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GCSEMUSIC
RevisionhandbookforthenewEdExcelexam
(setworksbasedcourse)May2011
February2011
DearFifthForm,
Thisbookletseemsneverending,butgivesyouspacetomindmapall12ofyour
setworksout.
Foreachone,youneedtothinkout:
a) WhatdoIknowaboutthebackgroundofthepiece?
b) HowcanIdescribeeachpieceintermsofourtentopicterms(see
below)?
Youcaneitherfilloutthequestionsinthisbookletorproducemindmapson
A3paper.Eitherway,dosomebrainstormingoneachone,whilstlisteningto
theclipsonCD/mp3.
Wellgothroughanymindmapsyouproduce,aswecovereachofthe12set
worksinclassreadyfortheexam.Themorethatyouvedoneoneachone
beforewecoveritinclass,themoreyoullgetoutofourrevisionsessions.
Goodluck!
ACWT/GD
Feb2011
AoS1:WesternClassicalMusic16001899
SetWork1:HandelAndthegloryoftheLordfromMessiah
Background
Whatisanoratorio?
WhatwasMessiahabout?
Whichperiodofmusicwasthisfrom?Howcanyoutellthis?
ThisisachorusfromMessiah.Whichmixtureofvoicepartssingit?
Melody
Includeinthissection:Describethemainfourmaintunes/motifs/melodies,whyarethe
melodiesjoyfulforthemoodofthechorus?Howarethedifferentmelodiescombined?
Whereisimitationusedimitationorcanonorfugue(youdecide)?Canyoufindan
exampleofasequence(whatisasequence?)?
Rhythmandtempo
Includeinthissection:Whattimesignatureisthepiecein?Arethereanymomentswhere
themusicgoesagainstthetimesignature(whatsthiscalled?Whereitisused?)?
ThispieceismarkedAllegro.Whatdoesthatmean?
Attheend,itsmarkedAdagio.Whatdoesthatmean?
Harmony(CHORDS)andtonality(KEYS)
Includeinthissection:Whatkeyisthispiecein?Doesitstayinthatkey?Arethechords
alwayssimple(asyoudexpectinthismusicalperiod)whatnumberedchordsareseen
mostly?Arecadencescleararetheygenerallyperfect/imperfect/plagal/interrupted?
TextureandInstrumentation
Howmanyvoicepartsarethere?
Canyoufindexamplesofdifferenttextures:singlelinewriting(monophonic)?Fourpart
choirsingingatthesametime(homophonic)?Simpleimitationbetweenparts?Two
differentmotifssungatthesametime?Doublingofparts,singingthesamemotifatthe
sametime?
Dothevoicessingmainlysyllabiclinesormelismatic?
Whatinstrumentsaccompanythispiece?Whatdotheyplayseparatelinesordoublingof
vocalparts?
Thispiecesusesbassocontinuo.Whatinstrumentsareinvolvedinthis?
AoS1:WesternClassicalMusic16001899
SetWork2:MozartSymphonyno41,1
st
movement
Background
Whatisasymphony?Whatmovementswouldyouexpectinasymphonyinthe
classicalperiod?
Whenwastheclassicalperiodandwhenwasthispiecewritten?
Whatinstrumentswouldyoufindinaclassicalperiodorchestra?Whichonesof
thesedoesMozartleaveout?
Whichinstrumentsaretransposinginstruments?Whatdoesthismean?
Whatmusicalfeaturesdoyouexpectfromthe1
st
movementofasymphony?
Structure
Includeinthissection:Whatarethethreesectionsfoundinasonata?Whathappensin
eachofthem?Whatchanges?(linkthiswithmelodyandtonalitytoo).
Withinthefirstsection,whatlinksthe1
st
subjecttothe2
nd
subject?Whyisthatlinksection
there?
Isthethirdsectionthesameasthefirstsection?Howdoesitdiffer(intermsoftonality)?
Makeaplanoftheentirestructureofthemovement.Anicebiggrid.Possiblyincolour.
Melody
Includeinthissection:Wherearethe1
st
and2
nd
subjects?describethemboth.What
instrumentsaretheyintroducedin?Arethereanymelodiesotherthanthe1
st
and2
nd
subjectsthatareprominentenoughtomention?
