Nocturne

• What national characteristics are rooted in the Norwegian March?


  Rigid rhythmical structures, folk-style drones, and diatonic harmony
• How does Grieg's Nocturne differ from the Norwegian March?


  It reveals Grieg’s expressively poetic and forward-thinking approach
• Which 20th-century composer’s music echoes in Grieg's Nocturne?

  Debussy
• What are the primary features of a Nocturne?


  • Slow tempo
  • Regular rhythmical flow in the left hand
  • Gentle poetic character, largely piano and pianissimo
  • Melody dominated texture with a cantabile melody in the upper voice
  • Bird-like calls in specific bars
  • Bars of silence
  • Chromatic harmony within a largely functional framework
  • Slow harmonic rhythm
• What time signature is the Nocturne written in?


  Compound triple time (9/8)
• How does the bass line behave in the opening section of the Nocturne?


  The bass line descends by chromatic steps on each main beat
• What harmonic structure is sustained by the inner chords in the Nocturne?


  C major harmony
• What is the significance of the melody beginning on the submediant note?


  It outlines the root and fifth of A minor
• What motif is described as an important unifying device in the Nocturne?


  The falling fourth motif
• How is the melodic phrase extended at bar 5?


  By a rising scale in contrary motion with the descending bass
• What creates additional tension in bars 5 and 7 of the Nocturne?

  Chromatic auxiliary notes and passing notes
• What harmonic progression is observed in the bass during bars 1 to 4?


  A descent of a 4th from tonic to dominant under sustained C major harmony
• What type of chord progression occurs at bar 8?

  A German augmented 6th chord prepares for the dominant resolution
• How does Grieg delay the arrival of the dominant chord?


  By repeating the phrase from bar 5 three times in fresh tonal directions
• What does the codetta (bars 15 - 20) feature in terms of musical elements?


  Bird calls hovering above the treble staff with a syncopated accompaniment
• What is the relationship between the bird calls in the Nocturne and Vivaldi's 'The Goldfinch'?


  They use the same pitches D and A
• What happens to the bird call pattern in bar 17?


  It is echoed in inversion in the bass
• How does the transition into the middle section of the piece occur?


  Through the enharmonic equivalence of the tritone D/Ab and D/G#
• What contrasts are observed between bars 20 and 21?

  • Andante più mosso vs. faster tempo
  • 9/8 metre vs. 6/8 metre
  • Syncopated quavers vs. running semiquavers
  • Piano vs. pianissimo and una corda
  • Single line melody vs. double line melody (largely in parallel 3rds)
  • Chordal accompaniment vs. arpeggio accompaniment
• What is the effect of the faster pace starting from bar 21?


  A greater sense of flow emanates from the music
• What happens to the harmonic movement in bars 23 to 27?


  It is stilled with a series of chord changes
• What is significant about the G13 chord at bar 29?


  It is made sonorous by its widely-spaced texture and bell-like effects
• How is the melodic motif from bar 21 altered at the climax?


  It is rhythmically altered to give a sense of three beats in the bar against the prevailing 6/8 metre
• What prepares the return of the opening music at bar 34?


  Four bars of dominant harmony followed by a half-bar of silence
• How does the A section of the Nocturne get extended?


  By a further six bars exploring flatter tonalities in a descending melodic sequence
• What is achieved in bars 48 to 54 regarding the descending chromatic bass line?


  The full descent of the complete scale from G to G is achieved
• What rhythmic effect is produced by the four-note melody in the Nocturne?


  A hemiolaic effect, where two bars of 9/8 time sound as 3 bars of 2/4 time
• What does the coda (bars 55 - end) consist of?


  • A repeat of the codetta (bars 15 - 20)
  • Bird calls starting on high A and E
  • Accompanied by the same descending chromatic bass line
  • Supported with subdominant harmony
  • Ends with a peaceful and restful conclusion