HSC Music Notes

Year 11 Music 1 Yearly Aural Exam Practise 2008 HSC Question 1 (6 marks) An excerpt (1 minute 31 seconds) somebody to Love from the soundtrack Happy Feet will be played FIVE times for you to answer Question 1. Time: First playing — short pause Second playing — 30 second pause Third playing — 1 minute pause Fourth playing — 2 minute pause Fifth playing — 2 minute pause

In this excerpt, how does the composer maintain interest? In this question, think about exactly what in the music creates interest and how the interest is maintained e.g. dynamics, complex rhythms, unique tone colour etc. You will discuss more than one concept. Don’t get stressed trying to talk about all of the concepts. You may want to structure this question using dot points. Each dot point will discuss a different concept or musical event that maintains interest    

The composer uses highs and lows. He collaborates with motifs and harmonies. He uses duration and harmonies to create a unifying balance. He uses combinations of harmonies with a choir and a rock band whilst keeping the same base line. Expressive techniques used are Mezzo Forte (moderately loud) and works its way into Fortissimo (very loud) This is a homophonic piece in a ‘rondo form’

Question 2 (8 marks) An excerpt (1 minute 14 seconds) from Bulgar Frailach (traditional) performed by Bob Paredes and Catherine Schieve will be played SIX times for you to answer Question 2. Time: First playing — short pause Second playing — 30 second pause Third playing — 1 minute pause Fourth playing — 1 minute pause Fifth playing — 2 minute pause Sixth playing — 2 minute pause

Comment on the use of pitch, dynamics and expressive techniques in this excerpt. Use your concept tables and mind maps for this question. In pitch, focus on your discussion of melody – what instrument is it, range, shape of the melody, register (high/low for the instrument). Then discuss what instruments accompany the melody and discuss the range, register, type of accompaniment (e.g. chords, broken chords, bass notes etc.) You may like to structure it in a table. Pitch     

Duration is short  Is mezzo forte  The song form is verse, verse, chorus,  bridge, chorus  It uses polyphonic textures  Tone colour consists of wind  instruments, percussion and strings 

Dynamics and Expressive Technqiues  Dynamics: mezzo forte >>>> fortissimo   The piece uses vibrato  Flutter   Mute   And a combination of orchestral rhythms.

Question 3 (8 marks) An excerpt (1 minute 18 seconds) Dance of the Knights from Romeo and Juliet, Op. 64 by Prokofiev will be played SIX times for you to answer Question 3. Time: First playing — short pause Second playing — 30 second pause Third playing — 1 minute pause Fourth playing — 1 minute pause Fifth playing — 2 minute pause Sixth playing — 2 minute pause Discuss the composer’s use of duration with reference to the themes and accompaniment in this excerpt. In this question, use your concept table and mind maps for duration. Think about the beat (strong, weak, indefinite), metre (2/4, 3/4, 4/4), tempo (fast/slow), rhythm (complex, simple) and changes in this. Discuss these things in relation to how the main themes of this excerpt are heard and the accompaniment to the main melody is heard 

this piece begins mezzo forte, and gradually works its way into fortissimo

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its begins as a ¾  it is a polyphonic texture  the tempo is fast  the sound production would include plucked, strummed and blown  the rhythm is complex  the piece is a orchestral piece  has many themes and varriations. 

Question 4 (8 marks) An excerpt (1 minute 31 seconds) from The Messenger by Blaine Whittaker will be played FIVE times for you to answer Question 4. Time: First playing — short pause Second playing — 30 second pause Third playing — 1 minute pause Fourth playing — 2 minute pause Fifth playing — 2 minute pause

Define the structure of this excerpt with reference to the concepts of music. In this question, you have to outline what the structure is in relation to the other concepts. HOW do the other concepts indicate the structure? Remember structure is the macro (overall structure where you state what sections there are e.g. Section 1, Section 2, Section 3 etc. or Intro, Verse, Chorus etc.) and the micro structure (what happens in each section to structure that particular section. E.g. Section 1 – 12 bar blues chord progression played on guitar (THIS IS ONLY AN EXAMPLE THIS IS NOT WHAT THIS ACTUAL PIECE IS)    

is a jazz band is a homophonic texture instruments used are strings, brass, percussion the structure uses mezzo forte, uses theme and variation. The duration is short. Techniques include vibrato and slides.