Estampes
Encyclopedia
Estampes L.100, is a composition for solo piano by Claude Debussy
. It was finished in 1903.
It consists of three movements:
's Estampes. The piece evokes images of East Asia. Pagodes makes extensive use of pentatonic scale
s and mimics Chinese and Japanese traditional melodies while also incorporating hints of Javanese Gamelan
percussion.
As this is an Impressionistic work, the goal is not overt expressiveness but instead an emphasis on the wash of color presented by the texture of the work. Debussy marks in the text that Pagodes should be played "presque sans nuance," or "almost without nuance." This rigidity of rhythm helps to reduce the natural inclination of pianists to add rubato and excessive expression. Note that rigidity of rhythm within measures does not mean rigidity of tempo in the work; the tempo gradually fluxes quicker and slower throughout the piece. Also remarkable about Pagodes is the extensive use of the sostenuto pedal, the middle pedal on a modern piano. This is done whenever a pedal tone needs to be held, since the piece must maintain its percussive nature without being obscured by constant application of the damper pedal.
's Estampes.
Soirée dans Grenade uses the Arabic scale
and mimics guitar strumming to evoke images of Granada
, Spain
. At the time of its writing, Debussy's only personal experience with the country was a few hours spent in San Sebastián
. Despite this, the Spanish composer Manuel de Falla
said of Soirée, "There is not even one measure of this music borrowed from the Spanish folklore, and yet the entire composition in its most minute details, conveys admirably Spain".
's Estampes.
Jardins sous la pluie describes a garden in Debussy's native France during an extremely violent rainstorm. Throughout the piece, there are sections that evoke the sounds of the wind blowing, a thunderstorm raging, and raindrops dropping. It makes use of the French folk melodies Nous n'irons plus aux bois (We'll Not Return to the Woods) and Dodo, l'enfant do (Sleep, Child, Sleep). Chromatic, whole tone, major and minor scales are used in this movement.
Claude Debussy
Claude-Achille Debussy was a French composer. Along with Maurice Ravel, he was one of the most prominent figures working within the field of impressionist music, though he himself intensely disliked the term when applied to his compositions...
. It was finished in 1903.
It consists of three movements:
- Pagodes (Pagodas) - approx. 6 minutes.
- Soirée dans Grenade (Evening in Granada) - approx. 5½ minutes.
- Jardins sous la pluie (Gardens in the Rain) - approx. 3½ minutes.
I. Pagodes
Pagodes (Pagodas) is the first piece of Claude DebussyClaude Debussy
Claude-Achille Debussy was a French composer. Along with Maurice Ravel, he was one of the most prominent figures working within the field of impressionist music, though he himself intensely disliked the term when applied to his compositions...
's Estampes. The piece evokes images of East Asia. Pagodes makes extensive use of pentatonic scale
Pentatonic scale
A pentatonic scale is a musical scale with five notes per octave in contrast to a heptatonic scale such as the major scale and minor scale...
s and mimics Chinese and Japanese traditional melodies while also incorporating hints of Javanese Gamelan
Gamelan
A gamelan is a musical ensemble from Indonesia, typically from the islands of Bali or Java, featuring a variety of instruments such as metallophones, xylophones, drums and gongs; bamboo flutes, bowed and plucked strings. Vocalists may also be included....
percussion.
As this is an Impressionistic work, the goal is not overt expressiveness but instead an emphasis on the wash of color presented by the texture of the work. Debussy marks in the text that Pagodes should be played "presque sans nuance," or "almost without nuance." This rigidity of rhythm helps to reduce the natural inclination of pianists to add rubato and excessive expression. Note that rigidity of rhythm within measures does not mean rigidity of tempo in the work; the tempo gradually fluxes quicker and slower throughout the piece. Also remarkable about Pagodes is the extensive use of the sostenuto pedal, the middle pedal on a modern piano. This is done whenever a pedal tone needs to be held, since the piece must maintain its percussive nature without being obscured by constant application of the damper pedal.
II. Soirée dans Grenade
Soirée dans Grenade is the second piece in Claude DebussyClaude Debussy
Claude-Achille Debussy was a French composer. Along with Maurice Ravel, he was one of the most prominent figures working within the field of impressionist music, though he himself intensely disliked the term when applied to his compositions...
's Estampes.
Soirée dans Grenade uses the Arabic scale
Arabic scale
Arabic scale may refer to:*Double harmonic scale, a scale with two augmented seconds*Quarter tone scale, or 24 tone equal temperament*17 equal temperament, a tuning dividing the octave into 17 equal steps*Major locrian scale, a scale similar to locrian...
and mimics guitar strumming to evoke images of Granada
Granada
Granada is a city and the capital of the province of Granada, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. Granada is located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains, at the confluence of three rivers, the Beiro, the Darro and the Genil. It sits at an elevation of 738 metres above sea...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. At the time of its writing, Debussy's only personal experience with the country was a few hours spent in San Sebastián
San Sebastián de los Reyes
San Sebastián de los Reyes is a municipality in the Community of Madrid in Spain. Founded in 1492, it is located 20 km north of Madrid. The city is twinned with Baunatal in Germany. It is geographically joined with neighboring Alcobendas and they share a common RENFE commuter line to Madrid Atocha...
. Despite this, the Spanish composer Manuel de Falla
Manuel de Falla
Manuel de Falla y Matheu was a Spanish Andalusian composer of classical music. With Isaac Albéniz, Enrique Granados and Joaquín Turina he is one of Spain's most important musicians of the first half of the 20th century....
said of Soirée, "There is not even one measure of this music borrowed from the Spanish folklore, and yet the entire composition in its most minute details, conveys admirably Spain".
III. Jardins sous la pluie
Jardins sous la pluie (Gardens in the rain) is the final piece in Claude DebussyClaude Debussy
Claude-Achille Debussy was a French composer. Along with Maurice Ravel, he was one of the most prominent figures working within the field of impressionist music, though he himself intensely disliked the term when applied to his compositions...
's Estampes.
Jardins sous la pluie describes a garden in Debussy's native France during an extremely violent rainstorm. Throughout the piece, there are sections that evoke the sounds of the wind blowing, a thunderstorm raging, and raindrops dropping. It makes use of the French folk melodies Nous n'irons plus aux bois (We'll Not Return to the Woods) and Dodo, l'enfant do (Sleep, Child, Sleep). Chromatic, whole tone, major and minor scales are used in this movement.