What is your favourite piece and why? - Sixth Form Abingdon



Summer Transition WorkOver the next few weeks, work through the list of tasks below:Basic Theory Use Focus on Sound (FOS) to test on the following topics. You may also wish to use Rhythm and metre FOSScales and key signatures FOSIntervals FOSOn : Do the first two lessons from?Chords,?Diatonic Chords?and the first from?Chord Progressions?would be a bonus on Listening and Describing Work Make sure you are familiar with the musical terms in your GCSE booklet Read through and listen to Also work through the sections on Historical Styles in Focus on Sounds (Lessons>Eduqas>Historical Styles)Then complete ‘A Short History of Music Summer tasks’PerformanceChoose a piece which lasts at least 3 minutes, and is at Grade 6 standard minimum. Practise your piece, record it and load it in your Google DriveCompositionExtension taskIf you complete the tasks above, watch this video HYPERLINK "" me for an extension task related to the video, if you need itShort History of Music Summer Tasks Listen to the Short History of Music tracks on . You should also go to Focus on Sound > Lessons > Eduqas > Eduqas Historical Styles and work through the lessons there.Then answer the following questions:What is your favourite piece and why?Choose something about one of the other tracks that interests you (e.g. instrumentation, harmony, rhythm). Describe this aspect of the music and why you find it interesting.What is your least favourite track?Describe two aspects of this track that you think contribute to your opinion:If you had to compose a piece that took inspiration from one of these tracks, which one would you choose and why.Listen to and read about the Baroque and Classical eras on the Short History of Music on . Identify THREE features of music that are different at the beginning of the Classical era compared to the Baroque. Listen to and read about the Romantic period on the Short History of Music on . Then do some of your own research on a Romantic composer of your choice. Write a short biographical paragraph about the composer, explaining how they are typically Romantic.GCSE MUSIC VOCABULARYBrandenburg Concerto = BachBeethoven Pathetique Sonata = BthvenPurcell Music for a While = MFAWQueen ‘Killer Queen’ = KillerJohn Williams Rebel Blocade Runner- A New Hope, starts film = Star WSchwartz Defying Gravity, end of 1st act = Def GAfro Celt Sound System ‘Release’ = AfroSpalding ‘Samba em preludio’ = SambaPERIODDATES AND FEATURESBAROQUE1600-1750 Bach Brandenburg, Purcell MFAWContinuo group, ornaments, figured bass, often has imitation CLASSICAL c. 1730-1820 Bthven balanced phrase, more dynamics, elegant, more contrast – bigger range, dynamics, articulation (whether notes of sustained or short etc)ROMANTICc. 1800-1900 Even more expressive, more virtuosic, extreme contrast, use of more chromatic notes. Bthven is a mix of classical and early RomanticMODERNStar Wars is modern but uses a trad symphony orchestra, no electronic effectsOther set works are written in twentieth century and all feature influences of popular musicAOSMAIN THOUGHTS FOR AN ESSAYAOS 1 InstrumentalDevelopment of instruments, how composers ‘EXPLOITED’ the instrument (used it)Bach few dynamics, limited range, no sustained notes in harpsichord. Orchestra and soloist group could give some contrast in a concertoBthvendynamic contrast, cresc, decresc, big range, sustained notes. Era of the professional performer – music becomes more virtuosicAOS 2 Vocal MusicHow words are SET TO MUSIC, conveying their meaning; how verse can build into a chorusMFAW Word painting, slow tempo and minor tonality for sleepy and sombre feelKillerWord painting, effects to give character, swung rhythms and regular on the beat pulse give confident swagger. Texture and dynamics build verse=>chorusAOS 3 – Stage and screenHow the composer shows character/drama. Star W – opens filmMilitary opening; heroic character; leitmotif; lost in space; conflictDef G – end of Act 1Characters start in conflict but then agree; stabs, accents, loud for conflict; Softer, sustained, singing in harmony = agreementAOS 4 – fusionHow composers fuse instruments and techniques from different cultures AfroAfrican, Irish, EDM instruments, techniquesSambaBossa Nova and Jazz styles. Bass is more jazzy, acoustic guitar is from South American style; vocals are bothStyleStyle or musical featureAfricanPercussion; – uses polyrhythms – when different instruments layer different rhythmsCelticinstruments, heterophony (same tune, different players play slightly diff), rapid notes, regular pulse (=>dance)Dance: Bach Bburg is a gigue (lively dance); Afro C has a solo section with celtic dance musicDramaticlots of contrasts of dynamics (volume) , tempo (speed), articulation (eg accents), rhythms (fast, slow, rests) egBthven, Star W, Def GEDMuse of electronic