Dowland - Flow my tears

Vocal set works 2011

?
  • Created by: Joe
  • Created on: 26-04-11 18:48

Background

- Ayre or lute song

- Based on pre-existing work: Pavan Lachrimae (Tearful Pavan)

- Published in 1600

- Intended for performance at court

- Marked by melancholy atmosphere - characteristic of composer

1 of 7

Rhythm and metre

- 4/4 in characteristic slow pavan tempo

- Syncopation

- Dotted Rhythms

- Ornamental

- Shorter note lengths near cadences

2 of 7

Melody and word setting

- Opening stepwise descending line matches the text describing falling tears

- Syllabic underlay except for ornamental figuration (bars 7 and 23)

- Verbal accentuation not always synchronised

- Line broken by rests - convey 'teares and sighes' (bar 12)

- 1st syllable of 'Happie' - highest note in the melody

- Overall range of 9th (D to E)

- Diminished 4th (G# to C) bar 22

3 of 7

Harmony

- Frequent perfect and phrygian cadences

- Suspension

  • e.g. 7-6 at bars 1-2 and 4-3 at bar 7

- False Relation (bar 5)

- Tierce de Picardie (bars 8 and 24)


4 of 7

Tonality

- A minor

- Aeolian inflections (descending melodic minor scale)

- 2nd section starts in C

  • Finishes with a Phrygian cadence in A minor
  • 
5 of 7

Structure

- 3 part structure (tripartite)

  • Each section repeated - AA BB CC
  • Typical pavan structure
6 of 7

Resources/Texture

- Voice, lute and bass viol

- Melody and accompaniment

  • Between homophony and free counterpoint
  • 

- Dialogue / antiphony - chanted/sung as a response

- Brief imitation

  • Bars 13-14
7 of 7

Comments

No comments have yet been made

Similar Music resources:

See all Music resources »