Pieces › Henry Purcell

Sonata in G minor, Z. 807

Ground bass

Henry Purcell · c. 1680 · G minor · 221 bars · 441 chords analysed

Purcell loved the ground bass: a short bass line repeated over and over while the upper parts keep changing. These pieces show how much harmony can grow from one repeating pattern.

Keys visited: G minor, B♭ major, D minor, F major, C minor, B♭ minor, A♭ major, E♭ major.