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