Henry Purcell: Music For A While

Question 1

What was it written for?

Answer 1

Oedipus story Ancient Greek legend

Question 2

Who is Henry Purcell?

Answer 2

English composer during Baroque period wrote in an intalian style

Question 3

When was it composed?

Answer 3

1692 second of four movements

Question 4

What are the features of a ground bass?

Answer 4

• minor key
• straightforward rhythm made of quavers, crotchets and minims
• slow and stately tempo
• ending with a perfect cadence
• solem mood
• 3 bars long in this piece
• chromatic notes to give the bass part melodic interest in its own right

Question 5

Instrumentation

Answer 5

Soprano accompanied by harpsichord, bass viola, lute

Question 6

Dynamics and tempo

Answer 6

No written dynamics tempo is fairly slow and must start softly

Question 7

Structure

Answer 7

Ternary ABA form, structure shortened in repeat A

Question 8

What is the tonality at the start?

Answer 8

Ambiguous but A minor raised 7th

Question 9

What is the texture?

Answer 9

Polyphonic

Question 10

What is the Italian lament style?

Answer 10

Double dotted notes, descending patterns and dramatic recitatives

Question 11

What is the meter?

Answer 11

4/4 simple

Question 12

Tempo

Answer 12

None given but slow/ legato

Question 13

Harmony

Answer 13

• figured bass
• harmonic progression
• modulations
• dissonance
• suspensions
• tierce de Picardie

Question 14

Techniques

Answer 14

Melisma, word painting, syllabic words

Question 15

Commentary into

Answer 15

• left hand harpsichord ground bass
• A minor (tonality ambiguity at start) perfect cadence confirms
• right hand melody, descending phrase imitation of vocal line
• left hand ascending sequence

Question 16

Example of dissonance

Answer 16

Pains, eased

Question 17

Example of melisma

Answer 17

For a,

Question 18

Example of word painting

Answer 18

Eternal

Question 19

Commentary on section a

Answer 19

In bar 4 the solo soprano has the melody. The word ‘music’ is repeated a 5th higher, he sets it syllabically creating word painting. Lots of examples of melisma. The harpsichord starts to imitate the vocal line at times. A hypnotic effect is created with the repetition. And dissonance on the word pain. Suspension and interjection is used on the word ‘eternal’ and a perfect cadence is expected. Harpsichord plays a narrow register to keep vocal line above it. There are often dissonant intervals between the bass and melody

Question 20

Commentary on b

Answer 20

We are in the relative major C. This is a short middle section with 8 bars and 1 bar of harpsichord link. This link helps separate sections a and b and let the singer catch their breath. A few perfect cadences and tierce de picardie on the word ‘snakes’ . Onomatopoeic words off beat ‘drop’. The ground bass is shortened

Question 21

Commentary on a1

Answer 21

This section is shorter and more ornamented. There is a different right hand melody in the harpsichord. Final chord is appoggiated chord so it lasts as the harpsichord cannot sustain its notes

Question 22

What ornaments?

Answer 22

Mordant, grace notes, arpeggios, appogiatura

Question 23

What is the tonality throughout

Answer 23

A minor, E minor, G major, C major, E minor, A minor