o frondens virga

Question 1

who is the composer of O Frondens Virga?

Answer 1

the composer of O Frondens Virga is Hildegard von Bingen?

Question 2

what could be discussed under the concept of structure in O Frondens Virga?

Answer 2

macro: through-composed; intro (0:00-0:24), A (0:25-0:44), A1 (0:45-1:22), B (1:23-2:00), C (2:01-2:23), outro (2:24-2:41)
micro: 0:00-0:24: 4 bar phrase, 0:25-0:44: 12 bar phrase, 0:45-1:22: similar to A section, but vocal line is altered slightly, 1:23-2:00: strings remain as in section A/A1, melody changes by adding increased variation, 2:01-2:23: vocals similar as in section B, strings take on a prominent role by beginning to follow the melody of the vocals more closely, 2:24-2:41: becomes increasingly quieter across section to fade out

Question 3

what could be discussed under the concept of pitch in O Frondens Virga?

Answer 3

tonality: D minor
roles: 0:00-0:24: solo viol melody, 0:25-0:44: vocal soprano melody, viol harmony, 0:45-2:41: solo vocal melody, choir and viol harmony
range/register: medium range/middle register in viol, wide range/low/medium/high register in choir
content: 0:00-0:24: chords in viol, 0:25-0:44: D drone in viol, 0:45-1:22: broken chords in vocals with leading notes between, 2:24-2:41: vocals and viol sound similar and fade out

Question 4

what could be discussed under the concept of texture in O Frondens Virga?

Answer 4

density: 0:00-0:24: thin (soft dynamic, low rhythmic complexity), 0:25-0:44: thicker, 0:45-1:22: thicker (added instrumentation), 1:23-2:00: thicker (louder dynamic), 2:01-2:23: thicker (louder dynamic), 2:24-2:41: thinner (fade out)
roles: 0:00-0:24: solo viol melody, 0:25-0:44: vocal soprano melody, viol harmony, 0:45-2:41: solo vocal melody, choir and viol harmony
type: 0:00-0:24: monophonic (solo viol melody), 0:25-2:41: homophonic (soprano female vocal melody and choir and viol harmony)

Question 5

what could be discussed under the concept of tone colour in O Frondens Virga?

Answer 5

ensemble: female choir with added viol
layers: 0:00-0:24: solo viol melody, 0:25-0:44: vocal soprano melody, viol harmony, 0:45-2:41: solo vocal melody, choir and viol harmony
techniques: slurring in viol throughout, arco in viol throughout, 0:25-2:41: melisma in vocals, falsetto in vocals
quality: stringy, cool quality in viol, haunting, melancholy quality in vocals

Question 6

what could be discussed under the concept of dynamics and expressive techniques in O Frondens Virga?

Answer 6

dynamics: mp > p, mf, f, mp > p > pp
expressive techniques: slurring in viol throughout, arco in viol throughout, 0:25-2:41: melisma in vocals, falsetto in vocals

Question 7

what could be discussed under the concept of duration in O Frondens Virga?

Answer 7

beat: minims
pulse: undefined due to slow tempo and lack of specific meter
meter: 4/4
tempo: lento
style: medieval polyphonic chant
content: played expressively, 0:45-1:22: homorhythmia between leading vocalist and viol