Revision Pack for: GCSE Music

Exam Board: Edexcel 2MU01

Link to Specification: https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-gcses/music-2009.html

Past Papers and mark schemes:

http://qualifications.pearson.com/en/support/support-topics/exams/past-papers.html

Examination Format:

MUSIC – Listening and Appraising exam (40%)

Overview of content

••Knowledge and study of set works in the Areas of Study

Overview of assessment

••A 1-hour and 30-minute written paper

••All questions relate to the set works

•• The paper will be in two sections

••Section A: eight compulsory questions in response to extracts from the set works that will be played on a CD during the examination (68 marks)

••Section B: one question from two optional questions on the set works, requiring extendedwriting (12 marks)

••A total of 80 marks for the paper.

What Do I Need To Know?

For each set work, you need to know the:

o Composero Name of Pieceo Tempoo Time Signature/ Rhythmo Instruments/ Timbreo Structureo Melodyo Tonalityo Harmonyo Dynamicso Type of Pieceo Textureo Date it was composedo Electronic deviceso Electronic processesYou also need to be able to:o Give opinions as to why you like/ dislike each pieceo Know both the century and date of when the piece was composedo Provide reasons as to why each set work reflects the style it was written in e.g.Romantico Give examples of other composers of that style e.g. Bach is Baroqueo State features of the style of musico Know what section of the music is being played in the extract e.g. Mozart theycould play either the 1st or 2nd subject (so make sure you know the difference)o Write basic notations for some parts of the extracts. This could be for anyextract, you need to be able to hear the shape of the melody for each piece ofmusico Work out the rhythm being played by a certain instrument in an extractWords underlined are the key areas of each piece e.g. tonality, texture

GlossarySATB – the four voices used in a choir (soprano, alto, tenor, bass)Oratorio – a religious piece like an opera but not acted on stageImitation – where one part copies anotherPlagal Cadence – a section which ends with the chords 4 and 1 (subdominant to tonic)Basso Continuo – the cello and organ in baroque timesHemiola – giving the music a feel of having 2 beats rather than 3Sequence – a pattern moving up or downOstinato – a constantly repeated patternHomophonic – a tune with an accompanimentImitative – when the melodies copy one anotherSymphony – a piece for an orchestra in 4 movementsRubato – playing about with the speed of a piece, either slowing it down or speeding upCantable – the melody is played so that is sings out on the piano and uses a smooth soundSustuento – slow and sustainedSyncopation – putting the emphasis on usually weak beats in a piece of musicAcciaccatura – a crushed noteEnharmonic Change – the same note with a different name e.g. Ab to G#Smorzando – dying awayPianissimo – very quietPeddle Note – a repeated noteSehr Rasch – very fastKlangfarbenmelodie – the tune is passed around the orchestra, between instrumentsHexachords – a chord with 6 notesAtonal – no keyFragmented – broken upHauptstimme – principle melodyMetamorphosis – a basic change in formResultant melody – a melody made up from notes being played in different instrument partsMetrical Displacement – playing the same thing but at a different time, sounds out of syncPolymetre – a combination of different time signaturesTritone – an interval of a sharpened 4th

Syllabic – one melody note per syllableOctave displacement – moving notes from the melody into different octavesTremolo – very quick notes, gives a shaking effectHarmonics – very high notesPizzicato – plucked stringsStrident – big, bold, confidentFrontline Instruments – the instruments that play the melody linesRhythmic Section – the instruments that play the background bass and beatsHead – the melody, and in ALL BLUES is followed by a riffRiff – a repeated patternBackbeats – accenting the beats which are not usually accented in MOBY 2&4Sub‐bass – a very low bass (‘thumping rumble’)Breakdown – one bar of silencePanning – spreading the sound into a new stereo or speaker

Echo – a sound repeated after it has been heardEQ – changes the frequency of a soundReverb – amplifying a sound, making it sound like it was recorded in an echoey spaceCross rhythms – two different rhythms being played at the same time, the rhythms usually havedifferent time signaturesFlanging – sweeping effect produced through slight delay to copied soundDistortion – making the sound rougher and harsherWord Painting – when the word mirrors the musical effect being put on the musicFalsetto – notes higher than the normal male rangeSequence – when a melody is repeated a tone higher than it was previouslyTala – a rhythmic pattern in Indian musicRaga – the scale or mode used in an Indian ragAlap – the first section of a raga where there is no fixed beat, it is also improvisedDrone – the repeated notes played on the tambura or shruti boxRasa – the mood of the notes in the ragaMeend – sliding between notes (when singing)Gat – the pre composed instrumental sectionTan – when fast scalic patterns are usedPolyrhythmic – different rhythms played togetherHeterophonic – a type of texture where a more complicated part is added on top of another oneUnison – signing or playing togetherCall & Response – when a leader plays and the rest of the group repeatsPentatonic Scale – scale using 5 notesVocables – nonsense syllablesStrophic – name foe a structure of 2 verse’s and 2 insertsDiatonic – using notes in the key