Verse 1 Analysis

Question 1

Dynamic

Answer 1

Mezzo forte bar 18 - 24
Crescendo bar 25 - 26
Forte bar 27

Question 2

Rhythm & Metre

Answer 2

Time signature = 12/8
Time signature changes in bar 26 to 6/8 then returns to 12/8 in bar 27
6/4 against 12/8 in bars 18 (tension helps w.p), 20 (tension), 22 (w.p), 24, 25 and 27 (tension)
Cross rhythms (each half bar grouped with 3 crochets instead of 2 dotted crochets) sometimes in melody but mostly in harmony
Syncopation in bars 18, 19, 20, 22 and 24

Question 3

Pitch

Answer 3

Lowest pitch is a ‘F’ which is a perfect 4th from middle C

Highest note is a high ‘C’ which is an octave from middle C

Question 4

Structure

Answer 4

Section A verse 1 bars 18 - 27

Question 5

Melody

Answer 5

Devoid of lyricism
Mostly scalic figures that rise from chords I - V - I with the sense of inevitability or resignation
Conjunct - adds to word painting - everyday is the same
Little syncopation
The chorus of singers (the poor) are in 8ves
Bar 18 - 19 major 2nd on “day” and “older”
Bar 26 minor 3rd on “less to”
Two note anacrusis adds emphasis in bars 21, 22 and 23 - resigned sigh “one more”

Question 6

Instrumentation

Answer 6

Chorus of singers - workers in the factory and the poor
Strings and woodwind
Bass maintains steady pulse - monotones, clockwork, same all day
Treble and vocal line includes syncopation - supports melody in bars 22 - 25
Oboe, horn and flute in bar 27

Question 7

Tempo
Tonality
Texture
Timbre

Answer 7

Molto allegro - very fast
F minor in bars 18 - 21, Ab major in bars 22 - 23 and then F minor returns in bar 24 - 27
Singers in unison, a Capella in bar 26 - adds to bleak and hopeless feel and antiphony in bar 27 which answers melody - w.p irony onto“living”
Bar 27 has dissonance on “living” in melody which adds irony and accompaniment has a suspended 4th - Bb does not resolve to Ab until bar 28 so no rest - adds up sense of the relentless life of the poor

Question 8

Harmony

Answer 8

Bar 20 has a modal mixolydian scale (jazz scale) in the bass line then in bar 21 the bass switches to a modal Dorian scale (folk scale) - word paints “poor”
Bar 18 - 21 have chords I & IV or just IV with tonic pedal in bass

Question 9

Harmony - cadences

Answer 9

Perfect cadence (I & IVc7) in bar 20 - 21
Imperfect cadence (I & Vb (11)) in bar 22 & 23
Interrupted cadence (V7 & VI) in bar 24 - 25 -> musical question mark “What is it for?”