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Concept Dictiona ry
Name:__________________________ Class: _____________ _____________
Identifying Scottish Dances
Simple or compound time
Simple Compound
Number of beats in the bar Jig
3 2 or 4
Waltz Slow tempo Moderate tempo Fast tempo
Strathspey March Reel
Scottish Dances
Scottish Dances are usually played by a Scottish Dance Band. This band is normally made up of accordions, keyboard, double bass (or bass guitar), drum kit and sometimes a fiddle. Scottish Dance Bands perform at cheildhs. Scottish Dances are also played by Folk Groups – a group of singers or instrumentalists who perform tradition music from their country.
Waltz 3 beats in the bar which is played at a moderate tempo (speed). Simple time. Reel 2 or 4 beats in a bar, which is played quite fast. Simple time.
March Strong rhythmic pulse with 2 or 4 beats in the bar. Marches are often played
by a Pipe Band which is made up of bagpipes and drums. The bass drum keeps the beat of the music to march to. Simple time.
Strathspey A slow dance with 2 or 4 beats in the bar which usually features the Scotch
Snap. Simple time. Jig A lively dance with 2 beats in the bar in compound time.
Scottish Vocal Music
Puirt a Beul/Mouth Music Dance music dating to the time were instruments were banned. It
is always sung, usually in Gaelic with some nonsense words added. The music is often highly ornamented, imitating the sound of the bagpipes
Gaelic Psalm Unaccompanied Psalm singing. Uses a call and response
pattern. Sung at a slow tempo. Scots Ballad A slow Scottish song which tells a story. For example, My Love is
like a Red, Red Rose.’ Waulking Song A rhythmic song sung in Gaelic by the women in the Western Isles
of Scotland while they ‘waulked’ (i.e. beat) the woollen cloth to soften and shrink it. The women beat the cloth in time to the music. Sometimes the singing is led by a soloist with a response from the rest of the women (call and response).
Bothy Ballad A folk song, usually with many verses, from north-east Scotland.
It tells a story of rural or farming life. Sung in Doric (Aberdeenshire dialect).
Other Concepts
Pibroch Classical Music for bagpipes, written in theme and variations form. Vamp Rhythmic accompaniment with a bass note played on the beat and
a chord played off the beat. Pentatonic scale A five note scale typically associated with Scottish music.
Slow Air A traditional Scottish melody played on an instrument at a slow
tempo.
Scottish/Folk instruments Includes the fiddle, clarsach, accordion, bagpipes, flute, guitar.
World Music
Gamelan A type of percussion orchestra found in Indonesia. The
instruments are mainly metal, tuned, percussion items and the music is built up in layers (similar in sound to the glockenspiel, metallophone and xylophone). The music is based on the pentatonic scale.
Ghanaian A style of music from West Africa. Ghanaian drum ensemble A group of percussion instruments, drums, shakers and bells. They perform music from the West African country of Ghana. Indian Music from India which uses instruments such as the sitar and
tabla. The sitar is a plucked, stringed instrument from India. In addition to melody strings, it has a drone and strings which vibrate in sympathy with each other. Tabla are two Indian drums tuned to different pitches which are often used to accompany the sitar.
Latin American Dance music from South America. Percussion
instruments provide lively off-beat dance rhythms. Latin percussion ensemble A set of percussion instruments playing music from Latin
America, especially Brazil and Cuba. Rhythm is the most important element.
Salsa A musical style which originated in Cuba (dance music).
The most important element of salsa is rhythm provided by a large percussion section. The claves, cowbell and conga drums are particularly important. The vocals (if present) may be limited and can include elements of improvisation.
Samba A very lively, syncopated dance with two beats in a bar
in which a set of percussion instruments provides the foundation. It originated in Brazil. Samba music is particularly important for the annual Carnival in Rio de Janerio. Samba schools, which can have 3000-4000 members, begin preparations for the Carnival up to eight months prior to the event.
Pan Pipes From Peru. Sound is produced by blowing across the top of the pipes.
Steel band A West Indian band whose instruments are made out of oil drums called pans. The top of each drum is hammered into panels to make different pitches.
