 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Musicgirl_clarinet
Date: 2001-06-11 00:17
Hello all! I need some help with a project I am working on. Any help will be much appreciated! On this coming Thursday, I must turn in an analysis paper on Debussy's Premiere Rhapsodie. The parameters I must write on are: Form, Pitch organization, Rhythmic organization, Melody, Harmony, Texture, Dynamics, and Timbre. Within all of these things, I have to mainly focus on the rhythmic org., and melody in relation to the motivic focus. Any help given will be much appreciated! My main problems have been figuring out where to start, and how to
incorporate all the information while still focusing on those main points. The paper is supposed to be 5-7 pages long. Thanks in advance for taking any time in helping me with this!
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Author: William
Date: 2001-06-11 14:51
I believe that one of the back issues of THE CLARINET had an analysis of the Debussy featured. Also check the resources on this website. That is quite an assignment--if I had to analyse all of that while I was playing, I wouldn't have time to enjoy the music. What is that old saying about "Can't see the forest because of all the trees are in the way?" Good luck with your project--I'm glad it is you and not me. (I would be interested in reading your final draft sometime)
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Author: Gregory Smith
Date: 2001-06-11 15:29
If the 1998 spring issue Clarinet magazine can be located, in the "masterclass" section you will find an analysis that I did of the Rhapsodie. I don't think it's been put on line by the ICA so if you were interested, you would have to find a hard copy somewhere.
The definitive analysis in my opinion was done by clarinetist Dr. Dennis Nygren of Kent State Univ. in Ohio. I do not think it's published though.
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2001-06-11 18:39
Musicgirl -
What you're expected to do varies according to the academic level and the amount of time given. Even if it's a term paper in a graduate seminar on Debussy, then what you outline is wildly ambitious. As Greg Smith says, it was the subject of a Ph.D. dissertation. In any even, if you've left a semester's projedt until now, I'm afraid you're out of luck.
On the other hand, if this is a 1-week music theory or history assignment then all that's expected from you is to give a broad outline of a very complex subject.
A good place to start is here on Sneezy on the Debussy at http://www.sneezy.org/clarinet/Study/Debussy.html .
A quick net search on (in AltaVista-speak) +Nygren +Debussy produced this and also a link to James Gholson's site at http://www.people.memphis.edu/~ggholson/UNITUS/CLAR/CLARINET.FAQ , where he gives complete information on where to find the Nygren dissertation.
University Microfilms will supply a copy of any dissertation. Their website is at http://www.umi.com/hp/ , and links to pages to order dissertation copies is at http://www.umi.com/hp/Products/Dissertations.html . Be warned, however, that their prices are *very* high -- usually well over $100, which barely covers their cost of one-off retrieving and copying.
Alternatively, you could contact Prof. Nygren at Kent State. His faculty listing is at http://dept.kent.edu/music/nygren.htm .
If you are a student in a music conservatory, you could get the dissertation by interlibrary loan without cost. Perhaps your clarinet prof already has a copy.
A good place to start your analysis is the 3-note motive stated in the piano part at the very beginning: a descending half-step followed by a descending minor third. The entire piece is built on it, beginning with the clarinet entrance on the inversion. Once you start looking, you'll find it everywhere.
Good luck.
Ken Shaw
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