Music for a While - Purcell

Question 1

What is the structure of this piece?

Answer 1

-Ternary form

ABA

Question 2

How many bars does the ground bass last for?

Answer 2

3 bars

Question 3

Section A’ is _________

Answer 3

Shortened

Question 4

Describe the tonality of section A.

Answer 4

It is in A Minor

Question 5

What section in the music is it when the key is C Major? (structure)

Answer 5

Section B

Question 6

What other keys are explored in this piece?

Answer 6

There are a few modulations away from A minor and C major.

Question 7

What harmonic devices are used does Purcell use?

Answer 7

• Suspensions
• Dissonance
• Tierce de Picardie (when a Major chord ends a minor
  phrase)
• Basso continuo + figured bass
• Ground bass
  [ root position and 1st inversion harmony ]

Question 8

What voice is singing in the recording? (sonority)

Answer 8

Soprano

Question 9

what kind of voice was this piece originally written for?

Answer 9

Tenor

Question 10

Name the baroque style instrument is used? (sonority)

Answer 10

A Harpsichord

Question 11

What does the Bass Viol provide? (sonority/harmony)

Answer 11

The Ground Bass

Question 12

Describe the rhythms found int the vocal part. (rhythm and metre)

Answer 12

Dotted rhythms

Question 13

What are the rhythms that are found in the Continuo part? (rhythm and metre)

Answer 13

Quaver movement

Question 14

____ ______ are used to change the rhythm of the melody line.

Answer 14

Grace notes

Question 15

‘There is no tempo marking’ True/False

Answer 15

True

Question 16

‘This song is a lament’ True/False

Answer 16

True

Question 17

What types of ornamentation are used in the vocal line? (melody)

Answer 17

• Appoggiatura
• Mordents
• Syllabic and melismatic writing

Question 18

Give examples of when word-painting is used. (melody)

Answer 18

• “drop,drop”

- “eternal”

Question 19

Describe the texture of this piece.

Answer 19

Melody dominated homophony