Lessons · Showcase

Arioso

Singing over a pulse

% Bach's Arioso (the slow movement of the F minor keyboard concerto,
% BWV 1056) sings over an accompaniment that never varies: one octave
% in the bass, struck LONG then SHORT, twice a bar. Two bars of it walk
% down the scale a step at a time: g, f#, e, d.
 
bpm 31
instrument hollow
meter 4
unit 1/4
key g4 maj
mode diatonic
 
Oct     ::= {...5, ..5}
Tread   ::= Oct _6 Oct _2
Descent ::= Tread@~3 Tread@~2 Tread@~1 Tread
 
Descent
 
 
% Above the tread the strings TOLL twice a half bar: on its second and
% third eighth, silent under the long octave and under the short one. One
% shape, a3 d4 f#4, moved by scale steps: @~3 gives the tonic G, @~-1 the
% subdominant C, @~2 the dominant seventh over the d in the bass. Four
% harmonies in two bars, and not one change of rhythm.
 
Toll ::= - _2 {.2 _2, .5 _2, .7 _2}*2 - _2
 
{Toll@~3 Toll Toll@~-1 Toll@~2, Descent}
 
 
% The singer's unit is a HALF BAR: one note leaned on for five
% sixteenths, then three quick ones out of it. 's1' is one scale step up
% from the last pitch written, so the rise is spelled once and starts
% wherever the lean leaves it. Bar 1 is the gesture twice, the second
% time a step lower.
 
Rise ::= s1 s1 s1
Lean ::= .3 _5 Rise
 
Lean
{Lean Lean@~-1, Toll@~3 Toll, Tread@~3 Tread@~2}
 
 
% Bar 2 is the one bar that does not lean: the line vaults an octave and
% CASCADES down in thirds ('s-2 s-2', twice over) while the tread steps
% e to d underneath. Ten notes in the bar against the bass's four.
 
Cascade ::= .1 _2 1 s-2 s-2 _5 2 s-2 s-2 .4 _2 .3 .5
 
Cascade
{Cascade, Toll@~-1*4 Toll@~2*4, Tread@~1 Tread}
 
 
% The frame holds and only the TAIL changes: bar 3 dips a third and
% climbs back to g after the phrase's one rest, bar 4 arches up the A
% seventh and falls home to the a it started on. Underneath, the tread
% stops repeating and WALKS all four of its steps inside a single bar.
 
Turn   ::= s-2 s1 s1
Fall   ::= s-2 s-2 s-1
Breath ::= .3 _2 .2 .1 - _4 1 _5 Turn
Arch   ::= .2 _5 .5b .6 1 .7 _5 Fall
Walk   ::= Oct _6@~3 Oct _2@~2 Oct _6@~1 Oct _2
 
{Breath, Toll@~3*4 Toll@~1*4, Walk}
  {Arch, {.6 _2, 1 _2, 2 _2}*4 Toll*4, Tread@-1 Oct _6 Oct _2@-1}
 
 
% THE WHOLE ARIOSO: the song entire, over its pulse.
 
bpm 31
meter 4
unit 1/4
key g4 maj
mode diatonic
 
% The cast, every motif and chord the lead line uses:
 
M47 ::= d4 e4
M31 ::= .3 _5 .4 M47
M48 ::= g4 e4
M44 ::= c4 _2 b3
S1 ::= M31 M31@~-1 .1 _2 M48 .4 _5 2 .7 .5 M44
M45 ::= f#4 g4
M38 ::= 2 4
M32 ::= 1 .6 .5
M13 ::= .5 _5 .7 M38 3 _5 M32
M43 ::= f#3 g3
M28 ::= 1 _6 - _2
M46 ::= a3 b3
Run ::= 4 3b 2
M34 ::= 2/2 1/2
M39 ::= .1 .2
M35 ::= ..7 M39 .3
M24 ::= ..7 _2/3 .1 _2/3
M4 ::= M24~@~-1 M24 M24
M27 ::= .1 _5 ..3 ..6 ..5b
S5 ::= .4 .3 _8/15 .1/6 .2 _2/15 .3/6 .2 _3 .1
 
key d4 maj
key a4 min
key g4 maj
% mm.1-3: M11 stepped through the scale; M16 stepped through the scale; M17 stepped through the scale · 3 voices.
F1a ::= S1 .5 .3 _2 .2 .1 - _4 1 _5 .6 M45
F1a
 
key d4 maj
% mm.1-3: M11 stepped through the scale; M16 stepped through the scale; M17 stepped through the scale · 3 voices.
F4a1 ::= M13 M13@~-1 M43 .7 1 1 _5 M38 6 .7 _3 1 M28 M28
F4a2 ::= 3b _5 M32 .5b _5 M46 .7b
F4a1 F4a2
 