Blues and Jazz Jazz music is based on the improvisation and arrangements of popular tunes in a distinctive style. The song may be a popular ditty or blues that the musician didn't compose, but by the time they are finished with it, they will have composed a new piece that often bore little resemblance to the original song.
Features of Jazz Music Improvisation Making the music up on the spot. Syncopation Rhythmic device where the weak beats of the bar are accented. Riff A repeated phrase of music.
Blues Scale Scale used in blues and jazz music. Musicians usually improvise around the notes of these scales.
Blues notes Notes produced when a player slides between notes of a scale,
flattening them. These can be done on any string instrument, the voice and some brass instruments such as trombone and trumpet.
12-Bar Blues A 12-bar chordal structure using chords I, IV and V found in a
lot of blues music. It usually contains a walking bass. I/C / / / | I/C / / / | I/C / / / | I/C / / / |
IV/F / / / | IV/F / / / | I/C / / / | I/C / / / |
V/G / / / | IV/F / / / | I/C / / / | I/C / / / | Walking bass A moving bass line with notes usually of the same value. It often moves by step, but not always so.
Styles of Blues and Jazz Music
Dixieland Jazz Early form of jazz. One player per
part. Big Band/Swing Band Larger bands of jazz musicians.
C Eb F Gb G Bb C
Ragtime Usually for piano solo. Left hand plays a vamp while
the right hand plays a syncopated melody. A rhythmic accompaniment with a bass note played on the beat and a chord off the beat. Usually played on piano or guitar.
Rock and Roll Popular style in the 1940s and 1950s. Makes use of boogie-
woogie rhythms. Boogie Woogie Blues style for piano, the left hand usually playing an ostinato
(often a dotted rhythm) while the right hand improvises freely.
Jazz Band A group of musician playing jazz music. Blues Music which is usually based on a 12-bar structure and often
employs the blues scale. The music is usually slower than jazz music.
Other Jazz Instruments
Slide Guitar Mainly associated with American Country and Western
Music and Hawaiian music, it is created by sliding a metal bar along the strings rather than using fingers to stop notes on the frets.
Fretless Guitar A bass guitar without frets allowing the player to play in a
similar way to a string or double bass player. This can allow for glissandi along strings, not possible on a normal bass guitar.
Soul A style of Afro-American popular music including elements
of blues and gospel and conveying strong emotions. James Brown and Beverly Knight are popular examples of soul singers.
Country An American style of popular music derived from rural folk music.
Features fiddle, banjo, piano, guitar and drums. Scat singing Nonsense words and sounds are improvised by the singer.
Sometimes the singer is imitating the sounds of instruments. Doo-ba-bee-bop-ba-woaw-woaw-woaw…
Baroque Period - Instrumental Music
Concerto Work for a soloist accompanied by an orchestra. It will often include a cadenza – a passage which allows the soloist to display their technical ability (a ‘showy-off’ passage’). Canon or Round 1) Think ‘Frere Jacques.’ One voice starts with the melody then another enters with the same melody later on. Another voice then enters with this, etc. Ground Bass A theme in the bass which is repeated many times while the upper parts are varied.
Baroque Period - Vocal Music Sacred Music Secular Music (listen out for religious words) Oratorio Opera Large scale work for Drama set to music soloists, chorus and orchestra for soloists, chorus, acting and Cantata – small-scale oratorio orchestra Passion Type of Oratorio based on Crucifixion story.
How are the pieces sung? Recitative Sung speech – used to move the plot on. Usually
accompanied by a cello and harpsichord (not the orchestra).
Aria A song with orchestral accompaniment. Chorale A German hymn tune. Usually homophonic in texture.
Sacred.
MELODY
MELODY
MELODY
d a b f# g d g a
Ground bass from Pachabel’s Canon
Chorus Choir
Classical Period - Instrumental Music
Theme and variations Theme is heard and then is repeated with some kind of variation. For example, a variation might change the rhythm of the theme, add extra notes, etc. You can still hear the theme in the variations which are usually quite short. Each variation is normally more complicated than the one before it. Minuet and Trio Third movement of classical Symphony. 3 beats in a bar. The trio is like a second minuet. In ternary form – i.e. ABA. Scherzo Replacement for Minuet and Trio in symphony or
chamber work. Lively movement in triple time. Like the Minuet and Trio it is in ternary form.
