Daphnis and Chloe: Pantomime

When was it first performed? 1912 as a full ballet

When was the suite first performed? 1913 From his 3 act ballet he extracted 2 dance suites played separately as concert pieces.

What is Pantomime about? Daphnis and Chloe enacting a scene of Pan and the water nymph Syrinx from the mythical love story

What are the prevailing keys? F# minor, B major - distant relationship

What key is modulated to after Pantomime? A major

Tonality summary: no tonal closure, tonality often obscured by non-functional harmony

Use of harmony: unconventional use of triads, complex and chromatic harmonies, parallel harmony, quartal and quintal harmony, extended chords, whole tone

Harmony summary: Complex, chromatic, non-functional

How does pantomime start differently? There is no clear cadence preceding the movement, the woodwind and viola play a tied note into the movement and a continued pedal from the strings

How is the structure derived? related to the choreography and influenced by symphonic poems

How is the structure determined? From the leitmotifs which dominate each section

Which mode is used by the flute? dorian

What are the main themes? Chloe transforms into Syrinx, Syrinx, Syrinx dances to Pan's flute

Main texture: Melody dominated homophony (melody and accompaniment)

How many instruments are used for the melody? small number: violins, upper wind solos

What does the orchestra consist of? large post-Romantic orchestra: 3 flutes (2nd and 3rd = piccolo), alto flute, 2 oboes, English horn, E-flat clarinet, 2 clarinets, bass clarinet, 3 bassoons, contrabassoon, 4 horns, 4 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, percussion (antique cymbals, bass drum, castanets, glockenspiel, low snare drum, snare drum, tambourine, triangle, and wind machine, 2 harps, celesta, and strings

Some instrumental techniques: muted strings, harmonics, arco to pizz., spread and double stopped chords, sur la touche, tremolo, portamento, glissandos opening tempo lent (quaver = 104)

Does the tempo change? frequently: tres ralenti, retenez, pressez

Time signature changes frequently: 6/8, 2/4, 4/4, 3/4

Rhythm: syncopated chords, triplets, semiquavers, demisemiquavers, hemidemisemiquavers, septuplets dynamics ppp-mp with occasional louder sections