Job chapter 3, structural analysis of the music

I wonder if the music of the poetry of Job shows the textual structure. I have already noted here nearly 10 years ago how the narrator parts of Job frame each of the interactions.

I claim that the narrator's part is prose, much as the rubrics in a play. Some disagree with me that these snippets should be regarded as prose. I remember distinctly having to code for a prose ornament specifically for the narrator, but my edition at the time may have been defective. Job has always been among the first of my experiments whether in translation or composition.

This might seem to be an aside, but the narrator in verse 1 is introducing a structural element. The narrator anticipates with the high C the reciting pitch that will help the listener hear the first speech of Job. Rubrics with a purpose.

Job 3 verses 1-2, sung by the narrator

1 So after this Job opened his mouth and slighted his day. (1-1)
א אחרי־כ֗ן פת֤ח איוב֙ את־פ֔יהו ויקל֖ל את־יומֽו פ	18		a akri-cn ptk aiob at-pihu viqll at-iomo p
2 And Job answered and said, (1-1)
ב וי֥ען אי֗וב ויאמֽר	8		b viyn aiob viamr

The poem begins in verse 3. It starts on the dominant, B, in the thick of human turmoil, clearly referring back to chapters 1 and 2. Job has a slightly greater percentage (29.3%) of its poetic verses starting on a note other than the tonic compared to the Psalms (27.3%), and a lesser percentage of those starting on a high C (including when preceded by an ornament), 22.7% for Job vs 26.0% for the Psalms. Interestingly, of the three books, Proverbs has the highest percentage of verses not starting on the tonic (34.5%).

I look on those verses beginning on the high C as being the verses with the highest level of intensity. I have not analyzed all of them, of course. That's why I am putting these posts into the public domain. It's too much for one analyst. But on the high C recitations, those I have seen and heard express anguish, appeal, grief, or rejoicing among other emotions. Whereas the B, just one degree below the sixth expresses narrative, proclamation, announcement, and moving the story along. The A, subdominant, is the inner verse note of repose (unless you sharpen it). No verse ever begins with A. Most verses begin on the tonic. The poetry has a higher percentage of verses not beginning on the tonic (29.2) compared with the prose (9.3%).

Here's a comparative graph:

Percentage of verses by first note (Poetry)

As I sing through this chapter, the feature that stands out the most is the two consecutive verses, 10 and 11, that begin on the high C. Verse 7 also has a high C and this might allow for splitting the section.

But notice that chapter 3 actually has a tenor of A. Job is an actor who has read the script and is at ease with the role he has to play, though he is no longer at ease. One of the decisions the composer must have made is where to place the inner-verse rest(s) if it is decided to use them. Always take note of the intent at the atnah, the subdominant and not only when it is present, but when it is absent also. What word is it on?

Job 3: Syllables: 474; Longest recitation: 8; Tenor:  A  21.73%;
Ornament density: 10.2%; Average phrase length: 9.1.

Job chapter 3 - verses 3 to 11.

Verses 12 to 20 again have two verses that begin on high C in verses 12 to 20, but they are split. Each of these sections continues the prior section as is seem from the opening notes (g in verse 12 and B in verse 17). 

3 ♪B Perish! day when I was born, and the night promising pregnancy of a valiant child. (B-1-4-1)
ג י֣אבד י֭ום‬ או֣לד ב֑ו והל֥ילה א֝מ֗ר ה֣רה גֽבר	7 10		g iabd iom aivvld bo vhlilh amr horh gbr
4 That day - let it be darkness. Let God not search for it from above, nor let a sunbeam on it shine. (1-2-4-1)
ד הי֥ום הה֗וא יֽה֫י ח֥שך אֽל־ידרש֣הו אל֣וה ממ֑על ואל־תופ֖ע על֣יו נהרֽה	8 11 9		d hiom hhua ihi kowç al-idrwhu aloh mmyl val-topy yliv nhrh
5 Let darkness and shadows sully it. Let dwell on it a cloud. Let eclipses of the day alarm it. (1-4-1)
ה יגאל֡הו ח֣שך ו֭צלמות תשכן־על֣יו עננ֑ה י֝בעת֗הו כֽמר֥ירי יֽום	17 9		h igaluhu kowç vxlmvvt twcon-yliv ynnh ibytuhu cmriri iom
6 The night, that very one, let gloom take it. Let it not be cheered with the days of the year. Into the count of moons let it not come. (1-2-4-1)
ו הל֥ילה ההוא֮ יקח֪ה֫ו א֥פל אל־י֭חד בימ֣י שנ֑ה במספ֥ר י֝רח֗ים אל־יבֽא	11 7 9		v hlilh hhua iiqkhu aopl al-iikd bimi wnh bmspr irkim al-iboa
7 Behold that night, let it be bleak. Let come to it no shout of joy. (1-4-1)
ז הנ֤ה הל֣ילה ה֭הוא יה֣י גלמ֑וד אל־תב֖א רננ֣ה בֽו	11 7		z hnh hlilh hhua ihi glmud al-tboa rnnh bo
8 Let them pierce it that curse the day, those eager to unleash Leviathan. (1-4-1)
ח יקב֥הו אררי־י֑ום ה֝עתיד֗ים ער֥ר לויתֽן	6 9		k iiqbuhu aorri-iom hytidim yorr lvvitn
9 Let the stars of its twilight be dark. Let it expect light but have none. Neither let it see the eyelids of dawn. (1-2-4-1)
ט יחשכו֮ כוכב֪י נ֫שפ֥ו יקו־לא֥ור וא֑ין ואל־י֝רא֗ה בעפעפי־שֽחר	7 6 9		T ikwcu cocbi nwpo iqv-laor vain val-irah bypypi-wkr
10 ♪C For it did not latch the portal to my belly-home, and hide misery from my eyes. (C-1-4-1)
י כ֤י ל֣א ס֭גר דלת֣י בטנ֑י ויסת֥ר ע֝מ֗ל מעינֽי	8 8		i ci la sgr dlti bTni vistr yml myinii
11 ♪C Why did I not from the womb die, from the belly exit and expire? (C-1-4-1)
יא ל֤מה ל֣א מר֣חם אמ֑ות מב֖טן יצ֣אתי ואגוֽע	8 9		ia lmh la mrkm amut mbTn ixati vagvvy

Job chapter 3 - verses 12 to 16.