Symphony Orchestral work. Movements were normally fast, slow, minuet and trio, fast. Alberti bass Pattern of broken chords. Associated with piano music.
Alberti bass Concerto Work for solo instrument and orchestra. Cadenza A passage of music which allows soloists to
display their technical ability in singing or playing an instrument
Coda A passage at the end of a piece of music which
rounds it off effectively. Chamber music Music written for a small instrumental
ensemble with one player to a part. For example, a string quartet or flute and piano work.
A MINUET
B Trio
A MINUET
Variation 2 Variation 1 Theme
Romantic Period – Instrumental Music Programme music Music which tells a story or paints a picture in sound.
For example, the theme tune to Harry Potter immediately sets the scene, describing the story in sound.
Rubato Not in strict time. There is give and take in the tempo.
Used to give greater expression in the music by getting slightly faster or slower to suit the mood of the music.
Concerto (work for solo instrument with orchestral accompaniment) was expanded during this period with complicated cadenzas (passages which show off the technical ability of the soloist).
Vocal Concepts
Strophic Each verse has the same music. For example, a
standard pop song has verse-chorus-verse-chorus repeating the music.
Through-composed No repetition of the music – each verse has different
music. Strophic and through-composed apply to any form of vocal music.
20th Century Concepts Impressionist Brief musical ideas merge and change to create a rather blurred and vague outline. Term borrowed from painting to create the same effect in sound. Whole-tone scale Used in Impressionism. No semitones in scale – C,D,E F#,
G# Bb, C. Minimalist Very simple rhythmic and melodic figures are constantly
repeated with very slight changes each time. etc Aleatoric The elements of chance in music, where the players have
some freedom as to the choice of pitch and rhythm, etc. No two performances are exactly the same. For example, each player might have a radio and be told by the conductor when to turn the volume up and down.
Atonal Music
Atonal No feeling of key. Very dissonant. Discord A chord in which notes clash. Dissonance Notes clash when played together. Opposite of consonance. Cluster A group of notes played on a keyboard instrument with the
palm of the hand or even with the forearm. Cross rhythms Conflicting rhythms playing at the same time. Chromaticism Chromatic scale uses all twelve notes in an octave.
Electronic Music Delay An electronic effect which repeats a note or phrase. Distortion An electronic effect used in rock music to colour the sound
of an electric guitar. Reverb Gives the impression of different hall acoustics. Try this on
the keyboard in your classroom.
1 note 2 notes 1 note 1 note
Synthesiser A keyboard instrument which can create new and unusual
electronic sounds. The Voice Register The upper, middle or lower ranges of a voice or instrument. From lowest to highest sounding in pitch, the order of voices is:
Bass Baritone Tenor Countertenor Alto Mezzo-soprano Soprano M(male) M M M F(female) F F A cappella Unaccompanied choral singing. Backing vocals Singers who support the lead singer(s), usually by singing in harmony in the background. Choral Music for voices with more than one singer for each part. Chorus 1. A group of singers with several people to each part. 2. The music written for these singers. 3. The refrain between the verses of a song. Descant Another melody above the main tune, mainly in vocal music. Lead vocals The main singers in a group. See Backing vocals. Melismatic word setting Vocal music in which several notes are sung to one syllable. Compare Syllabic word setting.
Middle eight In popular music, a section which provides a contrast to the opening section. It is often eight bars long. Obbligato A prominent solo instrument part in a piece of vocal music. Pop group A group of musicians who play or sing in the popular style of
the day. The group might include guitars, drum kit, keyboards, and vocals.
Strophic A vocal/choral composition in which each verse has the same music. Syllabic word setting Vocal music where each syllable is given one note only.
Compare Melismatic word setting. Through-composed A vocal/choral composition in which there is little or no
repetition of the music.
