TheMusicDepartment,StEdwardsOxford

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?