Music For A While

Question 1

When was it written, by who and why?

Answer 1

Baroque period
Henry Purcell
As incidental for the play Oedipus

Question 2

When was Purcell born and when did he die?

Answer 2

1650
English composer
Died in his mid-thirties

Question 3

What are the features of the baroque period in music for a while?

Answer 3

• use of basso continuo
• baroque instruments such as harpsichord and bass viol
• frequent ornamentation
• limited dynamics

Question 4

What is the melody like?

Answer 4

Scalic with many passing noted
Sequences
Word painting
Melismatic
Ornaments - lower mordents, appoggiatura

Question 5

What are the modulations?

Answer 5

A minor
E minor
G major
C major
A minor

Question 6

What is the harmony like?

Answer 6

Dissonance used as word painting
Suspensions
Tierce de Picardie - sudden change in mood
False relations

Question 7

What is structure of the piece?

Answer 7

Ternary form
Ground bass is used throughout - 3 bar long continuous quaver rhythm

Question 8

What is the metre and tempo of the piece?

Answer 8

4/4 simple time
Tempo not marked but performed very slowly to fit context of the song
Large

Question 9

What is the range of the song?

Answer 9

Minor ninth interval

Question 10

What is the texture of the piece?

Answer 10

Melody - dominated homophony
Soprano line imitated the right hand harpsichord sometimes
Harpsichord and bass viol double the same part and play in unison

Question 11

What is the notation, dynamics and articulation?

Answer 11

Syllabic and melismatic
No dynamics or articulations (usual of baroque period)