ANALYSIS
Because of the alterations in the notation it is not possible to be precise about how many
beats contain struck bass notes, but there could be 31 or 32 out of a reconstructed total of
48, which is about two-thirds. 17 beats (just over half of the bass) contain main bass notes
which harmonise the treble by 3rds and 6ths. This is a lot and covers almost 3/8 of the
entire piece, which well exceeds the equivalent figure of about 2/9 for the Fairy Queen.
This seems to indicate that the Banks of Claudy arrangement was composed in a later style.
Again it is uncertain how many beats show the treble or bass part sounding on their own but
this would be between 14 and 17, which is between 2/8 and 3/8 of the whole piece. The
bass takes the melody, for 6 of these beats, which is a sixth of the whole bass.
This leaves 2/6 of the bass. Of this, the number of beats of the bass containing
harmonisation of octaves or fifths is also unsure. There may have been between 8 and 13
harmonisations at octave. Ignoring the A dyad, the piece might have originally contained no
harmonisations at the fifth between treble and bass. Alternatively there might have been as
many as 5 including the A dyad.
There could have been between 6 and 8 octave chords for the right hand, one or two triads
for the right hand and perhaps the A dyad which comprises the intervals of a 4th and 5th.
The tendency of the 3rd to appear between the main bass and treble notes when the
melody note is the third note of a hypothetical triad is displayed here as 9 or 12 out of the
17 instances of harmonisation by 3rds and 6ths in the tables show the melody note in this
light. Bar 10, 2nd beat, 1st quaver might be an example if a hypothetical passing chord of B
is interpreted here. Bar 1, 1st beat, 2nd quaver plus bar 1, 2nd beat, 2nd quaver might
also be examples if the first semiquaver is seen as a stressed passing note.
The remaining 5 or 8 instances of 3rds/6ths are divided between the melody note being
either the fifth (3 or 5 instances) or tonic (2 or 3 instances) of the hypothetical triad.
Only 5 of the 17 instances contain the interval of a 6th, and the melody note is the 3rd of a
hypothetical triad in only two of these.
Banks of Claudy
Analysis