A guide in preparing for the: Listening and Appraising Exam

Transcription

1 A guide in preparing for the: Listening and Appraising Exam 1

2 Exam overview 90 minute exam based on 12 prescribed works, three from each of the 4 areas of study). Examination is divided into sections A (questions 1 8) and B (question 9 or 10). In section B, both Q s 9 and 10 are in three parts. SECTION A ONE Identifying key musical features: Identifying key musical features (time signatures, when instruments/voices enter music, stating differences between extracts) o Musical elements Pitch Duration Dynamics Tempo Timbre Texture Structure o Identifying how resources are used (instruments and groups of instruments) o Identifying key musical features o Identifying musical and melodic devices Ornamentation Ostinati Riffs Use of imitation Pedal point Sequences o Identifying rhythmic devices Syncopation Swung rhythms Dotted rhythms Triplets o Identifying and discriminating between major, minor, model, pentatonic, chromatic and atonal tonalities o Relating music to the context in which it was created o Identifying conventions used in different times and places o Use of appropriate musical vocabulary o Expressing and justifying opinions and preferences 2

3 TWO Placing music in a wider context: Questions require knowledge of historic and stylistic background to the actual set works. Question may ask how extract heard relates to the piece as a whole or about the stylistic conventions of the period in which it was composed. So need to know about history of music and life at time. Possible questions: The extract comes from the alap section of the raga. Name the other three main sections? This chorus was written in the Baroque period of western classical music. State three key features of Baroque music? This song from West Side Story displays features of jazz music. State three features that demonstrate this influence? Mention three features that show this is minimalism Responses can be in bullet point or short sentences. Students will need to be prepared to comment broadly on the music and it s historical and social background. Use the student book for this. THREE Questions that need to express and justify opinions Questions assess the student s ability to justify opinions on the music heard using appropriate musical vocabulary. Give two musical reasons why you like or dislike this piece of music? How does the composer create a sense of foreboding? Good response: I dislike this piece because there is no clear melody line and the rhythms are all irregular and fragmented FOUR dictation and staff notation Same as in the previous specifications. Students need to complete short exercises of melody and/or rhythm. Completion of chord symbols maybe asked too (as in a popular song or a blues piece). 3

4 SECTION B (worth 12 marks) Students choose to answer either question 9 or 10 based on one of the set works. Both questions in three parts, part A and B will ask students to place the set piece in a wider context through the structured questions: In which country was this piece of music composed? What style is this piece of music written in? In part C the students are given the opportunity for more extended writing to demonstrate more in depth knowledge of musical features of the set work. This type of question will give bullet points to help students structure their response. These will vary slightly from work to work, but will typically feature some five of the common musical elements: Structure Tonality and texture Instruments Dynamics and tempo Melody Rhythms Samples and technology (where applicable) 4

5 Set Works for GCSE Music Area of Study 1 (Western Classical Music ): G F Handel: Chorus: And the Glory of the Lord from Messiah W A Mozart: 1 st Movement from Symphony No. 40 in G minor F Chopin: Prelude No. 15 in D Flat major, Op. 28 Area of Study 2 (Music in the 20 th Century): A Schoenberg: Peripetie from Five Orchestral Pieces, Op 16 L Bernstein: Something s Coming from Westside Story S Reich: 3 rd Movement (fast) from Electric Counterpoint Area of Study 3 (Popular music in Context): M Davis: All Blues from the album Kind of Blue J Buckley: Grace from the album Grace Moby: Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad? From the album Play Area of Study 4 (World Music): Capercaillie: Chuir M Athair Mise Dhan Taigh Charraideach (Skye Waulking Song) from the album Nadurra Rag Desh (suggested listening below): o A Shankar: Rag Desh from the album Live at Carnegie Hall o S D Dhandhada and H Dhandhada: Rag Desh from the album Mewar Re Mira o B Wertheimer and S Gorn: Rag Desh Parts 1 3 from album Priyagitah: The nightingale Koko: Yiri 5

6 Key features for each set work: AoS.1 Western Classical Music Handel And the Glory of the Lord Spot the instrument organ can be heard on the first note. There is no harpsichord. Textures monophony, Imitation, Homophonic ending Vocal writing use of melodies, counterpoint Voice types SATB Doctrine of Affection it s a joyful piece, one mood throughout Dynamics terraced they build up Baroque historical placement and basic features. Oratorio definition Type of instrumental ensemble (small orchestral group with strings at the heart) Mozart Symphony no 40 1 st Movement (YouTube with Bernstein introduction) Symphony definition, placement of the extract Orchestra which instrument is missing? Instrumentation Sonata form in some detail identify sections aurally Key/tonality/harmony know the importance, not necessarily be able to identify Textures Dynamics Classical historical placement and basic features Notation question Cadences all four Chopin Prelude No.15 Importance of piano writing in the romantic period Techniques eg. pedal, sostenuto/cantabile writing Romantic historical placement and basic features Rubato Virtuosity Pedal note Why raindrop refer to features in the music Key/tonality of the section heard in the exam mood Pitch/dynamic range 6

