Discussion:
Debussy "Claire de Lune" Analysis
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Caliban
2003-11-17 18:21:41 UTC
Permalink
Can someone help me with (tell me?) what the chords are, the patterns of the
chords, the scales(?) etc. in the first half of Debussy's "Claire de Lune"? We
could do this via an email exchange or public postings here, if the group isn't
bothered by this.

I am a 40-something piano student of five years. I started memorizing "Claire de
Lune" last spring. I am not a genius. I try to work hard. My mathematical
knowledge is way above average.

I completed Sandy Feldstein's "Practical [Music] Theory Complete" a few years
ago. But I feel like I don't have enough mastery of the language of chords and
notes to get through an analysis of "Clair de Lune" very efficiently. That is,
I'd go down a lot of wrong paths and waste a lot of time and get frustrated. I
think someone showing me how to apply the theory, via analyzing Clair de Lune,
will improve my understanding enormously as well as help with my memorizing this
piece.
John Rethorst
2003-11-18 15:38:05 UTC
Permalink
Post by Caliban
Can someone help me with (tell me?) what the chords are, the patterns of the
chords, the scales(?) etc. in the first half of Debussy's "Claire de Lune"? We
could do this via an email exchange or public postings here, if the group isn't
bothered by this.
Please post if possible. I'd be interested. Wish I could offer the help
you ask for.
--
John Rethorst

jrethorst -at- post -dot- com
Terry Dwyer
2003-11-19 11:47:43 UTC
Permalink
I'll start you off, but you must do most of the work yourself! First,
appreciate what a chromatic chord is: it is a chord containing at least one
note not in the tonic key (i.e. it threatens to modulate), but nevertheless
modulation is averted because the next chord makes it clear we are still in
the tonic key. OK?

We're in the key of Db major so bar 1 shouldn't give you any trouble. Going
on:
Bar 2 the chord is root F (omitted) Anat C Eb, so chromatic.
Bar 3 Db chord with added 6th.
Bar 4 Dominant 7th, 2nd inversion
(From now I'll just give the roots - you should work out the inversions;)
Bar 5 Eb then Ab
Bar 6 Eb then F(chromatic)
Bar 7 Db then Eb
Bar 8 Db then Ab

Now carry on yourself. If you can't, then get some harmony lessons.
Goodluck!
Post by Caliban
Can someone help me with (tell me?) what the chords are, the patterns of the
chords, the scales(?) etc. in the first half of Debussy's "Claire de Lune"? We
could do this via an email exchange or public postings here, if the group isn't
bothered by this.
I am a 40-something piano student of five years. I started memorizing "Claire de
Lune" last spring. I am not a genius. I try to work hard. My mathematical
knowledge is way above average.
I completed Sandy Feldstein's "Practical [Music] Theory Complete" a few years
ago. But I feel like I don't have enough mastery of the language of chords and
notes to get through an analysis of "Clair de Lune" very efficiently. That is,
I'd go down a lot of wrong paths and waste a lot of time and get frustrated. I
think someone showing me how to apply the theory, via analyzing Clair de Lune,
will improve my understanding enormously as well as help with my memorizing this
piece.
Caliban
2003-11-19 16:35:50 UTC
Permalink
Post by Terry Dwyer
I'll start you off, but you must do most of the work yourself! First,
appreciate what a chromatic chord is: it is a chord containing at least one
note not in the tonic key (i.e. it threatens to modulate), but nevertheless
modulation is averted because the next chord makes it clear we are still in
the tonic key. OK?
Because I didn't know the meaning all the terms you give above, I did some
digging. This is for my own edification as well as any other "beginner" reading
this thread. Definitions:

[CDL below = Clair de Lune]

Tonic - The keynote of a scale. For example, the tonic of the Db major scale is
the note Db.

Tonic key - The basic key in which a piece of music is written. [For CDL, of
course this is the key of Db major.]

Chromatic - Based on a scale consisting of 12 semitones

Modulate - To change the key of, in music

After recalling that the 2nd bar of CDL is where the first strange chord
appears, and after a few minutes thought, yes, your description above makes
sense.
Post by Terry Dwyer
We're in the key of Db major so bar 1 shouldn't give you any trouble. Going
Bar 2 the chord is root F (omitted) Anat C Eb, so chromatic.
I would have said Bar 2's Gb C Eb notes suggest an Ab7 chord. Ab7 is one of the
primary chords of the Db major scale. Adding the Anat yields a chromatic chord.

I do not understand why you say "root F." Do you mean an F major chord with the
F ommitted?
Post by Terry Dwyer
Bar 3 Db chord with added 6th.
Bar 4 Dominant 7th, 2nd inversion
(From now I'll just give the roots - you should work out the inversions;)
Bar 5 Eb then Ab
I assume you mean Eb major chord and Ab major chord. Why is the Eb major chord
"allowed"? That is, why does it "work"/sound good? It's not a primary chord of
the Db major scale.
Post by Terry Dwyer
Bar 6 Eb then F(chromatic)
Bar 7 Db then Eb
Bar 8 Db then Ab
Now carry on yourself. If you can't, then get some harmony lessons.
Goodluck!
If my questions above are "too stupid," I understand your hesitation to
continue.

