Eleanor Rigby
Harmony and Tonality
Sonority/Instruments
Context/Background
Rhythm/Metre/Tempo
structure/form
Melody
8 instrumentalists
Violins sometimes split but on one stave
lyrics are unconventional
string quartet rather than conventional pop ensemble
musique concrete technique
In the 60s
George Martin wrote the song
occasional fills
cellos usually repeated phrases or sustained notes
staccato and accented
double voiced in last verse
block chords
C and Em chords only
harmonic rhythm (frequency of chord changes) is slow
harmonic structure is 3 bars Em, 2 bars C
Refrain is just Em
dissonant descending chromatic voice line over the top
the vocal part is frequently mildly dissonant
8 bar intro
3 verses
outro
main 10 bar then 8 bar refrain
split into 2 and then 5 bar phrases
combined elements of intro and backing vocal phrase
mainly conjunct
vocal line in verses diatonic dorian mode
the refrain has an octave jump followed by a 10th
backing vocals have a natural 6th (C natural), which is aolian in character
pattern of repeating crotchets is very distinct
sustained semibreves in refrain
vocal phrases have continuous quaver movement