Section A Phrase 1

Question 1

What are the lyrics?

Answer 1

“Isn’t it bliss? Are we a pair? Me here at last on the ground you in mid-air. Send in the clowns”

Question 2

Dynamics

Answer 2

p Desiree

pp accompaniment

Question 3

Rhythm/metre

Answer 3

12/8, bar 5 is 9/8, bar 6 is 12/8
Anticipation bars 3 and 4
Long note after 3-note anacrusis in bars 2, 3, 4 and 6

Question 4

Pitch

Answer 4

Low to high pitch

Higher and lower pitch shows irony

Question 5

Structure

Answer 5

Section A (bars 2 - 8)
Antecedent phrase
5-bar vocal phrase is uneven
6-bar accompaniment phrase

Question 6

Melody

Answer 6

Syllabic word setting
Melody is tentative and fragmented I nature sets mood/tension helps word setting
Melody is more expansive in bar 5
Bar 5 has monotone word paints “on the ground”
Many ‘x’ phrases (x, x1, x2, x3)
Some intervals - Major 3rd, Minor 3rd, octaves, perfect 5th

Question 7

Instrumentation

Answer 7

Desiree (vocal)
Clarinet and strings in 3rds
Orchestral strings double vocal line
Harp plays softly flowing broken chords in continuous quavers - continues in most of the song
Low strings plays tonic pedal

Question 8

Texture
Tempo
Tonality
Timbre

Answer 8

Homophonic, tonic pedal
Lento, poco rit. bar 7, a tempo bar 8
Db major
Softly flowing broken chords in continuous quavers by harp

Question 9

Harmony

Answer 9

Tonic pedal point
Harmony has mostly I, V7 on 4th beat and tonic chord sustained underneath
Tonic chord in bar 4 word paints the hope for “pair”
Bar 6 is the only time chord I is not heard
1 chord per bar and small changes of change of harmony on final beat without change of bass, nudges music forward.
Perfect cadence V7,9 to I bars 3 and 4
Imperfect cadence IV7,9,(11,13) to V7 bar 7