Friday, January 13, 2012

Debussy, Second Arabesque (piano solo)


Second Arabesque, by Claude Debussy, performed by Stephen Malinowski, accompanied by an animated graphical score.
FAQ ...

Q: What do the shapes mean?
A: The different note styles indicate the way the notes are used in the piece. The main 4-note motive (which begins the piece) is indicated with highlighted circles with black lines that are drawn to connect them as they are played. Other melodic material is shown with solid-color circles connected by thin colored lines. Static chords and notes (those which mostly function harmonically and not melodically) are shown with white ellipses surrounded by color.

Q: What do the colors mean?
A: Each pitch class (C, C-sharp, D, etc.) is assigned a color according to a system called "harmonic coloring" in which the colors of the "color wheel" are assigned to notes of the "circle of fifths." This system is described in more detail here: (Read more)