Music For A While

• MELODY

  There are some descending sequences, such as in bar 20

  Rests are used to break up melodic phrases

  The stepwise movement of the melody means it can be described as a "conjunct" melody
• TONALITY

  During the middle (B) section the piece modulates through several related keys—E major (the dominant key—bar 15 & 28), G major in the middle of bar 18, C major (relative major—in bar 22), A major (the tonic major—middle of bar 23) and finally back to A minor in bar 29
• INSTRUMENTS

  The right hand of the harpsichord plays a “realisation” (which would have been improvised at the time), which fills out the chords of the piece.
• WORD PAINTING

  The phrase "free the dead" (bars 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" (bars 12-13) features a dissonance and resolution
• HARMONY

  Suspensions are used very occasionally. For example, there is a 4–3 suspension in bar 3 beat 4 1⁄2 in the harpsichord part.

  The right hand of the harpsichord plays an elaborate realisation, which has been interpreted from the original figured bass
• THE GROUND BASS

  After 4 and a half repeats of the ground bass it begins to modulate into different keys. In the final A section (bar 29) it returns to the repeating pattern from the start of the piece.
• TEXTURE

  The elaborate realisation played by the right hand of the harpsichord makes the texture feel polyphonic at times
• RHYHM and METRE

  There are some dotted rhythms in the vocal part. There is occasional syncopation