7 AoS.2 Music in the Twentieth Century Peripetie, Schoenberg Hexachords a 6 note idea which can be used horizontally or vertically Klangfarbenmelodie melodic line snakes through the parts Hauptestimme principal voice and Nebenstimme secondary voice Transformation of the hexachord Texture/timbre contrasts and combinations, spot families of instruments 20 th Century orchestra Structure not aurally obvious, but initial horn theme comes back Elements of music Background to serialism to give context Expressionism Electric Counterpoint, Reich Minimalism techniques note addition, layering, resultant melody (you hear something not really played), ostinatos, phasing (not really in this piece more of a canon.) Why Electric Counterpoint? Instrumentation Texture Tonality diatonic, quite static, ambiguous at the start Gmajor? E minor?? E minor when the bass starts, moves to C minor and back to E minor. Time signature. Something s Coming, Bernstein Song from a musical Based on Romeo and Juliet This song is sung by Tony Mood of anticipation and optimism how is this created? Orchestra Use of rhythm syncopation Jazz/Latin influence WCM orchestra Use of tritone Structure (could fill in the blanks) Possible melodic dictation Ostinato/bass riff Changing meter Blue notes 7

8 AoS.3 Popular Music in Context Moby Play Use of effects Reverb (used to create distance), compression, EQ, delay Structure breakdown Texture (opening, build up, end) Use of samples not cleaned up, background noise adds to emotion Chord sequence Miles Davis Kind of Blue Meter 6/4 (there will be a multiple choice question) Drums played with brushes Chord sequence 12 bar blues with links, altered chord in 3 rd line 7 #9 has major and minor 3 rd simultaneously. Texture Riff in bass and piano Spot the instrument Use of trumpet mute Improvisation Structure Tonality modal Head arrangement C7 could be described as Gm7 ambiguous Vocab head, changes, front line. rhythm section, improvisation General question about 5 elements of music, and development from blues Where might you hear this? Where has it come from? Influences? Piano style comping/vamping, not accompanying Jeff Buckley Grace Meter 6/8 Structure Use of effects Drop D tuning allows easier power chords (bar over bottom 3 strings). Just tune bottom string down to D rather than the usual E Alternative rock Use of power chords with deliberate dissonance from upper 3 strings, goes with the chorus lyric wait in fire Guitar techniques pull offs, string bending, slurs, hammer ons, string bending, slides. Repeated riff up 2 frets followed by a power chord 8

9 Turn volume down on guitar, play note, then turn up so you get no attack and a ghostly sound at the start. Harmony is not traditional but an effect to control mood Distortion EQ telephone cut top and bottom frequencies Swirling sound in electric guitar towards the end is a flanger All recordings have Reverb, compression and EQ either deliberately or not. Chorus effect detunes and reproduces simultaneously AoS.4 World Music Capercaillie Folk/pop fusion Instruments names and how played (eg blown, plucked) How does instrumentation change through the structure Vocals Gaelic type of voice What is a Waulking song? Traditionally has call and response telling story/gossip/news. Not allowed to repeat more than 1 line, so nonsense syllables give time to think. Use of nonsense syllables Legend/story Structure Intro, verses, solo, fade Complete chord sequence for a question Tonality ambiguous at start, major with modal feel Texture heterophonic, v slight differences, starts v. thin with gradual build as instruments join Purpose of song how does the music fit this? Describe the tempo Instrumental techniques eg violin at start identify meter multiple choice Mood sad Section B elements could be Texture, Instrumentation, Chord sequence/ tonality, Structure, Melody. Rag Desh Instrumentation sarod (plucked), sarangi (bowed), tabla, cymbals, Pakhanaj (double headed drum). Vocal style ornamented, bending notes Different sections recognise chracteristics Rag desh is the tonality Tal Order of instrumental entries 9

10 Use of drone Contextual placement Comparison of 3 rags (section A question) Section B elements could include Instrumentation, Melody/Ornamentation, Structure, Rhythm, Texture. Yiri Texture compare the introduction to the rest Instrumentation spot the instrument Possible spot the rhythm questions Oral tradition/master drummer Repetition/ostinato (probably a sentence completion question) Purpose Melody Call and response What is Balfan doing at the start? = Improvising Rhythmic devices polyrhythms, syncopation 10