AoS2 - Music for a While Flashcards
Name the instruments used in Music for a While
Soprano voice, Bass Viol and Harpsichord
What part do the Bass Viol and Harpsichord (LH) play?
Ground Bass
What is a figured bass?
Played by the Basso Continuo, where the harpsichord ‘realises’ the harmonies from the figures underneath the score
What is the similarity between the harpsichord parts in Music for a While and Brandenburg?
Music for a While and Brandenburg both contain elaborate and decorative RH harpsichord parts
Is the Music for a While text setting syllabic or melismatic?
Mainly syllabic, with some extended melismas
What is word painting?
Where the music emphasises the words in the text, for example going up on the word ‘heaven’
Where is there an extended melisma in Music for a While?
The word ‘eternal’
What is the word painting on the word ‘Wond’ring’
Descending scale, like a musical sigh
What is repetition text and why is it used?
To emphasise a certain word or feeling, for example “drop” is sung nine times to emulate the snakes dropping from Alecto’s head
What makes the word “pains” word painting?
There is dissonance to symbolise pain
What makes the word “eas’d” word painting?
It resolves the dissonance from the word “pains”
What is the range of the soprano melody line?
A ninth
Is the music conjunct or disjunct?
The music is mostly conjunct (stepwise)
Why are rests used so frequently?
To break up phrases and allow for breathing
What is a descending sequence?
Where a phrase is repeated a note lower than before, immediately after the first time it is heard