word painting

• the (mostly) minor key is appropriate for the serious, sad mood of the text
• the word 'eternal' (bar 20) is sung as a long melisma
• the word 'drop' (bar 23) is repeated in a descending pattern (going down) representing the snakes dropping from Alecta's head
• the phrase 'free the dead' (bar 16-17) is set to a triumphant section in the bright key of G major
• the word 'wondering' (bar 10) uses a wandering, descending legato (smooth) melismatic melody
• the phrase 'pains were eased' (bar 12-13) features a dissonance and resolution