Tupelo Honey: Melody, Rhythm and Metre

Melody

• Improvised variants on melodic shape
• Three note Motif (D,F,G) heard throught the piece e.g. The opening flute
• Based on a 5-note Bb pentatonic scale (Bb,C,D,F,G) 
• The Melody uses the higer end of the male range. The highest note Bb is in bar 37
• Mostly Syllabic, whith Melismatic sections
• Dictated by lyrics, not melody line

Rhythm and Metre

• 4/4
• Slow ballad (allows room for improvisation/decoration)
• Vocal line is syncopated 
• Complex solo sections (bar 21-36)
• Bass uses repeated rhythmic ideas