Etude No. 7 - "Waves"

Xavier Foley
Piece Duration: 1:57

About this Piece

Sheet Music Excerpt / Purchase: https://xavierfoley.com/products/etude-no-7-waves-for-solo-double-bass
     Note: Sheet Music is notated in D Minor, and the recording is in E Minor

Ternary Form: (See Notable Passages, below)
A: 0:00
B: 0:43
A: 1:14

Quadruple Meter: The sheet music displays a time signature of "4/2" - which means there are four half notes in every measure. Listen as your teacher taps the quarter note pulse (q = 135), and then the half note pulse. Try tapping along!

Table of Contents - Bass Etudes featured:
No. 4 - "The Hunt"
No. 5 - "The Mystery"
No. 7 - "Waves"
No. 8 - "Heaven"
No. 9 - "Col Legno Master"

Notable Passages

Time Stamp: 0:00 — 0:44
Description:

The A Section begins! 

Notice how the melodic contour moves up and down, like a swelling wave! Try tracing it with your hand, and following along in the sheet music!


Keywords: Contour , Ternary Form

Time Stamp: 0:44 — 1:14
Description:

The B Section features quick eighth notes, played pizzicato!


Keywords: Pizzicato , Ternary Form

Time Stamp: 0:35 — 0:44
Description:

In the A Section, the bassist plays a raised third at the end of each phrase. This raised third turns the minor i Chord into a major I Chord! 

This popular cadence is often used in pieces with a minor tonality, and is known as the Picardy Third

(This cadence can be found in the Sheet Music: Measure 7)


Keywords: Cadence , Minor Tonality

Time Stamp: 1:14
Description:

The A Section briefly returns! 

Notice how the performer adds expressive ornamentation to the melody we heard at the start! Listen as the performer slides up and down to certain notes, and adds fast grace notes in-between sections of the melody!


Keywords: Melodic Ornamentation , Ornamentation - Expressive Elements , Ternary Form

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