Good morning heartache

Question 1

Structure?

Answer 1

• Similar to Don’t Explain. 32 bar song form AABA. Repeat of bridge and 3rd verse after an instrumental link and an outro at the end.
• 4/4.

Question 2

Melody and rhythm?

Answer 2

• Trademark flexibility of rhythm, she uses speech rhythms and delays some of her entries to add extra weight to their meaning.
• Steady crotchet pulse from rhythm section, chords tend to be on the beat and sustained.
• Word painting: ‘good morning heartache’ falls by step.
• Much of the vocal melody is conjunct, range of around one octave.
• ¾ melodic phrases in the bridge are short and sequential.
• Syncopation adds rhythmic interest and vitality.

Question 3

Harmony and tonality?

Answer 3

• Tonic key is D major. Introduction gives impression of A minor with a i-ii-V progression in that key.
• 1st verse begins with an A minor chord, moving chromatically to a D7 chord.
• Like the singer the harmony turns and tosses. E.g 3rd line it moves through Gm, F#7, and Fm7.
• Bridge harmony is distant from tonic: pairs of secondary dominants (F#7-Bm, E7-A, Bbm7-Eb7, Am7-D7)
• Countermelodies from strings and trumpet enrich the harmony with, often dissonant, notes.
• Repeat of bridge adds whole-tone inflections.

Question 4

Texture and instrumentation?

Answer 4

• Clarinet, violins, and trumpets have prominent melodic roles (often countermelodies)
• Texture is melody-dominated homophony. Rhythm section is metrical in it’s accompaniment. Textural interest from varied countermelodies.
• Drum part is very subdued.
• As to not overpower the vocal the most interesting instrumental features occur in between Holiday’s phrases or in links.

Question 5

Arrangement?

Answer 5

Alto and tenor saxes, trumpets, 4 violins and a rhythm section.