Nichi Tuitt

Compare and contrast two ensemble songs of your choice

with reference to text setting, melody, rhythm, tonality, and
harmony.

It couldn’t please me more and married are both similar through

their romantic styles however they are portrayed through different
styles.

In it couldn’t please me more, strings are used to give the music a

romantic feel. However in married the romantic mood is set by the
change in meter. The introduction is in simple quadruple meter but
then moves into simple triple meter which gives a slow waltz feel
contributing to the romantic mood.

Another feature of the music that adds to the romantic feel of the
pieces is the word painting. In it couldn’t please me more a disjunct
leap is used to emphasise the pineapple the highlight of the song.
Similarly married makes use of word painting to emphasise the
main feature if the song. The music makes a disjunct leap to
emphasise the positive view of each other. Both married and it
couldn’t please me more are written in syllabic format for simplicity
and clarity of the words and message in the song. The syllabic
format could also be to do with the music. Syllabic is simple and so
doesn’t take away from the music which is vital for the romantic
genre. However the Ah’s in it couldn’t please me more are written in
mellismatic format. This format is used to emphasise the unison of
the couple’s voice. Highlighting the romance.

The instrumentation adds to the romantic feel of the pieces. In it

couldn’t please me mores strings are used throughout but are most
prominent at the introduction. It’s almost as if the music is telling
the reader about the romance between Herr Shultz and Frau
Schneider. Brass instruments are used for comical effect, to show
the comical link between the pineapple icon and the elderly
relationship. A glockenspiel is used to show the innocence of Frau
Schneider. There is also an instrumental section used for a romantic
dance the brass takes the melody. A Guitar slide is used to give a
Hawaiian feel to the music- association with the pineapple. The
instrumentation in married is different to that it couldn’t please me
more though they both aim to portray the same romantic feel. The
introduction of married is similar to that of it couldn’t please me
more, it’s based on the Ah’s it links to the previous song reminding
the audience of the romance. The decoration in the main
accompaniment played by the flutes adds innocence and a fluttery
feel to the music. A Celeste is used in bar 20; it adds in magic,
lightness and innocence another example of word painting. The
violins double the melody, the bass plays pizzicato and the flutes
provide a counter melody. However one main difference between
married and it couldn’t please me more is the tremolo style in the
strings. It gives a sinister feel to the music which reminds the
audience that even though there is romance there’s still the danger
with being associated with a Jew.

Chromaticism is prominent throughout it couldn’t please me more, it

adds to the light heartedness of the music. The bass line moves
from tonic to dominant constantly. Within one phrase the music
moves between one octave again emphasising the pineapple.
Disjunct leaps also emphasise the pineapple. The Ah’s are conjunct;
the voices imitate the Hawaiian breezes however there are clashes
in the harmony. Similarly married makes use of chromaticism; the
semitones are repeated on the word married for emphasis. The bass
line moves i-v throughout. The music starts in F major however later
on moves into Ab major. There are broken chords and arpeggios
(including 2nd inversion arpeggios) throughout the piece adding to
the romantic feel of the music. Married makes use of pervasive
rhythms which are repeated throughout the music. Sequences are
used throughout the music but with variety they move one tone
higher, in descending scales and link back to the original melody.