instruments, loops, syncopation, prominent bass and drum machine, electronic effects (reverb, panning, filtered drone)Glam rockuse of electronic effects (flanger, EQ, panning) and rock band; new guitar techniquesHeroicfanfare, trumpets, regular beat=> confidence; soaring string melody with a big leapJazzextended chords, swung rhythms, syncopation, blues notes (chromatic), often has a walking bassMagicaluse of twinkly sounds – synth, glock, overdrive swoops, high pitchLament– a sad song, minor key, slow tempo, often descending phrases eg MFAWLeitmotif. Film and stage music often use to represent a particular character or placeSambadifferent layers/rhythms, acoustic guitar often virtuosicSTRUCTUREHow the piece or song is laid outSectionA section of the pieceBinary FormAB StructureTernary FormABA Structure MFAW, Bach. Star W begins like this, then has twinkly stars, then war drumsRondo FormABACA StructureSonata FormClassical ABA: Exposition, Development and Recapitulation. BthvenSong StructureSections that may be used in a song. Verse, Pre Chorus, Chorus, Bridge, Instrumental, Solo, Break KillerStrophic FormA song that only uses verses with the same/nearly music for each verse. Afro SambaMetreThe Time Signature Time SignatureHow many beats in a bar e.g. 4/4, 6/8Compound Time SignatureA Time signature that can be counted in two ways e.g. 6/8 can either be described as having six quavers or two beats in a bar because the quavers are played as Triplets.TempoHow Fast or Slow the music is.BPM (Beats per minute)How many BPM in a song. Work this out by counting the number of beats in 15 seconds and multiplying it by 4. AtonalNo Key SignatureKey SignatureThe key that the music is in. A bit of music might have a Major key (more happy) or Minor key (more sad). ModalWhen a piece shows elements of Modes being used. Quite often a piece will still have a Key Signature but the Melody or Chords will show notes more related to a Mode. Frequent in Folk and very early sacred (church) music.ModulationWhen the music changes key midway through a passage.PhraseA phrase of music often counted in bars e.g. 8 bar phrase. It’s the natural beginning and end of a small bit of music, much like how long our sentences are when we speak.MELODYThe tune or part that is often played alongside chords.PitchHow high or low the note is.PentatonicWhen the melody is based on a 5 note scale, using the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 6th degrees of the scale. Can sound eastern.StepwiseThe melody moves in steps. Also called conjunctRangeDistance between the lowest and highest noteScalicMoves through the steps of a scale (Bthven)ChromaticThe melody moves by step in semi-tones (black-white on keys – Bthven)LeapsNotes are spread outIntervalDistance between 2 notes. Count the first as one, then EVERY space and line eg perfect 5th MFAWAscendingThe melody gets gradually higher.DescendingThe melody gets gradually lower.SequenceA melodic phrase where the notes are repeated but a bit higher or lowerOrnamentationThe decoration of the melody. Mordent is like a wiggle (Bven, MFAW)Trill – up and down (Bach)Grace note/acciaccatura – short ‘tweet’ before a note – Bthven 2nd subjectHookA short, catchy melody that’s repeated in a song. (DefG)GlissandoA slide between two notes.MelismaMore than one note sung for one syllable (MFAW)SyllabicOne note per syllableImitationWhen a Melody is repeated in a different part VocalisationBacking vocals (bvox) don’t sing the lyrics eg Baa in KillerOstinato/RiffContinually repeating section HARMONY /CHORDSNotes/pitches played at the same timeChordTwo or more notes played at the same timeChord ProgressionA series of chords.ChromaticNotes not in the main keyTriadSimple three note chord, featuring 1,3 and 5 of the scale within the key.MajorHappy sounding chord.MinorSad sounding ChordDissonanceClashing notesDroneContinuous note or chord (Afro). Establishes tonalityPedalContinuous note – held or repeated – usually bassSus chords125 (sus 2) or 145 (sus 4) – sound more jazzy than ordinary 135 chordsArpeggiated Chords/Broken chordsWhen the notes of the chord are played one after the other, from bottom to top or top to bottom. 