Whathappensinthedevelopmentsection?describewhichmelodiesareusedandhow
themusicchanges.
Whathappensintherecapitulationsection?arethemelodiesthesameordifferent?
WhattunesareheardintheCoda?HowdoestheCodaroundoffthepiece?
Aremelodiesinthewholeofthispiecediatonicorchromatic?Oramixture?
Harmonyandtonality
Includeinthissection:Whatkeydoesthepiecestartin?Howdoesthischangeinthe
bridge?Andthe2
nd
subject?WhatkeydoestheexpositionsCodettaendin?
Whathappenstothekeyduringthedevelopment?Istherecapitulationthesameasthe
exposition,keyswise?Howdoesitdiffer?WhatkeyisusedintheCoda?
Howsimplearethechordsused?Whatarethemainnumberedchordstobeusedinsucha
classicalperiodpiece?Andwhatcadencesareused?
Instrumentationandtimbre
Includeinthissection:Whatorchestralinstrumentsplaythetuneineachsection,andwhich
accompany?
Mood
Typicalquestiontoanswer:WhatisthemoodthatyouthinkMozartmightbetryingto
portrayinthe1
st
subject,andinthe2
nd
subject?Givethreemusicalreasonswhyyouthink
this.
AoS1:WesternClassicalMusic16001899
SetWork3:ChopinPreludeno15inDflatmajorOp28
Background
ThispieceisfromtheRomanticperiodofmusic.Whenwasthisperiodandwhen
wasthepiecewritten?
HowmightaperformerbringouttheRomanticperiodfeaturesofthepiece?Give
threesuggestions.
Whathadhappenedinthedevelopmentoftheinstrument(piano)toensurethat
piecescouldbecomemoreexpressiveduringthisperiod?
ThispieceisnicknamedTheRaindropPrelude.Givesomemusicalreasonswhyyou
thinkthisisappropriate.
Whatisaprelude?Whatwouldyouexpectfromapianoprelude?
WhatmoodissetinsectionA,andhowisthisdifferentfrommoodB?Givemusical
reasonswhyyouthinkthesemoodsarewellset.
StructureandTonality
Includeinthissection:Whatsectionsisthispieceinandthereforewhatformisitin?
Whatkeyiseachsectionin?Whatisthemainmusicaldevicewhichlinksbothofthe
sections,melodiesandtexturealltogetherinthepiecedescribethisconstantlyrepeating
feature(whatisthedevicespropername?)
MelodyandTexture
Includeinthissection:Whatmelodiesareheardineachsection?describethem.Isthe
melodyheardmainlyintherighthandorlefthand?Dotheotherpartsaccompany?
describethisaccompanimentforeachsection.
Wherearethereornamentsusedwhichornaments?
Rhythm,tempoanddynamics
Includeinthissection:Whatistheconstantrhythmrepeatedbythepedalpoint?Doesthe
tuneaboveitchangeatallintermsofnotevaluesused?
ThepieceismarkedSostenutowhatdoesthismean?Whatdoesthatmeanforthe
tempo?Theendismarkedritenutowhatdoesthatmean?Similarlytherearemoments
markedsmorzandoandslentandowhatshouldhappenduringthosebars?Whatcanyou
sayabouttheuseofcrescendoanddiminuendointhepiece?
AoS2:Musicinthe20
th
century
SetWork4:PeripetiefromFiveOrchestralPiecesSchoenberg
Background
Whatwasexpressionistartandmusictryingtodo?Inwhichperiodofhistorydidthis
occur?
SchoenbergwasoneofthethreemaincomposerswhowerepartoftheSecond
VienneseSchool.Whoweretheothertwo,andwhatwerethemaintrademarksof
thesecomposers?
SomeofthesecomposerslaterwentontoproduceSERIALISTmusic.Whatdoesthis
mean,andhowwassuchmusicconstructed?
GiveFIVEmusicalfeaturesofPeripetiewhichsuggestthatthepieceisexpressionist.
StructureandMood
Includeinthissection:Thepieceisinlooserondoformwhatdoesthismean?Andwhere
doeseachsectionstart?Describethemoodofeachsectionhowdoeseachonedifferfrom
thelast?
