Extended Analysis

Extended Analysis

Part 1 - Selecting the piece

The piece I have chosen is Jeux d'Eau by Maurice Ravel. It is a piece for solo piano, composed in 1901 in France. Ravel was known for being part of the Impressionist movement, so this piece has innovative chords and melodies. A link to the score is here: http://imslp.org/wiki/Jeux_d'eau_(Ravel,_Maurice)

Part 2 - Basic Analysis

• General texture - The texture is mainly homophonic, with the left hand accompanying the right hand's flowing melody with its supporting chords.
• Tonality (major, minor, atonal, etc.) - It is in A Major, occasionally modulating into F# Minor; some portions of the piece are atonal (as to simulate the flowing of water).
• Meter(s) - Duple simple meter, but some portions of the piece have no clear meter.
• Tempo(s) - It is at a moderato tempo of 72 beats per minute.
• Instrumentation - Piano (chordaphone)
• Overall structure - A recurring theme with some "flowing" interludes in between.

Part 3 - Deciphering the Score

• c - common time (4/4)
• Tres doux - "very soft" in French (pg. 1)
• pp - pianissimo, very quiet (pg. 1)
• Slurs indicate legato technique in right hand (pg. 1)
• Ped. - hold down pedal (pg. 1)
• 8---- means to transpose the notes an octave higher (pg. 1)
• Smaller notes indicate grace notes (shortened notes) (pg. 1)
• Stretched out > indicates diminuendo (to gradually get softer) (pg. 1)
• Vertical squiggly - break a chord (pg. 1)
• . - staccato; shorten the note (pg. 2)
• > - accent; emphasize the note (pg. 2)
• ff - fortissimo, very loud (pg. 2)
• f - forte, loud (pg. 2)
• mf - mezzo forte, moderately loud (pg. 2)
• Stretched out < indicates crescendo (to gradually get louder) (pg. 2)
• subito - a sudden change in dynamic (pg. 3)
• a Tempo - return to normal tempo (pg. 4)
• rapide - quick (pg. 5)
• le chant un peu en dehors - translates to "sing a little off" from French (pg. 5)
• crescendo accelerando - get gradually louder and faster (pg. 6-7)
• fff - extremely loud (pg. 7)
• fermata - hold a note longer (pg. 7)
• glissando - to slide down the piano diatonically (pg. 7)
• cedez legerement - yield slightly (pg. 9)
• dim. - diminuendo (pg. 10)
• rall. - rallentando; gradually get slower (pg. 10)
• Un peu plus lent gu'au debut - slower than the beginning (pg. 11)
• tres en pressif - highly suppressive (pg. 12)
• p - piano, soft (pg. 12)
• Un peu marqué - a bit marked (pg. 12)
• Sans ralentir - without slowing down (pg. 13)

Step 4: Harmonic Analysis

Link to scanned PDF file download: http://d.pr/f/Xmvp There are two pages: one containing a basic analysis (only chords we have learned in class, disregarding notes that are out of place) and one with a more advanced analysis containing complex chords.

Step 5: Communicating Your Discoveries

    I found that Jeux D'Eau is a deviation from what most consider to be strictly classical music, and instead of depicting a storyline Ravel paints a soundscape in the listener's mind. In this case, the scene this soundscape is that of flowing, rising and falling water, hence the title “Jeux D'Eau” (“Water Games” in English).

    Some examples of this soundscape can be found in the excerpt I analyzed harmonically. First of all, the melody line in the first line contains rising and falling legato patterns that are seemingly meant to evoke the image of water flowing vertically through a waterfall or a fountain. The rapid sixteen note transitions found in between phrases seem to symbolize a cascade or torrent of flowing water.

    After the section I analyzed, this flowing motion metamorphoses into a pitter-patter similar to that of rain, then morphs back into a constant flow. This shifting motion is very unique and is probably my favorite aspect of the piece.

    Another component of the piece which I feel is very interesting is how Ravel uses melodic constructs like whole-tone scales and the aforementioned ascending-descending patterns to emphasize the flowing effect of water. Also, some of the harmonies which Ravel uses are very intriguing and ahead of their time even in the context of the impressionist/romantic era; for example, the descending diminished chord change found in measure 4: A#9b5, G9b5, E9b5, C#9b5.

    Jeux D'Eau is incredibly different from the samples of classical music we have listened to thus far. There are harmonies within this piece that would have been deemed radical by 17^th century listeners. Also, Jeux D'Eau was written for piano, an instrument that did not exist in that time period. None of the part-writing rules are obeyed (because the piece was not meant to be sung by an SATB choir, however interesting that might be).