Which of the following excerpts comes from the A section of Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s ternary-form Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy (from The Nutcracker)?

Excerpt 1

Excerpt 2

Question

Which of the following excerpts comes from the A section of Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s ternary-form Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy (from The Nutcracker)?

Excerpt 1

Excerpt 2

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

We begin by restating the prompt to focus our analysis: the question asks which excerpt comes from the A section of Tchaikovsky's ternary-form Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy from The Nutcracker, with Excerpt 1 and Excerpt 2 as possibilities, and the provided answer indicates that the correct choice is the first excerpt.

Option 1: Excerpt 1. In the A section of the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, the music typically presents the lilting, delicate celesta tones and a gentle, music-box-like texture with a memorable, repeating motif. If Excerpt 1 exhibits these characteristics—bright, ethereal timbre from the celesta, a steady 3/4 dance feel, and a repeated melodic idea in a calm dynamic range—it aligns with the conventional A-section material of this piece. The A section is designed to establish the main theme succinctly before moving into contrastive material in the B section.

Option 2: Excerpt 2. In contrast, a B section of a ternary form generally provides contrast—this could mean a shift to a different key, a more agitated or lighter character, or a change in texture or orchestration to create variety from the A section. If Excerpt 2 shows a stronger dynamic, a change in orchestration (perhaps reduced prominence of the celesta or a new melodic idea), or a modulation away from the tonic region typical of A, then it would be characteristic of the B section rather than the A section. Misconceptions here might include assuming the A section must always be more ornate or louder; in ternary form, contrast is not about volume alone but about differing musical material and harmonic context.

Connecting these observations to the task, one would assess which excerpt better exemplifies the defining features of the A section: the recognizable, characteristic motif presented in a stable key center, using the distinctive timbre and dance-like pulse that introduce the piece. If Excerpt 1 demonstrates these core traits and Excerpt 2 shows a marked departure in tonality, texture, or mood, that would support Excerpt 1 as the A-section material. The provided answer label indicating that the first excerpt is correct confirms this alignment, assuming Excerpt 1 matches the quintessential A-section features described.

Additional notes on potential confusion: students should beware of assuming the A section is always the loudest or most elaborate; in ternary form, the A section serves as the returning material before the contrasting middle section (B) and the final return to A. The key to identifying A is recognizing the main, relatively stable theme and texture that reappears, rather than an overall increase in complexity or volume.

MUS101 #41084 Online (4/14/25 - 6/08/25) Listening Quiz 7 Chapters 41 through 47, minus chapters 41 and 47

Which of the following excerpts comes from the A section of Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s ternary-form Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy (from The Nutcracker)? Excerpt 1 Excerpt 2

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