MUSIC FOR A WHILE SET WORK REVISION

Question 1

which type of singer voice sings in our recording

Answer 1

soprano

Question 2

which type of singer voice originally sings the piece

Answer 2

high male, countertenor

Question 3

name the two types of word setting

Answer 3

melismatic, syllabic

Question 4

give an example of a melisma

Answer 4

‘eternal’

Question 5

give an example of syllabic word setting

Answer 5

‘drop’

Question 6

define word painting

Answer 6

to make the music reflect the meaning of the lyrics or what is being said

Question 7

give 2 examples of word painting in the piece

Answer 7

drop- notes get lower and are short
eternal- very long and held

Question 8

what is used to decorate the melody in the A1 section

Answer 8

ornaments

Question 9

name 2 features of baroque music

Answer 9

ornaments, harpsichord

Question 10

what is the main key of the piece

Answer 10

a minor

Question 11

why is the key a minor

Answer 11

reflects the sad nature of the lyrics

Question 12

what musical period is the piece from

Answer 12

baroque

Question 13

when was it composed

Answer 13

1692

Question 14

where is the song from

Answer 14

a greek play telling the myth of oedipus

Question 15

define incidental music

Answer 15

music used in a film or play as a background to create or enhance a particular atmosphere.

Question 16

what is the time signature

Answer 16

4/4

Question 17

what plays the accompaniment to the singer

Answer 17

ground bass

Question 18

who plays the ground bass

Answer 18

harpsichord and bass viola

Question 19

what type of cadence is found throught

Answer 19

perfect

Question 20

fact to remember: some parts use dissonance for word painting, eg the word ‘pains’

Answer 20

just remember that

Question 21

what is the structure of the piece

Answer 21

ternary form, ABA1

Question 22

how many bars make up the ground bass loop

Answer 22

3 bars

Question 23

what type of rhythm does the ground bass consist of

Answer 23

quaver

Question 24

What is the texture

Answer 24

Homophonic

Question 25

Define homophonic

Answer 25

Melody and accompaniment

Question 26

How do people interpret the tempo and why?

Answer 26

No tempo on the score, but people play it slow as it seems appropriate

Question 27

summarise the plot of oedipus

Answer 27

the king of Thebes who unwittingly killed his father and married his mother. Homer related that Oedipus’s wife and mother hanged herself when the truth of their relationship became known, though Oedipus apparently continued to rule at Thebes until his death