 
% Part 2, from m.1
 
% mm.1-3: M11 stepped through the scale; M16 stepped through the scale; M17 stepped through the scale · 3 voices.
F9a ::= M47 3b 5b 6 _2 1 _2 M44 .5 7b _5 6 5 6/2 5b/2 5 _5 Run Run@-5 5b
F9a
 
 
% Part 3, from m.1
 
key a4 min
% mm.1-3: M11 stepped through the scale; M16 stepped through the scale; M17 stepped through the scale · 3 voices.
F11a ::= 1 M34 .7#/2 1 _31/30 2 _7/30 3 _7/30 2 _3 1 1 _6 - _2 .3 _5 .2 .1 .3 .2 _5 M35 M35@~4 M34@~-3 .6 _2*2 .5 _2 - M39 .3
F11a
 
key g4 maj
% mm.1-3: M11 stepped through the scale; M16 stepped through the scale; M17 stepped through the scale · 3 voices.
F14a1 ::= M4 M24~@~1 .2 _2/3 M4@5 2 _3 .3 .4 M46 .5 M48 .5 .4 M45 .3 _2 .2 _2 - _4 S1 .4
F14a2 ::= .3 .5 .3 .1 ..7b _2 ..6 ..7b ..6 _5 ..7 M43
F14a1 F14a2
 
 
% Part 4, from m.1
 
% mm.1-3: M11 stepped through the scale; M16 stepped through the scale; M17 stepped through the scale · 3 voices.
F19a ::= .1 M43 ..6 ..7 _3 .1 M27 ..5 .1 S5 .1 _6 - _2 M27 ..6 .1 S5@-12 ..1 _16
F19a

% Bach's Arioso (the slow movement of the F minor keyboard concerto,
% BWV 1056) sings over an accompaniment that never varies: one octave
% in the bass, struck LONG then SHORT, twice a bar. Two bars of it walk
% down the scale a step at a time: g, f#, e, d.

bpm 31
instrument hollow
meter 4
unit 1/4
key g4 maj
mode diatonic

Oct     ::= {...5, ..5}
Tread   ::= Oct _6 Oct _2
Descent ::= Tread@~3 Tread@~2 Tread@~1 Tread

Descent

% Above the tread the strings TOLL twice a half bar: on its second and
% third eighth, silent under the long octave and under the short one. One
% shape, a3 d4 f#4, moved by scale steps: @~3 gives the tonic G, @~-1 the
% subdominant C, @~2 the dominant seventh over the d in the bass. Four
% harmonies in two bars, and not one change of rhythm.

Toll ::= - _2 {.2 _2, .5 _2, .7 _2}*2 - _2

{Toll@~3 Toll Toll@~-1 Toll@~2, Descent}

% The singer's unit is a HALF BAR: one note leaned on for five
% sixteenths, then three quick ones out of it. 's1' is one scale step up
% from the last pitch written, so the rise is spelled once and starts
% wherever the lean leaves it. Bar 1 is the gesture twice, the second
% time a step lower.

Rise ::= s1 s1 s1
Lean ::= .3 _5 Rise

Lean
{Lean Lean@~-1, Toll@~3 Toll, Tread@~3 Tread@~2}

% Bar 2 is the one bar that does not lean: the line vaults an octave and
% CASCADES down in thirds ('s-2 s-2', twice over) while the tread steps
% e to d underneath. Ten notes in the bar against the bass's four.

Cascade ::= .1 _2 1 s-2 s-2 _5 2 s-2 s-2 .4 _2 .3 .5

Cascade
{Cascade, Toll@~-1*4 Toll@~2*4, Tread@~1 Tread}

% The frame holds and only the TAIL changes: bar 3 dips a third and
% climbs back to g after the phrase's one rest, bar 4 arches up the A
% seventh and falls home to the a it started on. Underneath, the tread
% stops repeating and WALKS all four of its steps inside a single bar.