Word painting In vocal works the music illustrates the word or phrase, e.g. the words ‘running down’ might be illustrated by a descending scale. Musical A musical play which has speaking, singing and dancing and is
performed on a stage. In recent years the musical has seen a revival and may now deal with very dramatic stories and contain no dialogue.
The String Family From lowest to highest sounding in pitch, the order of string instruments is:
Double bass Cello Viola Violin These instruments can be played in the following ways: Arco Played with the bow. Col legno Instruction given to string players to turn the bow over and
to bounce the wood on the strings. Muted Using a device which reduces the volume or alters the sound
of an instrument. Double stopping This technique is achieved on bowed string instruments by
bowing across more than one string at the same time, thus producing more than one note. Glissando Sliding from one note to another, taking in all the notes in between where possible. Pizzicato Strings are plucked. Tremolo Term for the rapid up-and-down movement of a bow on a
stringed instrument creating an agitated, restless effect. The term also describes rapid alternation of two different notes at least a 3rd apart played on piano, strings or wind instruments.
Vibrato A very slight wavering in pitch which brings warmth to the tone.
Harmonics The high eerie sounds produced on a bowed string instrument by lightly touching the string at certain points. On a guitar these will sound bell-like.
Other string instruments include the guitar (electric, acoustic, bass, fretless bass and slide), sitar, harp and clarsach. Electric guitar Sitar (remember: tabla) Clarsach Concepts which can be associated with the guitar (electric, acoustic, bass, fretless bass and slide): Bending Changing the pitch of a note, e.g. by pushing a guitar string upwards. Delay An electronic effect which repeats a note or phrase. (Extended definition – This is an effect mainly achieved through using a digital processor. A signal is sent to the processor where the time delay can be adjusted. This can be used to change the texture of a sound.) Distortion An electronic effect used in rock music to colour the sound of an electric guitar. Reverb An electronic effect which can give the impression of different hall acoustics, e.g. as if the performance is in a cathedral. Slapping A method of playing bass guitar where the thumb is used to hit the side of the strings. The Woodwind Family From lowest to highest sounding in pitch, the order of woodwind instruments is: Bassoon Clarinet Oboe Flute Piccolo Flutter tonguing A method of tonguing in which the player rolls the letter ‘r’.
It is used by wind players and is particularly effective for flute and brass.
Military band A band with woodwind, brass and percussion instruments. A
military band might march as it plays. See Wind band. Wind band A band with woodwind, brass and percussion instruments playing music composed for the concert hall rather than for marching. See Military/Marching band. Other types of wind instruments include the pan pipes and recorder: Pan pipes Pipes which are graded in size and are bound together. The sound is made by blowing across the top of the pipes. One of the oldest wind instruments from South America. Recorder There are four main types of this wind instrument: descant, treble, tenor and bass. The Brass Family From lowest to highest sounding in pitch, the order of brass instruments is: Tuba Trombone Horn Trumpet Brass band A band of brass instruments and percussion. (Extended definition – A brass band uses a separate family of instruments, e.g. cornet, flugal horn, tenor horn and baritone.) Fanfare A short piece played on trumpets (or other instruments) usually at some important occasion. Brass instruments can also be played muted . The Percussion Family Percussion Instruments which are hit, shaken or scraped. Tuned percussion can produce different notes, e.g. glockenspiel and xylophone. Untuned percussion has no fixed pitch, e.g. cymbals and side drum. The timpani differs to other drums because it can be tuned to a specific pitch.
Rolls A very fast repetition of a note on a percussion instrument, e.g. on a snare drum or timpani.
Examples of tuned and untuned percussion instruments
The Keyboard Family
Harpsichord Keyboard instrument which produces its sound by plucking a
string when each key is pressed. The harpsichord was widely used in Baroque music. It became less popular following the invention of the piano during the Classical period.
Piano Invented during the Classical period, the word piano is an abbreviation of the Italian word pianoforte (literally quiet-loud) which refers to the instrument’s capacity to play at different dynamic levels (not possible on the harpsichord). When a key is pressed, a felt covered hammer strikes a steel string causing it to vibrate. A piano typically has three pedals which allow notes to be sustained and can soften the sound of the instrument.
