Music for a While - by Henry Purcell

Question 1

Who was the composer and what time period did he live in?

Answer 1

Henry Purcell, lived in the baroque period (1600-1750)

Question 2

What play was this song written for?

Answer 2

Oedipus (Greek mythology)

Question 3

Basso Continuo

Answer 3

Partially improvised accompaniment played on a bass line

Question 4

What instruments were part of the basso continuo?

Answer 4

Harpsicord and Bass Viol

Question 5

Ripieno

Answer 5

The instruments that accompany the ground bass

Question 6

Mordant

Answer 6

A musical ornament involving moving rapidly from one note, to another, then back again.

Question 7

Ground bass

Answer 7

A repeated pattern in the bass that lasts a few bars before repeated (3 in this case)

Question 8

Where is word painting used?

Answer 8

When snakes fall off of Alecato’s head, Purcell uses a falling figure in the melody, where each drop sound is seperated by rests.

Question 9

Syllabic

Answer 9

One note per syllable

Question 10

Melisma

Answer 10

A syllable drawn out across multiple notes (e.g. eternal)

Question 11

Acciaccatura

Answer 11

A crushed note, played in as short a time as possible. It is notated as a small
note with a diagonal line through the stem to show that it really has no value.

Question 12

Grace Note

Answer 12

A note played just before the note it is attached to is played

Question 13

Tonality of the song

Answer 13

A minor