Grade 8 Aurals - from 2011

Test 8C (Modulations)
At Grade 8 you get two Modulation tests. The first one will be in a major key, and the second
in a minor. You are also told the starting key, but have only to describe the modulation.
You may, of course, use key names for this, or the usual technical names. For example,
if a passage started in the key of C major (remember, youre told this), and modulates
to its dominant, you may answer either by saying Its gone to G major, or Its gone to
the dominant. It makes far more sense to describe the modulations by using the
technical names. Previously, you had to describe and name the new key, but this is
no longer required, so why makes things any more complicated!
Unlike the Cadence test, here each test is played once only!
Major Keys
Tests in Major keys can modulate in THREE ways, as follows:
To the Dominant this is the most natural-sounding modulation.
It seems finished, complete in itself and convincing
To the Subdominant this rarely sounds convincing or natural. It often feels as if the
music has just stopped short, and needs to go on some more
To the Relative Minor obviously this ends in a minor key.
It sounds convincing and complete, usually as if the music has come to rest
Minor Keys
Tests in Minor keys can modulate only in THREE ways, as follows:
To the Dominant this is the most natural-sounding modulation. It seems finished,
complete in itself and convincing. Remember that the dominant chord (V) in a minor key is
often major, though not always. In the exam, you are not required to say whether its ended
on the dominant minor, or major you need only say the name of the key (i.e. G), or
dominant another reason why its simpler just to stick with the technical names
To the Subdominant this rarely sounds convincing or natural. It often feels as if the music
has just stopped short, and needs to go on some more. In a minor key, the subdominant
chord (IV) is still minor
To the Relative Major obviously this ends in a major key, and the sense of change from
minor to major should be felt earlier in the modulation, unlike with the modulation
to the dominant, where the final chord can be a major chord only
In all modulation tests, the final chord should be in root position, so that, if you
kept the original bass note of the example in your head, it should be possible to see how far
and to where this has moved by the end of the modulation. For example, if the example
started in D, and you heard that the final bass note had gone up four notes of the scale,
this would mean that the piece had modulated to the subdominant. However, while some
people have success with this method, it virtually means that you have to shut out what is
played after the given chord, until the end is reached, as otherwise the note you try to
remember can often change because of what youre listening to, and so the final calculation
will be wrong. Theres nothing in the rubric to say that you couldnt shut your ears, and hum
the tonic continuously, but some melodies will be as long as 12 bars, although some are as
short as four!
The recommended method, therefore, is as shown above, where the qualities
of each modulation are outlined.
There is no shortage of material available, so only a few representative examples have
been given below:

Ex 1

Tonic Chord of C given

Presto

&C

mf

. .

?C

&

#
.

j

J
. .

.
j

This modulates to the Dominant

Ex 2

Andante

3
& b 4
mp

? b 43

& b

? b #

Ex 3

#.
.

..

. .
.

#

. .

Tonic Chord of D minor given

.
.

. .

This modulates to the Relative Major

Tonic Chord of A given

### 3 .
& 8J

. .
. .
.
n

? ### 83

Allegro

.
J J .
J
J

. . J . n

J JJ J

This modulates to the Subdominant

Ex 4

Tonic Chord of Ab given

Andante

b b4

& b b 4

mp

? bb b 44

b
& b bb n

.
b
? bb b

b
.

Ex 5

This modulates to the Relative Minor

Tonic Chord of G minor given

b 2 .
b
& 4

Allegro

b .
&b
n.
. . # .

? bb

.
. .
#.
.
.
. . #. . . .

.
f
. . .

? bb 42

Ex 6

.
.

.
.
.
.

n
.
n
.

# .
.

.
.

.

.
. .

j
.

.
. j
. .

This modulates to the Dominant [minor, but no need to specify]

Tonic Chord of B minor given

Andante

## 6 j
& 8
p

? ## 68

j j
J #j j nj

J J