Purcell: Music for a While

Question 1

What key does the piece start in?

Answer 1

A minor

Question 2

What key does it change to on ‘bonds’?

Answer 2

C major

Question 3

What other keys does it modulate into?

Answer 3

G major, E minor

Question 4

What is the piece based on?

Answer 4

A three bar repeated ground bass

Question 5

Which instruments play the ground bass?

Answer 5

Left hand of the harpsichord and the bass viol

Question 6

What is a feature of the ground bass?

Answer 6

Ascending chromatic sequence

Question 7

What is the form of the piece?

Answer 7

Ternary form

Question 8

Describe the melody.

Answer 8

Often syllabic, melismas, ascending sequence of ‘shall all, all…’, soprano voice

Question 9

Describe the harmony.

Answer 9

Dissonance, ground bass, right hand of harpsichord is improvised, perfect cadences

Question 10

Describe the tempo.

Answer 10

Unspecified but performed slowly.

Question 11

What is the metre?

Answer 11

4/4

Question 12

What is the texture?

Answer 12

Mostly homophonic with some improvised imitation.

Question 13

Describe the dynamics.

Answer 13

No dynamics specified - typical of baroque period

Question 14

What ornamentation is used?

Answer 14

lower mordent, upper mordent, grace notes, trills

Question 15

What devices are used as word painting?

Answer 15

Melismas, articulation, monosyllabicism, dissonance

Question 16

What period was it written in?

Answer 16

Baroque

Question 17

What year was it written in?

Answer 17

1692