1. What are Claude Debussy’s dates of birth and death?
2. What is his nationality?
3. Where was Debussy first exposed to Javanese music?
4. What effects was Debussy a master of evoking in his music?
5. According to Debussy, what are the two main characteristics of impressionism in music?
6. How does Debussy create the feeling of fluidity in his music? Refer to the elements of music.
7. What is Neoclassism?
8. What is absolute music? (Yes I hae asked this question before).
9. What are Igor Stravinsky’s dates of birth and death?
10. What is his nationality?
11. Describe to musical characteristics of his piece The Rite of Spring.
12. How was this piece received at its premier?
13. What is impressionism?
14. What are Arnold Schoenberg’s dates of birth and death?
15. What is his nationality?
16. What is atonality?
17. What is Sprechstimme?
18. What is a tone row made of?
19. What are the other names for a tone row?
20. What do think of atonal music? 
November 16, 2011
Debussy, Stravinsky & Schoenberg
November 13, 2011
Outcome 3 – Task 2
Below is a list of the requirements for Outcome 3 – Task 2 (Task one is the examination).
Key skills Comment Mark Task 2 –
- History and analysis Composer research – related to performance pieces. / 3
Questions:
- Write a brief biography about the artist.
- Characteristics of their music.
- Who were their influences?
- How did the artist influence other artists and musical styles?
- Analysis portfolio – 4 best pieces, covering different elements. / 8
- Program Music & Nationalism / 1
- Twentieth Century and Beyond / 1
- Debussy, Stravinsky & Schoenberg / 2
- Total /15
October 16, 2011
The Magic Flute
I hope you all enjoyed Friday night’s excursion to ‘The Magic Flute’. The links below are a copy of the information I gave you in preparation for the excursion and include the synopsis, YouTube links and sheet music to three of the pieces.
As a part of you SAC, you are required to write a reflection on the way the performers presented themselves.
- Describe how the performance did or did not meet your expectations?
- How did the performers use their bodies to communicate throughout the performance?
- What instrument/s did the performer/s use and how did this affect the impact of the performance?
- What were the high points and the low points of the excursion in your opinion?
October 11, 2011
The Twentieth Century and Beyond
Whilst I am away at the Celebration Night rehearsals, I am expecting you to complete the following work. This will be contributing towards you History and Analysis SAC and is due on Monday.
- Read Chapters 1-3 of ‘The Twentieth Century and Beyond’ from the Kamien.
- List all famous composers and what their specific influences were.
- List and describe the different ways in which harmony was developed, as defined by Kamien.
- List and describe the different ways in which rhythm was developed, as defined by Kamien.
NOTE: All of your answers are to be drawn from the Kamien.
Once this is completed you may go on with private practice.
August 18, 2011
Program Music & Nationalism
- What is Program music?
- How are the extra musical ideas communicated?
- What was Beethoven quoted as saying with reference to his Pastoral Symphony (No. 6)?
- What forms can be used?
- What is absolute music?
- What is a Program Symphony?
- What is a Symphonic Poem or a Tone Poem?
- What form is the overture usually in?
- Define the different sections of sonata form.
- What historical events led to the growth of Nationalism?
- What elements of folk life/culture influenced National ism in Western Art Music?
- Who were the dominant nationalities in music prior to Nationalism?
- Name seven leading nationalist composers and the countries from which they come.
August 14, 2011
Composition
As we discussed last week, here are the criteria for the composition SAC work.
1. The composition must be based on one of your performance pieces.
2. The piece must be at last two sections of eight bars, or sixteen bars minimum.
3. The composition must include a melody and harmony.
4. You must use more than one instrument.
5. The final product must be produced using the notation software Sibelius.
This composition is due to be completed by Monday the 29th of August. Have fun!
July 28, 2011
The Romantic period
Hi all, it has been a while since our last post. Here is a list of the history/analysis work that you should have completed.
Reading chapters 1-3
- Define; art song, strophic form, through-composed form, song cycle.
Listening
Franz Schubert 1797-1828, Austrian Erlkӧnig (The Erl King) 1815
1. Describe and discuss only the melody within Erlkӧnig. Be sure to refer to; contour, structure, phrasing, instrumentation, register, rhythmic and melodic motives, tone colour, tempo, and dynamics.
Frédéric Chopin 1810-1849, Polish Nocturne in E flat Major, Op. 9, No. 2 (Night Music) 1830-1831
- Describe and discuss Nocturne in E flat Major in relation to duration. Be sure to refer to; Metres, beat/pulse, tempo.
- What interpretative techniques are being utilised?
- How do these elements contribute to the lyrical and flowing feeling of the music?
June 8, 2011
Beethoven
A few weeks ago we watched the BBC Great Composers – Beethoven, and took notes. If you missed seeing the video, please watch the above link, take notes and type/write up your good copy of these notes.
We are now preparing for exams! Exciting times…
Below is another documentary that is on YouTube, which may come in handy for your oral presentations that are coming up next term.
May 17, 2011
Journal Entries & Mozart
To meet the requirements of this course you are required to develop an indepth understanding of each of your pieces. To show this you are to add to your online journal, an entry for each performance piece you are working on this semester – Discuss contextual influences (What was happening in the world when the composer wrote the pieces and how it may have influenced the music) and add YouTube links to various interpretations that you have listened to. This is due on the 8th of June.
This week we have watched the BBC Great Composers - Mozart, and took notes. Please typewrite up your good copy of these notes to be submitted on Monday.
May 12, 2011
J. S. Bach & F. J. Haydn
This term we will be looking at the Classical and Romantic periods. To begin we have reviewed some of what we know about music in the Baroque period and watched the BBC tv series “Great Composers” – J. S. Bach. This is also available on YouTube. BBC Great Composers – J. S. Bach
We have watched the ClickView presentation on Haydn, which is targeting a younger audience, however the information is still of value. To catch up on this listen instead to the online radio presentations Classics for Kids – F. J. Haydn, again for a younger audience, but quite informative.
The reading set for homework was the introduction to the Classical Period and Chapter 1 from “Music an Appreciation” – Roger Kamien.
** Complete the following questions
· Describe Haydn’s personality and list two examples of his music that show his personality.
· Haydn pioneered the development of the _____________ and the _________ __________.
· Define both of the above answers.
· Name two of Haydn’s best known oratorios, and give a brief explanation of what each of them are about?
