Harmonic & Structural Analysis of Marcel Bitsch, Concertino Pour Basson Et Piano

Sometimes, these two voices will overlap, creating a sense of a fugue, where two melodic lines flow at different times along the same stream. Although he breaks up the soft legato sequences with loud, harsh staccato chords for contrast, Beethoven generally preserves a milddynamic in part B which also helps obscure the switch from the transition to part B. Infact, a loud dynamic actually seems to signal a transition out of part B; in B_2’, the B_2 theme is repeated in sequence, getting louder, faster, and higher pitched until it climaxes.We expect this to become the cadence that will resolve the exposition and allow us tomove on to the development. However, it is a false ending; B_5 again resumes a moderate tempo and is played primarily by the woodwinds; the strings enter in littlespurts with loud, crisp notes until they join the woodwinds and the entire orchestra plays together to conclude the exposition.

Throughout section A there is a consistent IV-I chord progression. These are aligned with each phrase and through the use of plagal cadence it makes each phrase seem resolved before moving onto the next.

Section two marks the beginning of a different theme which is shown by the transition from a

Section A’’ (mm. 51-65) repeats the MT with variation mostly in rhythmic changes leading up to the PAC in A♭ major at m. 66 where the coda (m. 66-73) begins. The coda essentially acts as a tonic expansion with some added 9ths to the dominant as seen in m. 67 and m.69. The piece works the V-I in a decrescendo to the final PAC in A♭ major in m. 73.

A slow universal crescendo is audible until bar 29, when the dynamic then holds at a fortississimo (fff) – ‘as loud as possible’. Tr.1 provides a rest from the constant dissonant chords in bars 40-42 before returning to the regular rhythmic figure. This opening successfully displays the unpredictable intensity and discomfort of war through is constant rising and falling in dynamics and unexpectedly changing texture. At the end of bar 67 (after B1), all instruments quickly crescendo to another fff, before moving directly into the next section (C1 – see figure 2.2). This presents a triumphant mood through the melody of the brass instruments moving strictly along the D major scale (making regular use of its’ tonic, octave tonic, subdominant and dominant notes), and the lack of minor harmonies and dissonant intervals so commonly used in A1 and B1. The segment slowly begins to incorporate these dissonant harmonies in canon, bringing about an eventual sense of dread as the dynamic builds to a gradual fortissimo (ff) crescendo. Following this crescendo, all instruments participate in an ff universal decrescendo, combining to create an irregular Am (not native to the tonic chord) on a lower register (predominantly A2).

After a repeat of the exposition, the performance moves on to the development with the soft material from the second half of closing theme two. It begins a whole step higher than its first appearance and immediately begins to modulate. Eight bars later new arpeggiated material enters on a Bb7 chord, beginning a twelve bar chromatic bass line moving to C# right before measure 109. Here the opening theme enters, similarly a whole step higher than at the beginning. Hearing the principal theme in the wrong key is a sure sign of a false recapitulation, and the P theme is

Throughout the piece, the brass plays the theme in alteration with the timpani and tam-tam. Although the theme is simple, together they create a long musical idea. The overall dynamic of the brass grows throughout creating a sense of power especially when

A hemiola effect with orchestral tutti chords every three beats. The characters are getting in their excuses ("well they began it") first with a particularly childish version of the theme heard at 38 - both quickly observe that their gangs will be the ones to stop the opposition (once again in unison and with the same lyrics. Sondheim is careful to have no references to Jets or Sharks when both leaders are singing). At 50 the "Tonight" motif is heard again. At 50 slinky, glissando saxophones announce musically the arrival of the alluring Anita for her verse. This sort of sax writing has been used in innumerable films and television programmes to signify a particularly alluring or sexy (usually female) character

This section concludes with a run or lowering pitch and a repeat of open notes of the E Major open chord created by the capo:

The first song played from the Orchestra was Infernal Dance. The whole orchestra plays a loud chord to show the intensity of the piece. The rhythm of this movement is syncopation due to the rhythm not being on the beat. This makes the strong beat weak, thus giving a chilling ambience. Infernal Dance then transitions to the soothing movement Berceuse. Berceuse is a lullaby played by the bassoon. The Orchestra concludes the concert with Finale. Finale is the finishing piece of The Firebird and uses one french horn for the melody in a dynamic of piano. The whole orchestra soon joins in creating a hymn like choral. Instead of ending with a grand note, the brass takes the melody at a faster pace developing a celebratory ending. With its uneven rhythmic and extravagant arrangement this Suite fashions a spellbinding

Just so you know before hand, the lyrics to the music came from the CD with trademark of Delta Music Inc. The movement opens agitatedly as the orchestra picks up fragments of one theme after another from the previous three movements, as if seeking a satisfactory vehicle for its expression; but each is discarded in turn. The first seven notes of the main theme to come are tentatively uttered, but it too is abandoned as the search continues. Once again the theme begins, this time in the woodwinds, but it soon breaks off. Finally, the theme emerges decisively in the basses for a subdued first statement. The second statement is calm, tranquil, confident, and the theme continues onward in the various voices of the orchestra, broad and flowing. The winds make a strong statement of the theme. The flow of the music abruptly halts--there are rapid shifts--great agitation, until the orchestra introduces the baritone singing the first three lines of the poem, rejecting the feverish discords of the previous passage, calling for a different music, whose nature is suggested by the strings beneath his voice:

28 No. 15 was written during the second period. This movement (III) is in ternary form (ABA). This first A section (A1) is in binary form and consists of 70 total measures in the key of D major. It is made up of two 32-bar sections that are divided into eight 4-bar phrases, a 4-bar extension at measures 45-48, and a 2-bar cadence at the end of the section. The second A section (A2) is made up of nine 4-bar phrases. A1 consists of a repeating theme that follows the chord progression I, ii6, V7, 1 in measures 5-8 and then goes to V6, vi6, V7/V, V I in measures 13-17 and the repeats these same progressions in measures 18-32 except measure 32 ends on the V chord instead of the 1 chord. A2 continues in D with a different and less melodic theme in measures 33-49 before repeating to the main theme in measures 50-70. This section crescendos and grows in

The piece written at a slow tempo and has a meter of 4/4 throughout. It has a soft and small dynamic range, moving between pianissimo and piano, and a light texture. The piece is written with three staves in order to clarify and neaten Debussy’s notation. The piece has a B-flat in the key signature, suggesting D minor. The piece mainly centers around the pitch D.

The 1st movement is in sonata form. The slow introduction to this symphony is unusual in that it begins in the subdominant key - E minor, solemnly introduced by the bassoons. It modulates into B minor and the tempo increases for the principal subject. This theme is elaborated and developed, and a march-like motif forms a bridge passage leading to a climax. The strings then introduce an amorous, song-like second subject in D major. The development section enters with a bang. This section brings no startling thematic growth or transformation, but is

The second movement, Andante con moto, however has two main different interpretations that it could be analyzed as song form or sonata form. The third movement, Con moto moderato, was composed in form of minuet and trio. Finally, for the finale, which consists of the Roman saltarello and the Neapolitan tarantella dance rhythm, contains characteristics of both sonata and rondo form.