Music For a while

Question 1

Harmony and tonality

Answer 1

• A minor (AO3), confirmed by perfect cadence at repeat of ground bass (AO3)- solemn mood (AO4), typical of a lament to be minor (AO4)
• Dissonance and false relations (AO3), creates ambiguity (AO4)
• Functional chords (AO3), Diatonic Harmony (AO3)
• Ground bass (AO3)
o Based on tonic and dominant (AO3)
o Unusual length of three bars (AO4) ostinato (AO3)
o Typical of baroque (AO4)
o Typical minor key, slow tempo, straightforward rhythm (AO4)
o Arpeggio shapes (AO3)
o Ascending sequence (AO3)
o Distinctive octave drop at end
• Harmony realised/derived from bass, improvisation (AO3)
• Related modulations (AO3), conventional keys and harmonies (AO3)
• Modulates to relative, and then dominant (AO3)
• Arpeggiation (AO3)

Question 2

Instrumentation

Answer 2

• Harpsichord (AO3)
o Basso continuo (AO3)
o Typical of baroque (AO4)
o Terraced dynamics only (AO4)
o Ornamentation (AO3), cannot sustain notes (AO4)
o Virtuosic, heavily decorated, complex rhythms (AO3)
• Bass viol
o Basso continuo (AO3)
o Typical of baroque (AO4)
• Voice
o Main melody
o Soprano (AO3), originally counter tenor (AO4)
o Range of 9th (AO3)
• Trio sonata (AO3), inspiration from Italian style (AO4)

Question 3

Structure

Answer 3

• Rounded ternary form (AO3)

* Second A is shortened (ABA) (AO3)

Question 4

Melody and lyrics

Answer 4

• Descending sequences (AO3), typical of lament (AO4)
• generally conjunct, stepwise, scalic (AO3)
• Heavily ornamented right-hand harpsichord (mordent, grace notes, appoggiaturas) (AO3)
• Virtuosic (AO3)
• ‘Eternal’- melisma (AO3), puts emphasis on key word of phrase (AO4)
• ‘pains’- dissonant interval (AO3), word painting (AO4)
• ‘drop’- descending pitch (AO3)

Question 5

Rhythm, metre and tempo

Answer 5

• Simple quadruple 4/4 (AO3)
• Slow tempo (AO3) for sombre mood (AO4)
• Ground bass- steady quavers (AO3) typical (AO4)
• Vocal part- some dotted rhythms (AO3), rhythmic contrasts (AO4)
• Syncopation used occasionally (AO3), rhythmic variety and interest (AO4)

Question 6

Texture

Answer 6

• Melody dominated homophony (AO3)

* Moments where Harpsichord imitates voice (AO3), emphasises the melody (AO4)

Question 7

Context

Answer 7

• Baroque
• Restoration period
• Transcription form bass line
• Incidental music
• Played between acts of Oedipus
• Lyrics by Dryden