Melody
Includeinthissection:WhatdotheHandNmarksinthescoremean?Whatisahexachord,
andgivetwoexamplesofhowitmightbeusedinpartsofthescore?Whoplaysthe
Hauptmelodieineachsectiondosomeinstrumentshaveamoreextendedtimeplaying
themaintune,orisitpassedaroundthedifferentpartsoftheorchestra?Iseachmelody
clearforeachsection,oristhemusiclayereduptobuildupaclimax?
Arethereparticularmotifsthatareseenagainandagain(egthesemiquaver/dottedquaver
motif)?
Youmightfinditmostusefultobuildupagridforthis,basedontheoverallstructureofthe
piece.
Harmonyandtonality
Includeinthissection:Isthispieceinanoverallkey?Arethereanysectionswherethe
instrumentalpartsplaychords(egthesixhorns),andifso,howaretheyconstructed?
Instrumentationandtexture
Includeinthissection:Howdoestheinstrumentaltexturedifferfromsectiontosection?
Canyoufindexamplesofwritingwheretherearelotsofindividuallines(polyphonic/layered
writing)?Andchordalwritingmovingatthesametime(homophonic)?Doinstrumentsever
imitateeachother?
WhattermsdoesSchoenbergusetomakeitclearhowtoplayparticularinstruments:eg
divisistrings,arco/pizzicato,mutedhorns,cymbalsattheend,doublebassesattheend?
Rhythmandtempo
Includeinthissection:WhatrhythmsareintroducedinthefirstAsection,indifferent
instruments?AretheyrepeatedatallwhentheAsectionreturns(inAandA)?
Thescorehascleartermsfortempomarkings:whatdotheymean?:sehrrasch,etwas
ruhiger,ruhiger/heftig.
Dynamics
Includeinthissection:Howisarangeofdynamicsusedandwhateffectdoesthatrange
haveonthemusic?Doesthedynamicrangedifferfromsectiontosection?
AoS2:Musicinthe20
th
century
SetWork5:SomethingscomingfromWestSideStoryBernstein
Background
WhenwasWestSideStorywritten?Whywasitagroundbreakingmusicalforits
time?
Wheredidthetraditionofmusictheatrecomefrom?Whatstylesofmusic
influencedAmericanmusicals?
WhatistheplotofWestSideStoryandwheredoesthissongcomeintheplot?
Whatdifferentformatsofsongscanbefoundinamusical,andwhatkindofsongis
thispiece?
Mood
Includeinthissection:Whatfeaturesofthemusicmakesthisasuitabledramaticpieceto
sumupTonysfeelings?Whatelementswithinthemusicshowthegrittinessofthetopics
covered?
Howisexcitementandexpectancycreatedinthepiece?
Structureandmelody
Includeinthissection:Whatdifferentsections/phrasesofmusicareseenwithinthesong,
andhowdoesthemelodiclineforthesingerchangeforeachone?Inwhatwaysdoes
Bernsteinshowjazzinfluences?(nameseveralmusicalfeatures).
Tempoandrhythm
Includeinthissection:Thescoresayscrotchet=176.Whatdoesthatmean?Whatisa
riff/ostinatoandhowitusedintheaccompanyingrhythms?
Whatissyncopation?giveexamplesofwhereitisused.Themelodyalsousesapush
rhythmwhatisthis,whereisitused,whyitisused?
Whattimesignatureisthepiecein,anddoesitchangeandwhen?Whereareaccents
usedandwhy?Andwherearetripletsusedandwhy?
Giveanexampleofacrossrhythm.
Words
Includeinthissection:Canyoufindexampleswherespecificwordsareparticularlysetby
themusic,tobringouttheirmeaning?Give2or3examples.
Harmonyandtonality
Includeinthissection:Whatchordsareparticularlyjazzinfluenced?Isthepieceinonekey
andifso,which?
AoS2:Musicinthe20
th
century
SetWork6:ElectricCounterpoint,3
rd
movement(Fast)SteveReich
Background
Whatisminimalism,andwhatfeaturesofmusicdoexpecttofindinminimalism?
(list8techniquesofcomposinginaminimaliststyle).
Nametwoothercomposerswhowriteinthisstyle.
HowwouldaperformanceofElectricCounterpointtakeplace?Whatisliveandwhatis
recorded?
