Introduction to Vocal Music: The development of Secular Song
Listen to the following songs and use the words listed at the bottom to comment on when each song was composed and the features of each song:
Song
1
2
3
4
5
6
June 2015
When it was composed
Features of the Melody
Features of the Harmony
Features of the Accompaniment
When it was composed
Melodic Features
Harmonic Features
Accompaniment Features
Before 1500
Sequence
Primary chords
Repeating rhythmic patterns
Renaissance (1500–1600)
Arpeggio/broken chords
Diatonic harmony
Vocal line doubled in
Baroque (1600–1750)
Scale movement
More chromatic chords
accompaniment
Classical era (1750–1830)
Each phrase begins in the same
Bass line (2 part texture)
Accompaniment is independent of
Romantic era (1830–1900)
way
Perfect Cadence
the melody
Even/uneven length phrases
No tonal centre
Homophonic texture
One note per syllable
Modal
Imitation between voice and
th
20 Century
Melismatic word setting
Songs used for this Listening activity could include any of the following:
Folk Song such as Early one Morning, Scarborough Fair,
John Dowland “Unquiet thoughts”, “Burst forth my tears”
Handel “Where’ere you walk”
Purcell “When I am laid in earth”
Haydn “Sailor’s Song”
Schubert “Standchen”, “Gretchen am Spinnrade”
Vaughan Williams “The sky above the roof”, “The Vagabond”
Warlock “Sleep” or “Pretty Ring Time”
June 2015
accompaniment