L5 - B section and Return To A Section

Lesson Objectives:

• To understand how the vocal and ground bass lines move independently of each other.

• To understand what is meant by vocal range, conjunct and disjunct melody

• To understand some of the ways the B section contrasts with the A section and how the A section varies

• To look at putting chords to a bass line

• To choose a composition or performance task

The vocal line (melody) and ground bass do not always start and end together but often cross over.

This makes sure that the song doesn’t sound too ‘square’ and split into 3 bar units

An example of this is at the beginning of the B section. The voice comes in slightly after the ground bass creating a sense of tension and conflict.

The vocal range of a song means how big the interval is between the lowest and highest note sung.

In ‘Music For a While’ it is a 9^th – which is quite small.

Compare this to ‘Killer Queen’

A classic GCSE question might ask how Purcell contrasts the A and B sections of ‘Music For a While’ We have looked at a lot of these. How many can you think of?

∙ New words—It’s obvious but don’t forget it!

∙ New melody—Again, it should be obvious but pupils often forget!

∙ The ground bass changes here. In the A section the ground bass has remained the same and been repeated 4 times, including the introduction. As we move into the B section it changes (half way through bar 14)

∙ The main reason for this change is the music now modulates, firstly to E minor, then G major, C major and finally settles back in A minor .

∙ This also gives us a change in tonality, from minor to major, in part of the B section

We already know that in ternary form the A section is repeated. In ‘Music For a While’ this is shortened with only the first 2 lines being sung.

In the Baroque period when sections were repeated the singer or instrumentalist would decorate the melody on the spot (improvise) which would involve adding ornaments. Have a listen to the song again and see if you can spot any differences.

Review Questions:

1) What is the vocal range of the song?

2) Identify three features of the B section

3) Identify two differences between the first and second A sections

4) Give one example of a conjunct melody and one of a disjunct melody. Give bar numbers and words