Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
Henry Purcell Music for a While (Melody (Vocal) (Lots of conjunct movement…
Henry Purcell Music for a While
Context
Composed in 1692 by Henry Purcell
It is a lament (expression of grief or sorrow) in the Italian style of opera writing ,usually having a slow tempo, falling
phrases and in a minor key.
2nd of four movements written for Dryden's play : Oedipus
Alecto needs to get inside the gates by lulling the guard to drop her whip and for the snakes too fall of her head.
Baroque period 1600-1750
Song was originally intended for a Castrati singer. (Boy counter tenor) but is sung in the recording by a
soprano
Instrumentation and Sonority
Written for a voice (traditionally a tenor) and a continuo
This edition is for a
Harpsichord, Soprano and Bass Viol.
Been transposed into
A minor
from C minor
The right hand of the harpsichord is improvised using figured bass
On the harpsichord chords are
arpeggiated
or spread rapidly from lowest to highest note
Expression and Dynamics
No dynamic markings on the score mostly
p
throughout
Only change in dynamic is when different parts come in and out.
Assumed voice would know when to be loud and quiet
Structure
Follows the 3 bar ground bass pattern
Ground bass heard 4 and a half times before it changes in bar 14
Returns Bar 26
Texture
The texture is MDH (Melody and Accompaniment)
Accompaniment provided by ground bass in L.H. of the harpsichord and the bass viol.
R.H. harpsichord is an elaborate realisation and provides counterpoint with vocal line.
Some imitation Bar 20-21
Harmony and Tonality
The key is A minor
Tierce de Picardie is used (colours the minor tonlity)
Modulations
Central section - bar 14 - modulates to related keys – e.g. E minor – dominant
G major – relative major of dominant (bar16), C major - relative major(bar 21),
A major – parallel major (bar 23).
Modulations confirmed by
perfect cadences
V-I
Some
dissonance
-- pains bar 12
False relation
--Bar 1 F sharp-F natural.
Suspensions
Bar 3 beat 4
Melody (Vocal)
Lots of
conjunct
movement
Soprano has a range of a ninth E-F
Frequent passing notes Bar 5 beat 4
Small leaps no greater than a perfect 4th
Descending sequence
Bar 20 - Eternal
Lots of
ornaments
in the soprano and R.H. Hapsichord
Trills
bar 13,
Appoggiaturas
bar 35,
Grace notes
bar 6,
Mordents
(lower in bar 1, upper in bar 22).
Uses word painting
Rhythm and Tempo
There is no tempo marking written but would be considered slow
In 4/4 quadruple time
Variety of rhythms but mainly quavers (throughout the ground bass) and semiquavers
Dotted rhythms played and sung in the harpsichord and vocal parts
Syncopation (Bar 20)
Off beat (Bar 24-drop)
Tempo markings are editorial