INFLUENCES OF CLASSICAL INDIAN MUSIC IN ALBERT ROUSSEL’S "EVOCATIONS"
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24193/subbmusica.2021.1.09Keywords:
Albert Roussel, orientalism, Impressionism, India, rāgaAbstract
An important figure of early 20th century music, the French composer Albert Roussel was deeply influenced by his encounter with India, which led to the composition of several orientalist works. The present paper aims to disclose the influences of classical Indian music in the orchestral work Evocations. Despite the Impressionist sound of the musical discourse, a careful analysis reveals the incorporation of several scalar structures in which Hindu rāgas can be recognized. Roussel goes beyond the musical representation of India: his goal is not the creation of a musical work with powerful oriental sound, but the evocation of the impact this encounter had on his creation. Situated at the crossroad of several stylistic orientations, Roussel incorporates Impressionist, Neo-classical and Post-romantic influences in rigorously devised structures, aiming to create an unusual and novel sound.
Rezumat. INFLUENȚE ALE MUZICII CLASICE INDIENE ÎN EVOCATIONS DE ALBERT ROUSSEL. Personalitate importantă a primelor decenii ale secolului XX, compozitorul francez Albert Roussel a fost profund influențat de contactul cu India, întâlnire care a condus la compunerea unor lucrări muzicale cu caracter oriental. Prezenta cercetare dorește să dezvăluie influențele muzicii clasice Indiene în lucrarea orchestrală Evocations. În ciuda sonorității impresioniste a discursului muzical, o analiză atentă dezvăluie încorporarea de către compozitor a unor structuri scalare în care pot fi recunoscute rāga hinduse. Roussel trece dincolo de reprezentarea sonoră a Indiei: scopul său nu este crearea unei lucrări cu puternice sonorități orientale, ci evocarea impactului pe care întâlnirea cu această cultură l-a avut asupra creației sale. Situat la granița dintre orientările stilistice importante ale începutului de secol XX, Roussel încorporează influențe impresioniste, neo-clasice și post-romantice în structuri riguros construite, năzuind să creeze sonorități noi și neobișnuite.
Cuvinte cheie: Albert Roussel, orientalism, impresionism, India, rāga
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SCORES:
Roussel, Albert. 1912. Evocations—I. Les Dieux dans l’ombre des cavernes. Paris: Durand & Cie
Roussel, Albert. 1912. Evocations—II. La Ville rose. Paris: Durand & Cie
Roussel, Albert. 1912. Evocations—III. Aux bords du fleuve sacré. Paris: Durand & Cie
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