She's Leaving Home

Question 1

Key of the song

Answer 1

E major

Question 2

Time signature of the piece

Answer 2

3/4

Question 3

When was the song recorded

Answer 3

17th March 1967

Question 4

Which instruments are not used in this track which are typically used in all other beatles song

Answer 4

Guitar and drums are not used

Question 5

How many string instruments are used and name them?

Answer 5

10 string instruments. String nonet (4 violins, 2 viola, 2 cello, 1 double bass) and a harp

Question 6

What is the form of this song

Answer 6

Intro
Verse 1 (ABAB)
Chorus 1 (CD)
Verse 2 (ABAB)
Chorus 2 (CD)
Verse 3 (AB)
Chorus 3 (C)
Coda (DE)

Question 7

Explain word painting

Answer 7

When the music reflects the meaning of the words or lyrics

Question 8

What is the ending cadence to the song

Answer 8

Plagal IV - I

Question 9

What instrument plays in the introduction and what melodic figure do they play

Answer 9

Harp plays an arpeggio figure

Question 10

What pedal point is used in the introduction and by which instrument

Answer 10

Harp plays a triadic E chord for accompaniment

Question 11

How s the word downstairs created musically in Verse 1?

Answer 11

A descending melody is played and there is a double bass introduced highlighting the idea of going downstairs

Question 12

How is a mother sobbing created musically in verse 2?

Answer 12

A repeated syncopated rhythm on G# is used on the violin to show mother sobbing

Question 13

Write out the rhythm used to represent the sobbing in verse 2

Answer 13

triplet quavers, crochet, double quavers / double quavers, crochet, triplet quavers / crochet, double quavers tied to double quavers / dotted minim

Question 14

How is the anticipation of the meeting created in verse 3?

Answer 14

tremolo on the strings with repeated crochets on upper strings as the climax

Question 15

What rhythmic figure played by which instrument describes the motor trade in verse 3?

Answer 15

Cello plays six quavers representing a car engine

Question 16

What tonality are the three repeated chords at the end of chorus 1 and 2

Answer 16

F#m chords (chord ii)

Question 17

What main rhythmic technique is used by the strings in the accompaniment of the verses

Answer 17

Constant rhythm of minim crochet representing a heartbeat

Question 18

What two harp rhythmic motifs are used throughout the verse

Answer 18

Repeated three crochets

Syncopated rhythm - quaver, crochet, quaver

Question 19

What solo instrument is used in an ascending melodic line at the end of phrase A in verse 1?

Answer 19

Cello

Question 20

Which chord is used as the pedal point in the B phrase in the verses

Answer 20

Chord V (dominant)

Question 21

What instrument plays the walking bass idea in verse 2

Answer 21

Cello

Question 22

What is falsetto

Answer 22

Falsetto is a musical term for a male voice that’s artificially high pitched

Question 23

Which member of the Beatles sings using falsetto in the chorus?

Answer 23

Paul McCartney

Question 24

Describe how the chorus is polyphonic in texture?

Answer 24

There are two voices engaging in two separate melodies creating two part counterpoint. Paul McCartney sings a sustained falsetto note which John has interjections during of a lower melody representing parents

Question 25

There are two voices in the chorus - which characters do they represent from the story on which the song is based?

Answer 25

Paul McCartney - high falsetto for girl child | John Lennon - Parents lower voice

Question 26

Which interval is used when they sing bye bye

Answer 26

Major 3rd G#-E

Question 27

What is the form in letters for verse 1?

Answer 27

ABAB

Question 28

What is the form in letters for verse 2?

Answer 28

ABAB

Question 29

What is the form in letters for verse 3?

Answer 29

AB

Question 30

What is the form in letters for the chorus

Answer 30

CD

Question 31

What is the story behind the lyrics of the song

Answer 31

A run-away girl who left home. McCartney read about a 17 year old schoolgirl who had everything at home but ran away. McCartney and Lennon made everything up only basing the story off the newspaper article about Melanie Coe buy got a lot of details coincidentally correct. The two voices in the chorus represent the girl and her parents

Question 32

How does the cello answer differ when It is heard again in verse 2

Answer 32

Verse 2 features two part counterpoint with a violin descending line and cello ascending

Question 33

Compare and contrast the string accompaniment in verse 2 with verse 1

Answer 33

Cello answer features in both verses after phrase A Cello plays a walking bass crochet line in V2 V1 features harp three crochets, V2 has only last two beats of bar as harp Both add double bass at second A section for word painting V1 features contrary motion violin and rising bass V2 word painting repeated G# syncopated rhythm on the violin to represent a mother crying

Question 34

Compare and contrast the string accompaniment in chorus 2 with chorus 1

Answer 34

Both uses syncopated strings after interjections in C C1 cello plays sustained notes with double bass but in C2 the cello plays a broken arpeggio accompaniment C2 features rising string repeated notes not in C1

Question 35

Compare and contrast the string accompaniment in verse 3 with verse 2

Answer 35

V2 cello plays repeated crochet idea in walking bass style but V3 has the harp do this Cello answer changes from two part to three part counterpoint in V3 verse 3 half the length so double bass enters immediately for word painting tremolos feature in V3 B section - repeated excitement Different word painting - G# sobbing syncopated rhythm vs six quavers on cello for a car engine

Question 36

Compare and contrast the string accompaniment in chorus 3 with chorus 2

Answer 36

C3 features repeated notes violin two bar rhythm that rises creating agitated atmosphere Both feature syncopation after interjections and strings ascending before the harp enters at same point C3 features coda C2 is 19 bars- sense of uncertainty with C3 being 20 bars- more final

Question 37

Which instrument is used in the coda and what melodic figure do they play

Answer 37

harp arpeggio figure from the intro