1) What key is this piece in?
2) How many bars does the ground go on for?
3) Does the ground modulate? If so, when and to which key?
4) Purcell is famous for using harmony to illustrate the meaning of text in a much more consistent way than any previous English composer. He also uses the technique of word painting common to the Baroque period, where the meaning of the word is reflected in the melodic writing. Find examples in Ah Belinda, where the dissonance of the melodic line against the ground bass bass illustrates the meaning of the text (ie. is a good example of word painting)
5) The opening rhyming couplet of the text is:
‘Ah Belinda, I am prest
with torment not to be confest´
Purcell is famed for managing to combine regularity with irregularity. How does
he use this text in an irregular way to counteract the regularity of the repetitive
ground bass and so maintain interest for the listener.
6) ‘Peace and I’ is at the tuneful section of this air (‘air’ means ‘song’). Look at the relationship between the melodic line and the bass line. How does it illustrate musically Dido’s estrangement with peace?
7) Find an example of where melisma (5 or more notes per syllable) is used to illustrate the meaning of the text.
8) The scotch snap, a 16th note followed by a dotted-8th note, is a rhythm typical to Purcell as it suits the natural rhythmic feel to a lot of English words. Find 3 examples of the scotch snap rhythm in this piece.
9) Find an example of chromaticism in the melodic line which is used for dramatic effect to convey melancholic feelings (another example of word painting)
10) Dido is an anguished Queen in this aria, how would you describe the range considering it has been written for a mezzo soprano?
11) Look at the entire piece, both the melody and the ground. How would you describe the general direction of the bass and melodic line? Ascending or descending?
12) How would you describe the overall structure of this piece?
13) What harmonic device is used by Purcell to heighten the dissonance in the instrumental coda General type questions which would be easy to answer if you have successfully completed the above.
With reference to rhythmic, melodic, textural, harmonic and structural features, describe how Ah Belinda is a good example of Purcell’s compositional style.
III: Ah Belinda
1) What key is this piece in?
2) How many bars does the ground go on for?
3) Does the ground modulate? If so, when and to which key?
4) Purcell is famous for using harmony to illustrate the meaning of text in a much more consistent way than any previous English composer. He also uses the technique of word painting common to the Baroque period, where the meaning of the word is reflected in the melodic writing. Find examples in Ah Belinda, where the dissonance of the melodic line against the ground bass bass illustrates the meaning of the text (ie. is a good example of word painting)
5) The opening rhyming couplet of the text is:
‘Ah Belinda, I am prest
with torment not to be confest´
Purcell is famed for managing to combine regularity with irregularity. How does
he use this text in an irregular way to counteract the regularity of the repetitive
ground bass and so maintain interest for the listener.
6) ‘Peace and I’ is at the tuneful section of this air (‘air’ means ‘song’). Look at the relationship between the melodic line and the bass line. How does it illustrate musically Dido’s estrangement with peace?
7) Find an example of where melisma (5 or more notes per syllable) is used to illustrate the meaning of the text.
8) The scotch snap, a 16th note followed by a dotted-8th note, is a rhythm typical to Purcell as it suits the natural rhythmic feel to a lot of English words. Find 3 examples of the scotch snap rhythm in this piece.
9) Find an example of chromaticism in the melodic line which is used for dramatic effect to convey melancholic feelings (another example of word painting)
10) Dido is an anguished Queen in this aria, how would you describe the range considering it has been written for a mezzo soprano?
11) Look at the entire piece, both the melody and the ground. How would you describe the general direction of the bass and melodic line? Ascending or descending?
12) How would you describe the overall structure of this piece?
13) What harmonic device is used by Purcell to heighten the dissonance in the instrumental coda
General type questions which would be easy to answer if you have successfully completed the above.
With reference to rhythmic, melodic, textural, harmonic and structural features, describe how Ah Belinda is a good example of Purcell’s compositional style.