Question

instructions
listen to the first 30 seconds of this excerpt and answer the questions that follow
debussy: voiles
debussy: voiles - daria van den bercken - de tiende van tijl
6 multiple choice 0.5 points
which phrase best describes the linear pitch content of the first 30 seconds of this piece?
the melody uses only notes in the whole tone scale, which creates an otherworldly effect.
the melody is made up of only ascending and descending half steps and creates a sneaky, snake - like effect.
the melody is built using only the notes of a major scale.
the melody is made up of skips larger than a perfect fifth, creating a sense of expanding space.

Explanation:

Claude Debussy's Volles (from his piano preludes) features a melody constructed primarily from consecutive half steps (chromatic motion) in both ascending and descending directions, which produces the characteristic sneaky, serpentine quality described. Whole tone scales, major scales, and large skips do not define the linear pitch content of this excerpt's opening 30 seconds.

Answer:

The melody is made up of only ascending and descending half steps and creates a sneaky, snake-like effect.