Whatdoescounterpointmean?Isthispieceagoodexampleofcounterpoint?
Harmonyandtonality
Includeinthissection:Isthepiecemajor,minormodalhowcanyoutell?Doesitchangein
differentsections?
Instrumentationandtexture
Includeinthissection:Whatinstrumententersfirst?Then,howdotheotherpartslayer?Do
theyplaythesamematerialordifferent?Describethetextureofthefirstsectionupto42
secs.Then,whathappenstotheinstrumentationandtexture?
Theliveguitarpartstartstoplayamelodyderivedfromtherecordedpartswhatisthe
technicaltermforthis?
Describethetextureofthebassguitarparts.
Harmonyandtonality
Includeinthissection:Doesthepiecestartoffinamajor,minorormodalkey?Doesit
changefromsectiontosection?
Melody,structureandtechnology
Includeinthissection:Therearethreestrummedguitarparts.Whatstudioeffecthasbeen
usedtohelpseparateouttheparts?Thisisamultitrackrecording;whatdoesthatmean?
Whatsectionsisthepieceinanddothemelodieschangeforeachsection?
AoS3:Popularmusicincontext
SetWork7:MilesDavis:AllBluesfromthealbumKindofBlue
Background
AnoverviewoftheoriginsofJazzinthelate19
th
century/early20
th
centuryNew
Orleans:whatisRagtimeandwhichcomposerbestrepresentsthisgenre?
NewOrleanswasagreatcentreforthedevelopmentofJazz:explainhow
variousinfluencesfromtherestoftheworldcametogethertocreatethisnew
style.
DescribesomeofthemainaspectsofthehistoryofJazz:Dixieland,swingbands,
bigbandsandbebop.
WhowasMilesDavisandwhydidKindofBluebecomesoimportant?
Structure/harmony
Includeinthissection:youmustbefamiliarwiththe12barblueschordsequence.Whatis
thetraditionalversionofthe12barblues?HowisitdifferentlyarrangedinAllBlues?Be
confidentwiththetermsheadandchanges.Youshouldbeabletohearthestructure
ofthis(long!)work:whendoeseachsectionstart?Howcanyoutell?Whichmusical
materialtendstocomeback?Chordsinthistypeofjazzaresaidtobeextended:what
doesthatmean?
Melody
Includeinthissection:headandimprovisation.Bepreparedtorecognise(withoutscore)
whenfixedcompositionandsolosareplayed.Whatmakeseachimprovisationunique?How
ischromaticismused?E.g.howdifferentarethesolosbyDavis(b.4148)andAdderley(b.
93140)?Howdothesoloistskeeptheirsolosinterestingwhentheyareplayingovera
repeatedchordsequence?
Rhythm
Includeinthissection:WhatisthetimesignatureofAllBlues?Trytoremember(andfind
examplesofinthescore)rhythmicdevicessuchasswungrhythmsandsyncopation.Be
familiarwithtermssuchas:tripletrhythm,hemiola,rhythmicdisplacementandcross
rhythms.
Instrumentation
Includeinthissection:whichinstrumentsfeatureinthissetwork?Whatdifferencemakes
theuseofamuteforbrassinstruments?Whatispizzicatointhebasspart?Befamiliarwith
theuseofornamentssuchastrillsandmordents.
AoS3:Popularmusicincontext
SetWork8:JeffBuckleyGracefromthealbumGrace
Background
Anoverviewofpopandrockmusicaroundintheearly1990s:whichwerethe
importantbandsandartistsatthattime?
Describetherelationshipbetweenmusicians/songwritersandthemusic
industry:whatistheimpactofmarketingonthewaymusicisrecordedand
distributed?
Thetelevisiondedicatedawholechanneltopopmusicintheearly1990s:which
one?
Theartistisonlyapartoftheprocessthatgoesintomakingasongwhatitis:
whatistheroleofaproducerinthischain?
WhowasJeffBuckley,andwhichalbumsishefamousfor?
Structure
Includeinthissection:youneedtobeawareofhowthesongsdividesupintodifferent
sections.Whichchangesinthetexture,instrumentationormusicalmaterialsignalthe
beginningandendofeachpart?Befamiliarwithallthetermsrelatedtopopmusic
structure:verse,chorus,prechorus,middle8,link,intro,outro.
