Voiles is a composition by

Claude Debussy (Achille) Claude Debussy (; 22 August 1862 – 25 March 1918) was a French composer. He is sometimes seen as the first Impressionist composer, although he vigorously rejected the term. He was among the most influential composers of the ...

for solo piano from 1909. It is the second piece in a set of twelve préludes published in 1910. The title may be translated as either ''veils'' or ''sails''; both meanings can be connected to the musical structure (see below). Except for some mild, localized

chromaticism Chromaticism is a compositional technique interspersing the primary diatonic scale, diatonic pitch (music), pitches and chord (music), chords with other pitches of the chromatic scale. In simple terms, within each octave, diatonic music uses o ...

and a short pentatonic passage, the entire piece uses the whole-tone scale.. In their published form, the ''Préludes'' have their individual titles printed not at the start, but at the end—and in parentheses.

Musical analysis

The composition studies the whole-tone scale intensively, with the exception of a brief six-measure section in the pentatonic scale. The structure of the piece follows a ternary (A–B–A') form. A begins in m. 1; B begins in m. 42; and A' begins in m. 48. This three-part form is articulated by the dynamic structure: A and A' have only soft dynamics (piano or softer), while B has a wider dynamic from piano to forte. The B section is also set apart by a faster tempo and increased density of notes. Finally, the A and A' sections are characterized by a whole-tone scale, while the B section is characterized by an E-flat minor pentatonic scale. The whole-tone scale and the soft dynamics give the A and A' sections a mysterious and eerie mood. In the B section, the louder dynamics, the faster passage, and the more consonant and familiar pentatonic scale give the listener a break from the eerie tone, allowing a brief moment of clarity. Debussy Voiles, Preludes, Book I, no

If interpreting the movement in light of "veils", the eerie, mysterious mood of the A section sounds veiled. The clearer, more open sound of the B section generates an impression that the veil is removed, but returns for the A' section. If one takes "sails" as a possible understanding of the title, that leads to a possible image of a becalmed ship in the A and A' sections, with the clearer, louder, brighter B section denoting a more open sea and sails full of wind. Generally however, there is no clear structure that the piece fits easily into; neither ternary form nor

binary form Binary form is a musical form in 2 related sections, both of which are usually repeated. Binary is also a structure used to choreograph dance. In music this is usually performed as A-A-B-B. Binary form was popular during the Baroque period, of ...

fit in with the style of the piece. Some say (''who?'') that the pentatonic section forms the B part but, in truth, it is not clear enough to state it is definitely A–B–A. Others argue that it follows a rounded binary form more than ternary form due to the fact that there is an A part, B part and then another bit at the end, concluding all of his ideas.

References

;Attribution *''This article contains information translated from the corresponding article of the German Wikipedia. A list of contributors can be found there at the'
History
''section.''

External links

*
Notes on "Voiles"
on Klavier-noten.de * , Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli {{Authority control Preludes by Claude Debussy 1910 compositions

Musical analysis

See also

References

External links