MUSIC GCSE- PAST PAPER QUESTIONS

describe the tonality of the start of Purcell's music for a while

A minor

name 2 instruments that play the accompaniment of Music for a while

bass viol and harpsichord

describe the melody of the lyrics 'Wond'ring, wondr'ing' (2 points)

word painting and descending phrases

give 3 ways Purcell establishes a tranquil mood in this aria

ground bass, descending melodies, major tonality

give 2 groups of instruments performing during the fanfare in the Star Wars

brass and percussion

state 2 purposes of the fanfare at the start of the extract

creates an optimistic atmosphere and is ceremonial

describe why the fanfare provides a suitable beginning to a film entitled 'A New Hope'

the major key makes it sounds hopeful

give 2 musical ways in which John Williams has achieved a march-like feel in this music

4/4 metre, march like steady tempo

explain how the music of the instrumental section of Release is typical of Celtic dance music

4/4 metre, ornamentation, semiquavers, regular tempo

state a music feature of Release which is not typical of Celtic dance music

synthesiser

list 3 technological processes used in the production of Release

reverb, loop, delay

identify the metre of the Brandenburg

2/4

list 1 similarity and 1 difference between a Baroque concerto grosso and a Baroque solo concerto

similarity= basso continuo difference= 1 solo instrument

identify 2 features of the melody of the Bradenburg which are characteristic of the baroque period

sequences, ornamentation

describe the texture of the opening 2 bars of the Brandenburg

monophonic

name the 1st 2 instruments that play in the Brandenburg

flute and violin

name 2 of the instruments that play the continuo part in the extract

harpsichord and cello

explain how significant the role of the harpsichord player is in this extract (3 points)

very significant- plays the basso continuo, has a solo part and realises the figured bass

name 2 features of a gigue

lively tempo and regular beat

identify the musical genre of Killer Queen

glam rock

explain how 1 feature of rhythm in Killer Queen helps to create the mood of the music

syncopation- creates a laid back mood

give 3 reasons why the band would not have been able to perform Killer Queen live, exactly as it sounds on the recording

1)pre-recorded vocal parts, only 4 members but many harmonies 2)guitar harmonises with itself which couldn't happen live- more than 1 guitar needed 3)studio effects eg flanger and panning could not be added on stage

give 2 ways in which Schwarz generates a dramatic musical climax near the end of Defying Gravity

increase in tempo, change of key, crescendo to forte and then pace accelerates

name 2 instruments that play the accompaniment in the first half of the extract up to 'close my eyes and leap'

electric guitar and piano

identify the musical interval between 'and' and 'leap'

perfect 5th

describe the tonality of the beginning of samba em preludio

minor

list 3 performance techniques used by the string bass player in Samba em Preludio

pizzicato, harmonics, double stopping

the mood of Samba em Preludio could be described as 'dreamy' or 'melancholic'. Give 2 musical reasons to explain how this mood is achieved

slow tempo and minor key

evaluate the suitability of the title Samba em Preludio for this piece (4 marks)

1) slower tempo than a typical upbeat samba 2) in a minor key instead of major 3) suitable because of the bossa nova rhythm typical to a samba 4) sambas often have very heavy percussion such as whistles but there is no percussion in this piece

Samba em Preludio combines elements of Latin American music with Jazz. List 3 Jazz features in this extract and 2 Latin American features

jazz= extended chords with added notes, syncopation, crotchet triplets latin american=virtuosic guitar and bossa nova rhythms

name 3 harmonic devices

pedal note, suspension, passing note

listen to the extract from 1:50-2:59, from the Beethoven. Compare the left hand and right hand parts in the opening bars (4 marks)

LH- pedal, tremolo, alternating broken octaves (murky bass) RH-2 octave range, scalic, octave higher

name the key of the music at the end of the extract 1:50- 2:59 from the Beethoven

E flat major