Harmony/chords
Includeinthissection:thechordsusedinthispieceseemverycomplexhowever,thereis
asimplereasonbehindthis,relatedtotheinstrumentusedanditsplayingtechnique.Can
youexplainthis?Also,befamiliarwithcommontermssuchasdroneandpowerchord,both
usedextensivelyinthesetwork.Isthekeyofthepiececleartothelistenerattheoutset?
Whatisthetonalityofthesonginthesecondhalfoftheintroduction?Howmanydifferent
chordsareusedinthechorus?
Tempo/rhythm
Includeinthissection:whatisthetimesignatureofthispieceanditsapproximatebpm?
Apartfromthedrumkit,whichotherinstrumentinthebandisusedtoemphasisethe
rhythmofthistrack?Describehowthedrumsareplayedintheverse.
Playingtechniquesandeffects
Includeinthissection:manyinstrumentaltechniquesandstudioeffectsareemployedin
thistrack:befamiliarwithtermssuchasdelay,EQ,flanger,pizzicatoandslide.Canyoufind
examplesinthescorewheretheseareused?
Texture
Includeinthissection:howistextureusedinthispiece?Whichinstrumentalpartsareheld
backoraddedforeffect?Canyoufindexamplesinthepiecewhenpartsdropout?Howis
thetextureusedtoemphasisethelyrics?
Lyrics
Includeinthissection:whatarethelyricsaboutinthissong?WhywasBuckleyfascinatedby
theideaofmortality?
AoS3:Popularmusicincontext
SetWork9:WhyDoesMyHeartFeelSoBadfromPlay
Background
Whatismeantbythetermclubdancemusic?
Explaintheoriginsofthismusicasafusionoftoastinganddubbing:whatis
dub?
Whatisscratching?
ChicagoandGarage:whatarethemainsimilaritiesanddifferencesbetween
thesetwoleadinggenres?
WhoisMoby?
Explainwhatasampleisandhowitcanbeusedwithinaclubdance
composition.
Key/tonality/harmony
Includeinthissection:whatisthekeyofthispiece?Beawareofthemainchordsequences
usedinthesong:howdotheydifferfromversetochorus?Whateffectsdoesthemajor
tonalityofthechorushaveonthemoodofthesong?
Instrumentation/effects
Includeinthissection:whichtraditionalinstrumentsarebeingused?WhatisaRoland
TR909?Whicheffectshavebeenusedthroughoutthetrack?Befamiliarwithtermssuchas:
reverb,echo,EQ,panning...
Melody
Includeinthissection:wheredoesthevocallinecomefrom?Whicheffectshavebeen
addedtothemelodicline?
Tempo/Rhythm
Includeinthissection:whatisthetimesignatureofthispiece?Whatisaloop?Canyou
findagoodexampleofsyncopation?
Structure
Includeinthissection:thestructureofthistrackisbasedonaverse/chorusmodel.Youwill
needtobeawareofwheneachsectionstartsandends(refertotheanthologyp.9394)
whenyoulistentoit.Whatelementsintheinstrumentationsignalthebeginningofeach
section?Listenforinstancetothecominginofthebackingvocalsintheseopendoorsin
thechorusorthepercussionloopbeingintroducedatthestartofverse2.Whichother
musicalelementscanyourefertowhenmovingfromsectiontosection?Howdoesthe
piecebuilduptoaclimax?
Texture
Includeinthissection:howisthetexturelayered?Whichinstrumentfeaturesfirst?Howare
theeffectsincorporatedintothemix?
AoS4:WorldMusic
SetWork10:SkyeWaulkingSongfromNadurrabyCapercaillie
Background
Whatisfolkmusic?
Howisitpassedon?
Considerfolkmusicaroundtheworld:whatareprotestsongs?
Whatisafusion?
Whatisthecontextofwaulkingsongs?WhichtaledoesHirihuraibbiohotell?
WhoareCapercaillieandwheredotheycomefrom?
Melody
Includeinthissection:useofapentatonicscaleandGmajor.Towhatextentdoes
improvisationfeatureinthemelodiclines?
Rhythm/tempo
Includeinthissection:whatisthetimesignatureofthispiece?Whydoesitfeelambiguous
atthestart?