Turn   ::= s-2 s1 s1
Fall   ::= s-2 s-2 s-1
Breath ::= .3 _2 .2 .1 - _4 1 _5 Turn
Arch   ::= .2 _5 .5b .6 1 .7 _5 Fall
Walk   ::= Oct _6@~3 Oct _2@~2 Oct _6@~1 Oct _2

{Breath, Toll@~3*4 Toll@~1*4, Walk}
  {Arch, {.6 _2, 1 _2, 2 _2}*4 Toll*4, Tread@-1 Oct _6 Oct _2@-1}

% THE WHOLE ARIOSO: the song entire, over its pulse.

bpm 31
meter 4
unit 1/4
key g4 maj
mode diatonic

% The cast, every motif and chord the lead line uses:

M47 ::= d4 e4
M31 ::= .3 _5 .4 M47
M48 ::= g4 e4
M44 ::= c4 _2 b3
S1 ::= M31 M31@~-1 .1 _2 M48 .4 _5 2 .7 .5 M44
M45 ::= f#4 g4
M38 ::= 2 4
M32 ::= 1 .6 .5
M13 ::= .5 _5 .7 M38 3 _5 M32
M43 ::= f#3 g3
M28 ::= 1 _6 - _2
M46 ::= a3 b3
Run ::= 4 3b 2
M34 ::= 2/2 1/2
M39 ::= .1 .2
M35 ::= ..7 M39 .3
M24 ::= ..7 _2/3 .1 _2/3
M4 ::= M24~@~-1 M24 M24
M27 ::= .1 _5 ..3 ..6 ..5b
S5 ::= .4 .3 _8/15 .1/6 .2 _2/15 .3/6 .2 _3 .1

key d4 maj
key a4 min
key g4 maj
% mm.1-3: M11 stepped through the scale; M16 stepped through the scale; M17 stepped through the scale · 3 voices.
F1a ::= S1 .5 .3 _2 .2 .1 - _4 1 _5 .6 M45
F1a

key d4 maj
% mm.1-3: M11 stepped through the scale; M16 stepped through the scale; M17 stepped through the scale · 3 voices.
F4a1 ::= M13 M13@~-1 M43 .7 1 1 _5 M38 6 .7 _3 1 M28 M28
F4a2 ::= 3b _5 M32 .5b _5 M46 .7b
F4a1 F4a2

% Part 2, from m.1

% mm.1-3: M11 stepped through the scale; M16 stepped through the scale; M17 stepped through the scale · 3 voices.
F9a ::= M47 3b 5b 6 _2 1 _2 M44 .5 7b _5 6 5 6/2 5b/2 5 _5 Run Run@-5 5b
F9a

% Part 3, from m.1

key a4 min
% mm.1-3: M11 stepped through the scale; M16 stepped through the scale; M17 stepped through the scale · 3 voices.
F11a ::= 1 M34 .7#/2 1 _31/30 2 _7/30 3 _7/30 2 _3 1 1 _6 - _2 .3 _5 .2 .1 .3 .2 _5 M35 M35@~4 M34@~-3 .6 _2*2 .5 _2 - M39 .3
F11a

key g4 maj
% mm.1-3: M11 stepped through the scale; M16 stepped through the scale; M17 stepped through the scale · 3 voices.
F14a1 ::= M4 M24~@~1 .2 _2/3 M4@5 2 _3 .3 .4 M46 .5 M48 .5 .4 M45 .3 _2 .2 _2 - _4 S1 .4
F14a2 ::= .3 .5 .3 .1 ..7b _2 ..6 ..7b ..6 _5 ..7 M43
F14a1 F14a2

% Part 4, from m.1

% mm.1-3: M11 stepped through the scale; M16 stepped through the scale; M17 stepped through the scale · 3 voices.
F19a ::= .1 M43 ..6 ..7 _3 .1 M27 ..5 .1 S5 .1 _6 - _2 M27 ..6 .1 S5@-12 ..1 _16
F19a

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Arioso · Showcase