Dido and Aeneas- Two extended scenes

Aria- "Ah, Belinda"

• Miniature da capo aria.
• Based on four bar ground bass (providing a structural link to "When I am laid in earth")
• Mostly C minor tonality
• bars 29- 36 move to G minor (dominant minor)
• Uses varying phrase length
• Vocal phrases overlap ground bass.
• This makes it more interesting/ less repetitive.
• Extensive use of word painting to convey mood:
  • "Ah!"- sigh effect, suspension, not on the main beat.
  • "torment" descending, melismatic, negative
  • "I am press'd" Melismatic, rhythmically unstable- state of mind is fragile at this point.
• This aria is followed by a ritornello section, which is instrumental, and is based on the first 4 notes of the ground bass. There are imitative string entries throughout.

Recitative- "Grief Increases"

• begins as a duet between Dido and Belinda.
• Short, 1 bar phrases suggest Dido is struggling with her conscience.
• Sense of an argument created, especially by the lyrics "then let me speak".
• 2nd woman, as a detached character, is used to explain the…