12 ♪g For what purpose did knees confront me, and why breasts that I should suckle? (g-1-4-1)
יב מ֭דוע קדמ֣וני ברכ֑ים ומה־ש֝ד֗ים כ֣י אינֽק	9 7		ib mduy qidmuni brciim umh-wdiim ci ainq
13 For now I would be lying down and quiet. I would be asleep then. It would be my rest, (1-4-1)
יג כֽי־ע֭תה שכ֣בתי ואשק֑וט י֝ש֗נתי א֤ז ינ֬וחֽ לֽי	8 8		ig ci-yth wcbti vawqoT iwnti az inuk li
14 with kings and counselors of earth, who built their ruins, (1-4-1)
יד עם־מ֭לכים וי֣עצי א֑רץ הבנ֖ים חרב֣ות לֽמו	10 8		id ym-mlcim vioyxi arx hbonim korbot lmo
15 ♪B or with nobility, their gold, their houses filled with silver, (B-1-4-1)
טו א֣ו עם־ש֭רים זה֣ב לה֑ם הֽממלא֖ים בתיה֣ם כֽסף	8 8		Tv ao ym-wrim zhb lhm hmmlaim btihm csf
16 ♪C or as a miscarriage buried I had not been, as infants who did not see light. (C-1-4-1)
טז א֤ו‬ כנ֣פל ט֭מון ל֣א אהי֑ה כ֝עלל֗ים לא־ר֥או אֽור	9 6		Tz ao cnpl Tmun la ahih cyollim la-rau aor

Job chapter 3 - verses 17 to 20.

17 ♪B There the wicked set aside shuddering, and there rest those who are weary of power. (B-1-4-1)
יז ש֣ם ר֭שעים ח֣דלו ר֑גז וש֥ם י֝נ֗וחו יג֣יעי כֽח	8 10		iz wm rwyim kdlu rogz vwm inuku igiyi cok
18 ♪g Together prisoners are tranquil. They do not hear an exacting voice. (g-1-4-1)
יח י֭חד אסיר֣ים שאנ֑נו ל֥א ש֝מע֗ו ק֣ול נגֽש	9 6		ik ikd asirim wannu la wmyu qol nogw
19 Unimportant or great, there it is. And a servant is free from its lords. (1-4-1)
יט קט֣ן ו֭גדול ש֣ם ה֑וא ו֝ע֗בד חפש֥י מאדנֽיו	7 9		iT qTon vgdol wm hua vybd kopwi madoniv
20 ♪C Why give to the miserable light, and life to the bitter self? (C-1-4-1)
כ ל֤מה ית֣ן לעמ֣ל א֑ור ו֝חי֗ים למ֣רי נֽפש	8 8		c lmh iitn lyml aor vkiim lmri npw

Finally each of the last two verses of the chapter begins on a high C. And the last verse is without an inner rest as suits the words.

Job chapter 3 - verses 21 to 26.

21 Those tarrying for death and it is not, and who excavate for it more than buried treasure, (1-4-1)
כא הֽמחכ֣ים למ֣ות ואינ֑נו וֽ֝יחפר֗הו ממטמונֽים	10 9		ca hmkcim lmvvt vainnu vikpruhu mmTmonim
22 who are glad even to rejoicing, for joy that they find a tomb. (1-4-1)
כב השמח֥ים אלי־ג֑יל י֝ש֗ישו כ֣י ימצאו־קֽבר	6 8		cb hwmkim ali-gil iwiwu ci imxau-qbr
23 ♪g ... to the valiant whose way is hidden, from whom God has screened himself. (g-1-4-1)
כג ל֭גבר אשר־דרכ֣ו נסת֑רה וי֖סך אל֣וה בעדֽו	10 9		cg lgbr awr-drco nstrh visç aloh bydo
24 For in the face of my bread, my sighing comes, and poured forth like waters are my roarings. (1-4-1)
כד כֽי־לפנ֣י ל֭חמי אנחת֣י תב֑א וֽיתכ֥ו כ֝מ֗ים שאגתֽי	10 9		cd ci-lpni lkmi ankti tboa viitcu cmim wagotii
25 ♪C For the dread I dreaded has arrived, and what I was afraid of is come to me. (C-1-4-1)
כה כ֤י פ֣חד פ֭חדתי ויאתי֑ני ואש֥ר י֝ג֗רתי י֣בא לֽי	12 9		ch ci pkd pkdti viatiini vawr igorti iboa li
26 ♪C I have no ease nor am I quiet nor am I at rest and shuddering has come. (C-1-1)
כו ל֤א של֨ותי ול֖א שק֥טתי וֽלא־נ֗חתי וי֥בא רֽגז פ	19		cv la wlvvti vla wqTti vla-nkti viboa rogz p

This structure around the high C reminds me of the music of Psalm 96. (Performance here.)

The music in these posts is derived from the accents in the Hebrew Bible. Introductions - letters, music, text and music, and terminology, are here. You will also find them reworked in the emerging e-pub of Job here.