Vaughan Williams: 'On Wenlock Edge'

Harmony:
What kind of chords drive the music forward while adhering to an impressionist style at the start?

Harmony:
What kind of chords drive the music forward while adhering to an impressionist style at the start?

Parallel first inversion chords

Harmony:
What kind of chords appear in this song? (4)

sus4, 7ths, 11ths, open 5ths

Harmony/Tonality:
How is the key reinforced?

Perfect cadences

Texture:
Describe the texture throughout the song.

Homophonic (with few variations)

Texture:
Describe the texture between the strings and RH piano.

Double 8ves

Rhythm, Tempo & Metre:
What tempo is established at the start?

Allegro moderato

Rhythm, Tempo & Metre:
What tempo marking suggests the aggressive nature of the storm?

Agitato

Rhythm, Tempo & Metre:
What tempo marking suggests the calming down of the storm?

Tranquillo

Rhythm, Tempo & Metre:
How does the rhythm reflect the stormy atmosphere? (4)

Variety of rhythmic figures, triplets, sextuplets, short note values (demisemiquavers, hemidemisemiquavers)

Sonority:
Give three examples of extended string techniques in this song.

Tremolo, sul ponticello, pizzicato

Structure:
What is the overall structure of this song?

Strophic (A - A - B - B - AB)

Structure:
What is the function of Stanza 1?

Introduction

Structure:
What is the function of Stanzas 2-3?

Interludes

Structure:
What is the function of Stanza 5?

Combination of ideas

Tonality:
What key is suggested (and how)?

G minor (G tonal centre, key signature, G pentatonic scale)

Tonality:
What two notes blur the key?

Cb (Bnat) and Db

Tonality:
What effect is created through moments of G pentatonic scale over Ab major accompaniment?

Moments of bitonality

Melody:
How is word-painting achieved on the word 'heaving'?

Slurred notes

Melody:
How are the words of the poem emphasised with a recitative-like style?

Repeated pitches

Melody:
What scale is used extensively throughout the song?

G pentatonic

Melody:
How do phrases end in a way that creates a melancholy setting?

Descending chromatic line

Melody/Texture:
How are the words of the poem emphasised?

Doubling

Harmony:
What harmonic feature conventional of Tudor music is used to create tension?

False relations

Harmony:
Describe the harmony of the song (reminder: this is traditional of Tudor music!)

Quartal harmony

Harmony/Melody:
What kind of figures/scale is used in this piece? (reminder: this links to folk music)

Whole tone

Harmony:
How is word-painting achieved on the words 'gale' and ‘heaving hill'?

Dissonance/chromaticism

Texture:
Describe the LH piano accompaniment.

Broken chords (ostinato-like)

Texture:
What happens in some passages to represent the calmer side of the storm?

Upper strings drop out (texture is reduced)

Sonority:
What ensemble is used in the accompaniment?

Piano quintet (piano and string quartet)

Sonority:
What kind of vocals are used in this piece?

Tenor vocals

Sonority:
What marking/technique creates the image of a windy storm?

Trills/tremolos

Sonority:
Describe the word setting.

Mainly syllabic with some slurred notes