music for a while by Purcell

Question 1

when was it written?

Answer 1

1692

Question 2

what key is the original version in?

Answer 2

C minor

Question 3

what key is the transposed version of the song in?

Answer 3

A minor

Question 4

what style of music is it?

Answer 4

baroque

Question 5

what technique does Purcell use for the bass instruments?

Answer 5

ground bass

Question 6

how long is the repeated ground bass section?

Answer 6

3 bars (unusual length)

Question 7

what rhythm is the ground bass?

Answer 7

all quavers

Question 8

what kind of leaps are used in the ground bass?

Answer 8

augmented and perfect 5ths, 2nds (many are semitones apart), there are also chromatic notes which dont fit into to the scale

Question 9

what does the bass line end with?

Answer 9

it ends on the dominant chord (V), which creates a sort of perfect cadence when the pattern is repeated

Question 10

how many times is the ground bass played before it modulates?

Answer 10

it is repeated 4 and a half times, and begins modulating in bar 14

Question 11

what key does it modulate to in bar 14?

Answer 11

E minor (the dominant minor)

Question 12

describe the vocals

Answer 12

mostly syllabic, but has moments of melisma, word painting

Question 13

what are the melismatic phrases set to?

Answer 13

descending patterns

Question 14

what are three examples of word painting?

Answer 14

in bar 13 and 14, on the word ‘eas’d’, Purcell uses an appoggiatura which creates dissonance and then it resolves into a more pleasant harmony
in bar 23, 24, and 25 on the word drop, the music uses syncopated quavers in falling phrases to mimic it
in bar 20-21, on the word eternal there is melisma which lasts for 11/2 bars

Question 15

which key does the piece modulate to briefly in bar 23?

Answer 15

A minor (tonic)

Question 16

what is at the end of the piece?

Answer 16

a miniature coda (a slightly altered version of the previous 4 bars)

Question 17

what form is the piece in?

Answer 17

ternary