Purcell Flashcards
(30 cards)
Tempo
no tempo markings; would be interpreted as slow
ground bass
features
- 3 bars long
- consists entirely of quaver rhythms
- arpeggio-based melodic shape
- uses semitone intervals
- characterstic fall of an octave at the end of the ground
Explain how Purcell uses word painting to convey the meaning of the word ‘eased’.
- dissonant
- resolution
- descending
- ornamentation
- sequence
- scalic / stepwise
- suspension
- appoggiatura
Dynamics
no dynamic markings
Metre
4/4
What voice type is the singer?
soprano
Tonality
- A minor
- modulations to closely related keys in central section
- can seem tonally ambiguous because of chromatic and non-diatonic ground bass
Identify features of harmony (from when “the snakes drop” until the end) that are characteristic of the Baroque period.
- ground bass
- perfect cadences
- functional
- false relations
- Tierce de Picardie
- suspensions
Describe three features of the harmony from the beginning to the first “Wond’ring” that are characteristic of Baroque music.
- functional
- ground bass
- perfect cadenses
- false relations
- suspensions
- realisation
Texture
- polyphonic and MDH
- accompaniment provided by ground bass (LH of harpsichord and bass viol)
- RH of harpsichord is an elaborate realisation and provides some counterpoint with vocal line
Name the melodic interval in the vocal line between ‘Music’ and ‘music’.
perfect 5th
What plays the ground bass?
left hand of harpsichord and bass viol
Identify features of instrumentation (from when “the snakes drop” until the end) that are characteristic of the Baroque period.
- harpsichord
- bass viol
Between bars 15 beat 4 and 22 beat 1, the soloist tries to soothe the mythical Fury, Alecto.
Explain how Purcell establishes a sense of calm referring to melody.
- melismas
- ornaments
- sequences
- word painting
Explain how Purcell uses melody to create a sense of drama through word painting to set the word ‘drop’.
- descending
- syllabic
- disjunct
Identify features of melody (from when “the snakes drop” until the end) that are characteristic of the Baroque period.
- ornamentation
- word painting
- diatonic
Harmony
- chords are diatonic and functional
- perfect cadences confirm modulations in B section
- occasional suspensions
- false relations
- infrequent dissonances
Describe features of the harpsichord melody at the end of the B section.
- ornamented
- realisation
- ascends then descends
- (mostly) conjunct / scalic
- (some) leaps / 3rds
Describe the melody of the introduction.
- conjunct / stepwise
- passing notes
- ornamented
- some leaps
- some dotted notes
- starts on tonic
Rhythm
- mostly SQs and quavers
- some dotted rhythms in vocal part but mainly in RH harpsichord
- occasional syncopation and off-beat rhythms
What is the structure of the piece?
ground bass (aria)
da capo aria (ABA)
Name the musical device heard throughout the whole piece.
ground bass / basso continuo
Between bars 15 beat 4 and 22 beat 1, the soloist tries to soothe the mythical Fury, Alecto.
Explain how Purcell establishes a sense of calm referring to tonality.
- modulation
- major
What is a Tierce de Picardie?
when a minor piece ends on a major chord