7thsA chord with notes 1357 When a chord uses a 7th, it can often sound Jazzy. (Samba)Diminished ChordA chord that uses minor 3rds (Intervals) on top of each other – sounds crushed. Chord is often used in the horror genre - suspense. Roman NumeralsUsed to label the chords within a Key Signature from 1 – 7. ModulationWhen the music changes key Basso ContinuoThe bass line in Baroque music.Perfect cadenceSounds finished – chords V then IImperfect cadenceSounds unfinished – Chord I then V – Star W at ends of phrasesInterrupted cadenceSounds interrupted – found before slow intro goes into fast sectionRHYTHMLength of notes Anacrusis/UpbeatPhrase starts before the 1st beat of a bar Straight time/Regular beatWhen the notes are played on the beat eg Killer opening piano)SyncopationWhen the notes are played and emphasised (accented) off the beat. (Killer, Afro)Dotted rhythmA series of notes playing long-short-long-short etc… that creates a galloping effect.SwingJazz style of music, using a swung rhythmEg KillerTriplets3 notes in time of 2 eg triplet quavers (lots in Star W; some in Samba +Def G)RestsDuration of no sound (Bthven)PausesWait on a noteMETREThe Time Signature Time SignatureHow many beats in a bar e.g. 4/4, 6/8Simple Time Signature2/4, 2/4, 4/4, 2/3, 3/2, C, cut CEach beat divides in 2Compound Time Signature6/8, 12/8 (Killer) Each beat divides in 3. Bach is 2/4 in triplets so sounds compoundFree timeNo fixed pulse felt (beginning of Samba, Def G, Afro)Colla voceFollow the voice (Def G beginning)TEMPOThe Speed – fast, slowBpmBeats per minuteAllegroFast (Bthven – con brio = with vigour)ModeratoModerate (Def G)AndanteQuite slow (Def G)Grave Very slow (Bthven)MaestosoSlow, majestic (Def G)Rall, RallentandoRit, RitardandoGet slower (Def G, Bthven)A tempoGo back to the original tempoTEXTUREHow many layers there areThick textureLots of layersThin textureVery few layersAccompanimentThe supporting part to the Melody/Tune. MonophonicOne melody playing. Eg Start of SambaHomophonicMelody and chords/Accompaniment. Killer, Def G, Star W, HeterophonicTwo or more instruments playing roughly the same Melody and Chords/Accompaniment. Found in solos of AfroPolyphonicTwo or more interweaving melodies (there may still be chords present but focus on the melodic lines). BachHomorhythmicAll play same rhythm – end of Star WfugalWhen one part follows another closely with the same tunes eg Bach openingARTICULATION, EXPRESSION AND DYNAMICSWords to describe how a Phrase of music is shaped.StaccatoVery short notes. Signified by a dot above or below the note.AccentedThe emphasis of a note. Signified by a ‘>’ above or below the note. Sf or fp in BthvenGlissandoSliding between notesTremoloThe rapid repetition of a note or between two notes.PizzicatoPlucked, usually the term used when writing for traditional string instruments e.g. ViolinPianissimo ppPlayed very quietly. Piano pPlayed quietly. Mezzopiano mpPlayed fairly quietly. MezzofortePlayed fairly loudly. Marked as mf in the music.Forte fPlayed loudly. Fortissimo ffPlayed very loudly. TECHNOLOGYUse of studio technology to record or change the way the music sounds.OverdubbingRecording the parts twice (or more) to make is sound thicker or for musical effectReverbWhen the something in the music sounds like it’s in an echoey space.DelayWhen you hear a clearer repetition of the music, like a pulsed echo.FlangerAn audio effect mixing together two identical signals, with a delay which gradually changes – on ‘laser beam’Multi TrackingWhen the music is recorded in a studio, allowing each of the parts to be recorded on separate tracks rather than the whole band/ensemble being recorded through the same microphone allowing more editing after it’s been recorded.Distortion/OverdriveUsually applied to a guitar – it creates a fuzzy distorted sound by increasing the gain.GENERAL TERMSRepetitionWhen a part of the music is repeated. It can be used for melodies, rhythms, chord progressions.IntervalThe distance between two notesOstinatoA pattern that repeats – melody or chords RiffA repetitive pattern that drives a song in Pop or Rock music.ImprovisationWhen the instrumentalist makes it up on the spot.Word PaintingWhen the music matches the words e.g. if the lyrics are sad and the music is sad to reflect this.DoublingOne part plays the same as another.INSTRUMENTATION/ SONORITYTechniques, Instruments, vocals used aka ‘performing forces’SonorityThe quality of sound eg sparkling sonority of twinkling stars bitHarpsichord (Bach, MFAW)Keyboard instrument, plucked strings, Baroque, lack of dynamic (volume) contrastFortepiano (Bthven)Early piano – can play loud and soft; bigger range of notes than harpsichord, can sustain notes(pedal)Soprano (MFAW; DefG)High female voiceTenor (Killer)High male voiceFalsettoExtra high notes (in Killer)Electric guitar techniquesSlides, pitch bends, pull-off, hammer-on, vibrato, palm muteTremoloString technique – very fast notes – excitement Star W, Def GTwinkly sonority (Star W)From flute trill, piccolo solo, celesta, harp.Celesta is like a piano but with bells in Heavenly soundTubular bells in Def G ‘to those who say I’m grounded take a msg back from me’Double stopping2 notes played together on a string instrument eg fiddle in Afro; acoustic bass in intro to SambaBacking vocals / vocalsCan sing in unison or octacves, parallel harmonies, in thirds (Def G and Killer)Honky tonk piano (killer)A piano with metal tacks added to the strings for a retro, jangly sonority ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download