About this work
The second Gymnopédie is marked “Lent et triste”—slow and sad—in 3/4. As in the first, bass and chords establish a regular tread; the melody is more winding, however, and accidentals frequently darken the harmony. Long notes are not stops: they suspend the phrase above an accompaniment that continues to measure time.
The piece spans 65 bars across two pages. Dynamic rises to forte briefly open the sound before piano and pianissimo return. Chromatic changes require attentive pedalling and fingerings that preserve common notes. These tensions create contrast, not a slowdown at every cadence.
Study the melody alone and mark its high points. Add the bass, then quieter chords. In altered passages, change pedal early enough to prevent blurring without making each chord sound dry. Count three beats through sustained notes and build crescendos over several bars rather than note by note.
Score and files
2-page PDF typeset by Evin Robertson for Mutopia, with a MIDI file. The Mutopia record names the Dover edition as its source and declares this typesetting public domain. The PDF retains the markings of the Mutopia engraving.
LesPartitions.info