Music for a While Flashcards
Context for Music for a While
-Written by Henry Purcell in 1692
-Written in Baroque period (1600-1750)
-Written for a play called Oedipus, a tragic tale, and the song is a lament (sad). It is meant to calm Alecto in the play.
-Written for Basso Continuo (Baroque feature), harpsichord with viol playing the bass line (repeated ostinato)
-Bass viol was an early cello with 6 strings, harpsichord was an early piano (both Baroque features)
Key features of Music for a While (DR SMITH)
-S: ABA Ternary Form with Da Capo, Ground bass structure with repeated bass line in bass viol
-M: lots of word painting: when the snakes drop, drop, drop, pitch descends to reflect. All, all, all, all repeated several times. Clash is resolved- eas’d, eas’d. Pain- dissonance. Eternal is extended melisma and lasts a long time.
Score is a realisation, improv. by harpsichord is decorative and has lots of ornamentation
-I: Basso Continuo with harpsichord, viol playing bass line, soprano, harpsichord and bass viol
-T: Melody and accompaniment
-H: A minor
