is used for the melody in bar 3?
How is this melody used?
How many pitches are in this melody?
How would you describe the 2 new ideas which are introduced at bar 11?
Which bar does the rumbling triplet ostinato figure appear in?
What word describes the rhythmic device in bar 16?
What does ‘animez un peu’ mean (bar 19?
Describe the relationship between the left and right hand in bar 24. Which bar does this material
come from/where is it first heard?
What is significant about the right hand chords in bars 27-30?

Task: Answer these questions about section B

How does Debussy create continuity between section A and B?

Which scale is used for the new melody?
Where is the dynamic climax in section B?
Where does the left-hand whole‐tone melody in bar 46 come from?
What happens to the tempo in bar 52?

Task: Answer these questions about the return of section A

What is missing from the original A section when the last A section returns?
Where does the melodic material in bar 73 come from?
Which note value is used in the right hand from bar 78?
Which melodic device does Debussy use from bar 78 and how does he develop it?
Where does the left hand melody in bar 84 come from?
What does ‘encore plus pp’ (bar 91) mean?
What does ‘laissez vibrer’ (final bar) mean and how would the player achieve this effect?