Area of Study 1, Ground Bass

1. Area of Study 1, Ground Bass • A ground bass is a repeated bass part (also known as an ostinato) that is four or eight bars long. • The tune is played over the ground bass part. • In order for the music not to get too boring the tune and the texture of the music changes. • You can change the key of the ground bass to vary it as well. • Activity: • Write down three ways in which the tune and texture over a ground bass could be varied.

2. 1. The melody could be changed, have notes added or be decorated. • 2. The harmonies could become more complex • 3. There could be more than two lines (ground bass and melody), • More instruments and more parts could be added and the texture could be changed. • The ground bass has a monophonic texture. • When you add a melody parts (that play roughly at the same time) the music has a homophonic texture. • If the melody, the ground bass and the harmonies play at different times the music has a polyphonic texture.

3. Listening and Appraising • Listen to this music ‘Pachelbel’s (1653-1706) Canon’. • 1. How many bars long is the ground bass? • 2. How does the composer vary the tune? • 3. How does the composer vary the texture? • 4. Can you think of any similarities with pop music?

4. A bit more on ground bass • The Chaconne and Passacaglia are dances that use the ground bass. • In the Chaconne the ground bass is a repeated chord pattern • In the Passacaglia the ground bass has a tuneful bass part that usually has three beats in a bar. • The ground bass was most popular in the 17th and 18th Centuries but was used later as well.

5. Activities • Compose an eight bar ground bass • Compose a main tune to go over your ground bass and one variation • Perform your ground bass When composing take into account what instruments the group plays – this way compositions can be played live, not always on the computer.