Harmony/tonality
Includeinthissection:describetheoveralltonalityofthepiecemajor,minor,atonal?
Beawareofthemainchordsequencesused.Howdothechordschangeinverses4and7?
Texture
Includeinthissection:howistheatmosphericinstrumentalbackgroundachievedatthe
start?Beawareofsomecountermelodies(e.g.verse5)andaclassicexampleof
heterophonictexture(pipesandfiddle,bars3743).Howdoesthesongbuilduptoa
climax?
Instrumentation
Includeinthissection:whataresometypicalfolkinstruments?Whichinstrumentsfeature
inoursetwork?Beawareofsomeinstrumentaltechniquesheardinthepiece:whatisa
tremolointhefiddlepartatthebeginning?Whatisstaccatointhebasspart?
Whyisthissongconsideredapieceoffusion?
Structure
Includeinthissection:theuseofaverse/strophicstructure.Beawareofwheneachsection
startsandends.Payspecialattentiontotheinstrumentalmomentsandthebeginning/end
ofthesong.Whatisafadeout?
AoS4:WorldMusic
SetWork11:IndianRaga:RagDesh
Background
WhatisthelinkbetweenIndianmusicandreligion?
IsIndianmusicwrittendown?Howisittransmittedfromgenerationto
generation?
Whatisaraga?
YouwillneedtolistentoeachofthethreerenditionsofRagDesh:howdothedifferent
performancesdiffer?Whichelementsarecommontoall?Whichoneislive?Whichone
includesavoice?
Melody
Includeinthissection:whatisarag?Youwillhavetomemorisethenoteswhichform
RagDesh.Whatisarasaanditsconnectionwitharag?Indianragamusicisdescribed
aslinearinconcept.Whatdoesthismean?
Instrumentationandtexture
Includeinthissection:whichinstrumentsintheIndiantraditionperformmelodiclines?
Whatistheimportanceofthehumanvoice?Whichinstrumentperformsthe
accompaniment?WhichotherinstrumentssupporttherhythmicstructureofanIndian
raga?TheuseofdronesinIndianmusic:whatisadrone?
Howareinstruments/voicesusedwithinthecontextofeachversionofRagDesh?
Whatisameend?Howwouldyoudescribeatanplayedonthesitar?
Rhythm
Includeinthissection:describetherhythmicstructureofatypicalIndianperformance.How
arebeatsorganised?Howisimprovisationincorporatedintherhythmiccycles?Makesure
youarefamiliarwiththetermsbols,matras,sam,syncopationandtintal.
Structure
Includeinthissection:allthesectionsnormallyincludedinanIndianperformance(alap,
bandish,gat,etc.).Foreachsectionmakeanote,howeverapproximate,ofwhathappensin
termsofmetre/rhythmandthemusicalfeaturesyouwouldexpect.Whichofthesesections
actuallyfeatureineachperformanceofRagDesh?Whatisthefixedcompositionand
whereisittobefoundintheraga?
AoS4:WorldMusic
SetWork12:Koko:Yiri
Background
WhichpartofAfricadoesthismusiccomefrom?
WhatismusicusedforinAfricansociety?
Howismusicpassedon,onegenerationtoanother?
WhataresomecommonmusicalfeaturesofAfricanmusic?
Whoisthemasterdrummer?
Melody
Includeinthissection:whatisapentatonicscale?Whereinthemusicdoesitfeaturefirst?
Instrumentation
Includeinthissection:howmanydifferentgroupsofinstruments/voicesfeatureinthe
music?WhatarethefamiliesofinstrumentsinvolvedinAfricanmusic?Describethreetypes
ofdrumsusedintheAfricantradition.
Rhythmandtempo
Includeinthissection:commentonthetempothroughoutthepiece;isthebeatregularor
varied?Whatdoesthewordostinatomeanandhowisthisdeviceusedinthepiece?
Describethewordcrossrhythms.
Form
Includeinthissection:whatdoescallandresponsemean?Canyoufindanexampleinthe
score?Describetheoverallstructureofthispiece.
Texture
Includeinthissection:howdoesthepiecestartandwhatisthetextureofthemusicatthe
opening?Describethetextureofthepieceasawhole.Howdoesthepieceend?Describe
monophonicandheterophonictextures.Whatisapolyrhythmictexture?