The Beatles: 'Eleanor Rigby'

Revision questions based on The Beatles' 'Eleanor Rugby' from 'Revolver' (1966)

Structure:

Describe the overall structure.

Structure:

Describe the overall structure.

Modified strophic form

Structure:

What is the first section of the song?

8-bar intro

Structure:

What comes after the introduction?

10-bar verse followed by 8-bar refrain

Structure:

In what section does the intro material return?

Bridge

Structure:

Name all the sections of the song.

Intro - Verse/Refrain (2x) - Bridge - Verse/Refrain - Outro

Tonality:

Give two terms to describe the overall tonality.

E minor, modal

Tonality:

Which mode is used in the verses?

Dorian on E

Tonality:

What mode is used in the intro?

Aeolian mode

Melody:

Describe the verse melody.

Diatonic in the Dorian mode

Melody:

Describe the overall movement of the melody.

Mostly conjunct

Melody:

Name the distinctive interval in the refrain and what it later extends to.

8ve, 10th

Harmony:

What two chords does the song alternate between?

C major, E minor

Harmony:

Describe the harmonic rhythm of the song.

Slow harmonic rhythm

Harmony:

What harmonic feature appears in the refrain?

E tonic pedal

Harmony:

Name one way dissonance is created in the refrain?

Descending chromatic scale in viola

Texture:

Describe the overall texture of the song.

Melody-dominated homophony

Texture:

Describe the texture in the strings.

Homophonic

Rhythm, Tempo & Metre:

Describe the repeated rhythm that appears in this song.

Repeated crotchets

Rhythm, Tempo & Metre:

Describe the sustained rhythm that appears in this song.

Sustained semibreves

Rhythm, Tempo & Metre:

What rhythmic feature appears throughout this song?

Syncopation

Rhythm, Tempo & Metre:

What is the tempo marking?

Crotchet = 136

Sonority:

How does the accompaniment make this song unusual compared to a conventional pop song?

String quartet

Sonority:

What articulation markings appear in this song?

Accents, staccato

Sonority:

What two string techniques appear in this song?

Divisi, doubled string quartet

Sonority/Texture:

Describe the texture between the cello and voice in the third verse.

Cello doubles voice

Sonority:

Describe the vocal harmonies.

Vocal harmonies in 3rds