Dowland: Flow My Tears Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

When was the piece composed?

1600

What is the style of music?

Lute song or Ayre

What is a pavane?

A type of dance in 4/4 (duple time) that is slow.

What musical time period was this in?

Late Renaissance Signup and view all the answers

What is significant about the piece being printed in a single folio book?

It made his music more widely available and all performers could read the music from one book. Signup and view all the answers

What instruments are used in the piece?

Lute and vocalist (countertenor) Signup and view all the answers

What is the range of the voice?

Over an octave, d' to e' Signup and view all the answers

What is the texture like?

Melody dominated homophony (melody and accompaniment) Signup and view all the answers

What is in bar 1 that creates 5 parts with the voice?

A 4-part chord in the lute's line Signup and view all the answers

In contrast to bar 1 where the lute has a 4-part chord, and to bar 16 where it has a 6-part chord, what happens in bar 4?

There are only 2 parts on the lute accompanying the voice Signup and view all the answers

How much imitation is there throughout the piece?

Hardly any, there is some in bar 12 (beat 1) and 15 (beat 3) Signup and view all the answers

What is significant about the vocal part in bar 12?

It moves in 6ths, in clear contrast to the treble and bass parts Signup and view all the answers

What key is this piece in?

A minor with some modal (Aeolian) inflections Signup and view all the answers

What cadence does section A finish with?

Perfect Signup and view all the answers

What landmarks are in section B?

It opens in the relative major (C major) and finishes with an imperfect/Phrygian cadence Signup and view all the answers

What cadence does section C finish with?

Perfect Signup and view all the answers

What is its structure?

Tripartite Signup and view all the answers

What is significant about the 5 stanzas?

Stanzas 1-2 are section A, 3-4 are section B and 5 (a repeat of 1-2) is section C Signup and view all the answers

What position are the chords usually in?

Root or first inversion, but there is a second inversion at bar 21 (beat 3) Signup and view all the answers

What is a Phrygian cadence?

IVb - V Signup and view all the answers

Name an example of when a suspension is used in the piece.

7-6 at bar 2 and 4-3 at bar 7 Signup and view all the answers

What does section C begin with?

A 2-bar dominant pedal Signup and view all the answers

What harmonic device heightens the melancholic feeling of the piece?

False relations. Seen in bar 5, beats 3 and 4, between the g natural and G sharp Signup and view all the answers

What is a Tièrce de Picarde?

A major third in the final chord of a piece in a minor key Signup and view all the answers

What bars are Tièrce de Picarde used in?

Bars 8 and 24 Signup and view all the answers

Is this piece melismatic?

False Signup and view all the answers

What is the vocal range of the piece?

A major ninth - d' to e'' but it isn't very extreme in pitch Signup and view all the answers

What melodic features add to the melancholic feeling?

Falling 4ths represent tears (tear motif), there is also a falling scalic figure in bar 1 and the inverted form in bars 9 and 17. The minor key also helps. Signup and view all the answers

What time signature is it in?

Simple quadruple time (3/2) Signup and view all the answers

What rhythmic features does he use to vary the piece's rhythm?

Tied and dotted notes, rests and syncopation. Also longer notes to stress certain words such as 'flow' and 'live' Signup and view all the answers

What does the bass part do alongside the melody of the solo part?

Moves in rhythmic counterpoint (contrasting rhythms) Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Composition Details

Composed in 1600 but originated as an instrumental piece in 1596.
The piece is classified as a Lute song or Ayre, highlighting its intimate style.

Dance and Musical Period

Features a pavane, a slow 4/4 dance.
Belongs to the Late Renaissance music period.

Notation and Forces

Printed in a single folio book, increasing accessibility for performers.
Utilizes lute and countertenor as the main forces.

Vocal Range and Texture

Vocal range spans over an octave from d' to e'.
Texture is characterized by melody-dominated homophony, primarily featuring a clear melody with accompaniment.

Textural Variations

A four-part chord in the lute's line creates complexity in bar 1.
In bar 4, the lute simplifies to only two parts accompanying the voice.
Limited imitation throughout, with examples occurring in bars 12 and 15.

Tonal Elements

Set in A minor, incorporating modal (Aeolian) influences.
Section A concludes with a perfect cadence, while section B transitions to C major and ends with an imperfect/Phrygian cadence.
Section C also finishes with a perfect cadence, framing the overall structure.

Structural Composition

The piece adheres to a tripartite structure with five stanzas.
Stanzas 1-2 represent section A, stanzas 3-4 form section B, and stanza 5 mirrors section A.

Harmonic Features

Chords primarily in root or first inversion, with a second inversion noted at bar 21.
Phrygian cadence example is found with the progression IVb - V.
Suspensions occur at notable points, specifically 7-6 at bar 2 and 4-3 at bar 7.

Harmonic Devices and Melancholy

Section C starts with a 2-bar dominant pedal, reinforcing its tonal grounding.
False relations, particularly between g natural and G sharp in bar 5, contribute to the piece's melancholic mood.
A Tièrce de Picarde, or a major third in the final chord, appears in bars 8 and 24.

Melodic Characteristics

The piece is predominantly syllabic, lacking extensive melisma.
Vocal range encompasses a major ninth, from d' to e'', indicating moderate pitch complexity.
Melodic motifs such as falling fourths symbolize tears, contributing to the overall emotional atmosphere.

Rhythm and Meter

Written in simple quadruple time (3/2).
Rhythmic diversity introduced through tied and dotted notes, syncopation, and rests, accentuating words like 'flow' and 'live.'
The bass part engages in rhythmic counterpoint, contrasting with the melody of the solo part.

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Description

Test your knowledge on John Dowland's famous piece 'Flow My Tears' with these flashcards. Learn about its composition date, musical style, and the pavane dance, all set in the late Renaissance period.