Obviously there's a mastery of the language here that I do not have.
Post by Terry Dwyer
Post by Caliban
Can someone help me with (tell me?) what the chords are, the patterns of
the
Post by Caliban
chords, the scales(?) etc. in the first half of Debussy's "Claire de
Lune"? We
Post by Caliban
could do this via an email exchange or public postings here, if the group
isn't
Post by Caliban
bothered by this.
I am a 40-something piano student of five years. I started memorizing
"Claire de
Post by Caliban
Lune" last spring. I am not a genius. I try to work hard. My mathematical
knowledge is way above average.
I completed Sandy Feldstein's "Practical [Music] Theory Complete" a few
years
Post by Caliban
ago. But I feel like I don't have enough mastery of the language of chords
and
Post by Caliban
notes to get through an analysis of "Clair de Lune" very efficiently. That
is,
Post by Caliban
I'd go down a lot of wrong paths and waste a lot of time and get
frustrated. I
Post by Caliban
think someone showing me how to apply the theory, via analyzing Clair de
Lune,
Post by Caliban
will improve my understanding enormously as well as help with my
memorizing this
Post by Caliban
piece.
Terry Dwyer
2003-11-20 12:43:23 UTC
Permalink
Caliban, let's do this by private e-mail so as not to bore others. You'll
get an e-mail from me.

Terry
Post by Caliban
Post by Terry Dwyer
I'll start you off, but you must do most of the work yourself! First,
appreciate what a chromatic chord is: it is a chord containing at least one
note not in the tonic key (i.e. it threatens to modulate), but nevertheless
modulation is averted because the next chord makes it clear we are still in
the tonic key. OK?
Because I didn't know the meaning all the terms you give above, I did some
digging. This is for my own edification as well as any other "beginner" reading
[CDL below = Clair de Lune]
Tonic - The keynote of a scale. For example, the tonic of the Db major scale is
the note Db.
Tonic key - The basic key in which a piece of music is written. [For CDL, of
course this is the key of Db major.]
Chromatic - Based on a scale consisting of 12 semitones
Modulate - To change the key of, in music
After recalling that the 2nd bar of CDL is where the first strange chord
appears, and after a few minutes thought, yes, your description above makes
sense.
Post by Terry Dwyer
We're in the key of Db major so bar 1 shouldn't give you any trouble. Going
Bar 2 the chord is root F (omitted) Anat C Eb, so chromatic.
I would have said Bar 2's Gb C Eb notes suggest an Ab7 chord. Ab7 is one of the
primary chords of the Db major scale. Adding the Anat yields a chromatic chord.
I do not understand why you say "root F." Do you mean an F major chord with the
F ommitted?
Post by Terry Dwyer
Bar 3 Db chord with added 6th.
Bar 4 Dominant 7th, 2nd inversion
(From now I'll just give the roots - you should work out the
inversions;)
Post by Caliban
Post by Terry Dwyer
Bar 5 Eb then Ab
I assume you mean Eb major chord and Ab major chord. Why is the Eb major chord
"allowed"? That is, why does it "work"/sound good? It's not a primary chord of
the Db major scale.
Post by Terry Dwyer
Bar 6 Eb then F(chromatic)
Bar 7 Db then Eb
Bar 8 Db then Ab
Now carry on yourself. If you can't, then get some harmony lessons.
Goodluck!
If my questions above are "too stupid," I understand your hesitation to
continue.
Obviously there's a mastery of the language here that I do not have.
Post by Terry Dwyer
Post by Caliban
Can someone help me with (tell me?) what the chords are, the patterns of
the
Post by Caliban
chords, the scales(?) etc. in the first half of Debussy's "Claire de
Lune"? We
Post by Caliban
could do this via an email exchange or public postings here, if the group
isn't
Post by Caliban
bothered by this.
I am a 40-something piano student of five years. I started memorizing
"Claire de
Post by Caliban
Lune" last spring. I am not a genius. I try to work hard. My mathematical
knowledge is way above average.
I completed Sandy Feldstein's "Practical [Music] Theory Complete" a few
years
Post by Caliban
ago. But I feel like I don't have enough mastery of the language of chords
and
Post by Caliban
notes to get through an analysis of "Clair de Lune" very efficiently. That
is,
Post by Caliban
I'd go down a lot of wrong paths and waste a lot of time and get
frustrated. I
Post by Caliban
think someone showing me how to apply the theory, via analyzing Clair de
Lune,
Post by Caliban
will improve my understanding enormously as well as help with my
memorizing this
Post by Caliban
piece.
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