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Piano Compositions
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IGCSE
Submit 2 compositions, either contrasting in character orwritten for different forces
Must be recorded
One of them must be written in a Western tonal style andmust demonstrate familiarity with the basic principles oftraditional harmonic language; FULLY NOTATED
The other may be in any style of the candidates choice
and may be notated in whatever form of notation isappropriate to the music, provided that the intention of thenotation are clear to the examiner/moderator
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Copy these in Homework Diary
Composition due Friday Week 8
Solo performance during Junior Assessment Week(Week 10)
Music note book will be collected next Monday,make sure everything is up to date (checkDistribution folder in case missing items from the
powerpoint)
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~composition~
Organisation of sounds over time.
The spacing of sound is important for impact andan overall plan helps everything to fit andbalance.
STRUCTURE is how the ideas are organized
DEVELOPMENT is how the ideas grow
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Contrary to popular myth
Composers are not usually hit by inspirationfalling out of the sky. Composing is a skill that isacquired through practice, experience and lots
of listening. The greatest composers are also thegreatest listeners because they listen for whatmakes great music and apply the principles thatthey discover to their own music.
Rhythm, melody, timbre, harmony all needs to becarefully considered when composing
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Writing for Solo Instrument
Fully explore the different timbres of the instrument. Most instruments can makedifferent sounds- some traditional and some bizarre! Think of the different waysthat an instrument can be played. Invent new ways of playing an instrument andnew notations to represent them.
Use the entire range of the instrument. Different ranges usually have different
timbres that can evoke different moods etc.
Show off what is special and unique about your instrument. Write music that couldnot be played another instrument.
You are not limited by what you can play. You can ask someone else to perform yourpiece for you as long as you are involved in the direction of the performance.
Listen to many pieces of music as you can find for your instrument. Listen to manydifferent styles and genres of music. Perhaps use different elements from severalstyles and create your own style.
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Marking Scheme
Ideas 20%
Structure of their compositions 20%
Use of the chosen medium 20%
Compositional technique 20%
Presentation and notation of scores 20%
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Ideas
1. What kind of rhythmic pattern/value is used?
2. Is the main idea/melody memorable? Sing-able?
3. Are there other ideas introduced? When/where?
4. Is there sufficient variety and contrast between
the ideas?
5. Do the chords match the melodies used?
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Super Mario
Click icon to add picture1. What kind of rhythmic
pattern/value is used?
2. Is the main idea/melodymemorable? Sing-able?
3. Are there other ideasintroduced? When/where?
4. Is there sufficient varietyand contrast between the
ideas?
5. Do the chords match themelodies used?
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Structure
1. How long/short are the melodic phrases?
2. Is there enough variety/contrast between thedifferent phrases?
3. How is variety/contrast achieved in this piece?
4. Do you think the composition is well organized?Why/why not?
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Tetris
Click icon to add picture1. How long/short are themelodic phrases?
2. Is there enough
variety/contrastbetween the differentphrases?
3. How is
variety/contrastachieved in this piece?
4. Do you think thecomposition is well
organized? Why/whynot?
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Hes a pirate Click icon to add picture
1. How long/short are themelodic phrases?
2. Is there enoughvariety/contrast
between the differentphrases?
3. How is variety/contrast
achieved in this piece?
4. Do you think thecomposition is well
organized? Why/whynot?
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Theme &Variation
Click icon to add pictureThe idea is introduced in thebeginning (8 bars or more, to
allow sufficient material for
variation)
Listen to Mozarts Twinkle
Twinkle Variation
Write down how each variation
is different compare to the
original (rhythm, melody,textureetc)
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Violin + PianoClick icon to add picture1. How long/short are the
melodic phrases?
2. Is there enoughvariety/contrast
between the differentphrases?
3. How is variety/contrastachieved in this piece?
4. Do you think thecomposition is well
organized? Why/whynot?
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Click icon to add picture
1. How long/short are themelodic phrases?
2. Is there enoughvariety/contrast between
the different phrases?
3. How is variety/contrastachieved in this piece?
4. Do you think thecomposition is well
organized? Why/why not?
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Use of medium
Choice of writing for specific instrumentalcombinations
Appropriate writing for the instrument/s
Variety of musical texture
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2 trombonequartets
Click icon to add picture
1. Do you think thecomposition suit the
instruments written for?
2. If you have to re-arrange this
composition, what kind ofinstrument/s would you write
for?
3. What is the main textureused in this piece?
4. Do the different parts haveinteresting/melodic ideas to
play during the piece?
