Intricate vs. simplistic

Tchaikovsky proves to have written a more intricate piece than Watts, this can be explained firstly through the motifs and themes of the pieces. While, Tchaikovsky has several themes and motifs that vary in length and intricacy, Watts, has very few and they are much shorter. The main theme in Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy occurs on measures 5-8. This is repeated several times throughout the piece, mainly in the beginning and the end. Measure 21 is a short motif repeated several times in the middle of the piece, it helps to create the climax, but as well creates the important sound of the Sugar Plum Fairy dancing and floating around, that Tchaikovsky was trying to convey through his music. This Motif, is essential to the piece as it is brings across the main thematic idea of the piece, that being the movement of the Sugar Plum Fairy. In Joy to the World, due to the fact that the piece is repeated several times with a different verse each time, while the music stays the same, there are no main themes however, there is a motif. The second measure of the piece is the motif, it is repeated three times throughout, not including the repeats. This motif does not add to the piece the way that the motif in Tchaikovsky’s piece does, however it is still vitally important to the feel of the music, and the creation of the sound that Watts desired.