The Music
Petrushka is a harmonically and rhythmically complex composition that does not follow traditional rules of tonality that were in place before the twentieth century. It's based on a different type of musical scale than the standard major and minor scales that we generally hear in classical music. Also, it departs from the established rules by using polyrhythms and polychords. Let's look at these ideas one at a time.
Let's start with tonality. Traditional tonality has a set of established rules that govern pitch relationships. Petrushka is tonal in the sense that it has a pitch center (C), but it does not have the pitch relationships that would give us the traditional major or minor scales. Instead, Stravinsky uses what is called the octatonic scale.
The octatonic scale is a scale based on alternating whole steps and half steps, as opposed to the usual whole step and half step patterns of the major and minor scales. Let's take the key of C major. The pattern of whole and half steps for a major scale would give us C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C. In an octatonic scale in C, the pattern of whole and half steps would be C, D, D#, F, F#, G#, A, B, C.
Also, Petrushka does not have the traditional tonic/dominant relationship found in tonal music. That tonic/dominant relationship refers to the first and fifth notes of the scale, and it's the relationship between those two notes that helps establish harmonic relationships in tonal music. Stravinsky replaces the dominant with a chord that we'll talk about later.
Another non-traditional technique that Stravinsky incorporates into Petrushka is the use of polyrhythms. A polyrhythm is the use of two or more conflicting rhythms played at the same time. For example, one musical line may be playing in 3/4 time (three beats to each measure), while another line plays 4/4 time (four beats in that same measure).
Petrushka features some very complex polyrhythms. Stravinsky applies the character of the puppet Petrushka to the music of Petrushka. Imagine a crazily dancing puppet, flailing about. The polyrhythms found in the music are meant to represent this.
Chord & Tonal Ambiguity
Another unusual aspect of Petrushka is Stravinsky's use of polychords. A polychord is a chord constructed from two or more separate chords played at the same time. For example, if you take a C major chord and a G major chord and stack one on top of the other:
| C major: |
C E G |
| G major: |
G B D |
The result is a chord that looks like this:
Here is where Stravinsky defies traditional harmonic analysis. Remember how we talked about Stravinsky replacing the dominant chord in the C octatonic scale? Let's go back and take a closer look at the differences between the C major scale and the C octatonic scale. In the C major scale, the dominant is the note G. A traditional piece of music might feature a lot of movement from C (the tonic) to G (the dominant). This tonal relationship is very consonant (harmonious sounding).
But in the octatonic scale, there is no G, so the most important relationship in tonal harmony isn't there. Stravinsky replaces the dominant chord with a chord based on the augmented fourth, or tritone. The interval from C to F# is a tritone, and this relationship is very dissonant (strident or clashing sounding). It is often called 'the devil in music!' Thus, Stravinsky replaces the most important relationship in tonal music with the most dissonant, uncomfortable relationship.
Petrushka loves to dance between the two chords: C major (C, E, G) and F# major (F#, A#, C#). Stravinsky uses the juxtaposition of these two clashing chords to represent Petrushka's character - brash, abrasive, and awkward. There are even times when they collide, joining together to make the polychord C, C#, E, F#, G, A#. Even to our modern ears this is abrasive; imagine hearing it at a time when this was entirely new and unexpected! Because it is used so extensively in the music, this chord has come to be known as the 'Petrushka chord.'
Lesson Summary
Petrushka was written in 1911 by Stravinsky. It is the second of three ballets he wrote for the Ballets Russes in Paris. It is harmonically and rhythmically complex and breaks many of the rules of traditional harmony. Modern analysis attributes the following traits to Petrushka: the octatonic scale, polyrhythms, and polychords. The Petrushka chord - the simultaneous voicing of two chords a tritone apart - is so named because its featured so heavily in the music.