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The Swan
Click icon to add picture1. Do you think thecomposition suit the
instruments written for?
2. If you have to re-arrange
this composition, what kindof instrument/s would youwrite for?
3. What is the main textureused in this piece?
4. Do the different parts haveinteresting/melodic ideas to
play during the piece?
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Click icon to add picture
1. Do you think the composition suit the instruments written for?
2. If you have to re-arrange this composition, what kind of instrument/s would you write for?
3. What is the main texture used in this piece?
4. Do the different parts have interesting/melodic ideas to play during the piece?
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Click icon to add picture
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Compositional technique
Basic ideas extended,
Developed,
Combined,
Sequence,
Inversion,
Drones,
Combination & manipulation on a broader scale to producean aesthetically pleasing composition (with harmonic)
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Basic ideas extended,
Developed,
Combined,
Sequence,
Inversion,
Drones,
Combination & manipulation on a
broader scale to produce an aesthetically
pleasing composition (with harmonic)
Click icon to add picture
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Click icon to add picture
Basic ideas extended,
Developed,
Combined,
Sequence,
Inversion,
Drones,
Combination & manipulation on a
broader scale to produce an aesthetically
pleasing composition (with harmonic)
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Score presentation
Notated scores + audio recording
Clear and precise
Close attention to details of performance,regardless of notation medium
How effectively candidates are able to record theiraural imagination in terms of written signs and
symbols
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Click icon to add pictureNotated scores + audio recording
Clear and precise
Close attention to details of
performance, regardless of
notation medium
How effectively candidates are
able to record their aural
imagination in terms of written
signs and symbols
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Structures & Shapes
In sections
Continuous
Building up to a climax
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Idea Expansion
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Section Organization
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Textures
A tune with simple harmony
A tune with complicated harmony
A tune plus parallel fifths (or other interval)
Drone/ostinato
Several tunes at once (polyphony/counterpoint)
Everybody has a different version of the same tune(heterophony)
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Structure & Texture
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Debussys Impressionism
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Clair de la Lune
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Ways of Ending
Stop suddenly
Make the music collapse
Gradually wind the music down, slowing the tempo
One instrument/voice settles on a long note,signaling the end
A fade-out ending
A special closing section, called a coda
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Structure
Binary
Ternary
Rondo
Theme and variation
Ground bass
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Instrumental and /or vocaleffects
Arco
pizzicato
glissando
tremolo
harmonics
double stopping
strumming
pitch bending
mute, roll
melisma
blue notes
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Viva La Vida Quartet
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Viva La Vida Orchestra
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Harmony
Primary chords: I, IV, V(7)
Secondary chords: II, VI
Cadence: perfect, imperfect, plagal, interrupted
Modulation to related keys
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Compositional devices
repetition
Imitation
Sequence
Canon
Inversion
Ostinato
Drone
Alberti bass
Pedal
Contrary motion
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The Nokia Fugue
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The Lady Gaga Fugue
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Mozart
Rhythm used: mostly quavers &
semiquavers
Melody: mostly in the right hand, but
left hand has some interesting parts
with semiquavers leading up to the
right hand semiquaver runs. Melodic
phrases are short but structured
Harmony: mostly tonal, using broken
chords/primary chords, it modulates
into a minor key in the middle
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Zimmer
Rhythm: LH ostinato rhythm in
6/8, contrasted with RH in ,
creates syncopation
Melody: harmonized RHmelody, repeat with variation.
Phrases vary in length. Quite a
lot of ideas introduced.
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Bond
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Nyman
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Binary
Are you sleeping
Brahms Lullaby
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Notes
Treble
Bass
Alto
4sharps and 4 flats major
minor key
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Rhythm & TimeSignature
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intervals
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Dynamics
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Tempo
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Expression
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Ornaments &Articulations
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Major scales
Minor scales
Chromatic scales
Pentatonic scales
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Intervals
Melodic movement step or leap
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Phrasing
Duple, triple, irregular metre
Syncopation
polyrhythm
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Harmony
Primary chords
I, IV, V(7)
Secondary chords
II, VI
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Cadence
Perfect
Imperfect
Plagal
Interrupted
Modulation to related keys
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ensembles
Orchestra
Wind/jazz bands
choir
Chamber ensemble
Piano, harpsichord, organ
Gamelan, rabab, kora, xylophone
Od, sitar, sarangi, tabla, chin, er-hu,
shakuhachi, koto, bandoneon, quena,
pan-pipes, guitar, un-tuned percussion
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