Massenet - Meditation from Thais

The site was down and wasn't able to post this last night, so here it is.

This sounds like it's in ternary form -there is a clear return of the A section and it's pretty much exactly the same as the initial instance of it except for the terminative bars toward the end. The B section is also very clear - it is in a minor key and has a distinctly different motive and overall feel. I love the way this piece uses rhythm. I feel like the main motive seems to try to make the listener feel like the rhythm and/or tempo is being altered to a degree with the way the first and last notes of the rhythmical theme are longer than those in between. It's kind of hard to explain without having a score in front of me, but essentially the motion is falling and then rising again. It creates a very light and airy feeling and makes me think of a feather being tossed around by the wind, getting higher from the ground and then falling down slowly only to be picked up by another breeze.