Synthesiser Basically an electronic keyboard which is able to produce many
different sound effects. Organ A keyboard instrument usually found in churches. It usually has
more than one keyboard. Celeste Keyboard instrument which wounds similar to the
glockenspiel but is softer and more subtle in tone. The keys are connected to hammers which strike metal plates
suspended over wooden resonators. This is the instrument which plays Tchaikovsky’s ‘Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.’
Tonality and Harmonic Movement Anacrusis The notes which appear before the first strong beat of a musical phrase. It sounds as an upbeat. Arpeggio Notes of a chord played one after the other – spread out. C E G C’ E’ G’ E’ C’ G E C Atonal No feeling of key, major or minor. Very dissonant. A feature of
some 20th-century music. Consonance Notes which sound well together. Compare Dissonance. Broken chord The notes of a chord are played separately. Chord Two or more notes sounding together. See Harmonic. Chord change A move from one chord to a different chord. Chord progressions using I, IV, V, VI Different progressions using the chords
built on the 1st, 4th, 5th and 6th notes of a major or minor scale.
Chromatic scale A stepwise series of notes built up entirely of semitones, e.g. C C# D D# E F F# G G# A A# B . See Major scale and Minor scale.
c c# d d# e f f# g g# a a# b c Dissonance Notes which seem to clash when sounded together. Compare
Consonance. Imperfect cadence A cadence consists of two chords at the end of a phrase. In an imperfect cadence the second chord is the dominant V creating an unfinished effect. See Perfect cadence. Interval The distance in pitch between two notes, e.g. C–F is a 4th. Major scale A stepwise series of notes built on an order of tones and semitones (e.g. C D E F G B C). Compare Minor scale, Pentatonic scale, Blues Scale and Chromatic scale.
c d e f | g a b c’ | c’ b a g | f e d c || Minor scale A stepwise series of notes built on an order of tones and semitones (e.g. C D Eb F G Ab B C ). Compare Minor scale, Pentatonic scale, Blues Scale and Chromatic scale. c d eb f | g ab b c’ | c’ b ab g | f eb d c || Modulation A change of key. Modulation to relative major A change from minor to major key with the same
key signature found 3 semitones higher, e.g. D minor to F major. See Modulation.
Modulation to relative minor A change from major to minor key with the same
key signature found 3 semitones lower, e.g. C major to A minor. See Modulation.
Octave The distance between a note and the nearest note with the same name, e.g. C–C'. Pentatonic scale Any five-note scale. In practice, the most common one is that on which folk music is based, particularly Scottish and Celtic. ‘Auld Lang Syne’ is composed on a pentatonic scale. The five notes could be C D E G A. Relative major A change from minor to major key with the same key signature found 3 semitones higher, e.g. D minor to F major. See Modulation. Relative minor A change from major to minor key with the same key signature found 3 semitones lower, e.g. C major to A minor. See Modulation. Perfect cadence A cadence consists of two chords at the end of a phrase. A perfect cadence is the dominant to tonic chords (V–I). In the key of C major, chords G–C. The music will sound finished. Compare Imperfect cadence. Semitone Half a tone, e.g. C to C#, or the distance from one fret to another on a guitar. A chromatic scale moves by semitones. Suspension This effect occurs when a note from one chord is held over to the next chord creating a discord, and is then resolved by moving one step to make a concord.
Tierce de Picardie The final chord of a piece of music in the minor key is changed
to major. Tonal Based on a key. The tonality of a piece may be major or minor. Compare Atonal. Tonality The key. See Major, Minor. Tone Two semitones, e.g. C to D, or the distance between two frets on
a guitar. See Semitone. Whole-tone scale A scale containing no semitones but built entirely on whole tones. Debussy used the whole-tone scale in some of his pieces which were influenced by Impressionism. See Impressionist.
Other Formal Structures Binary A B. A form in which the music is made up of two different sections labelled A and B. Each section may be repeated. See Ternary. Coda A passage at the end of a piece of music which rounds it off effectively. Rondo A B A C A. A form where the first section (A) comes back between contrasting sections. Round Each part sings or plays the same melody entering one after
the other. When they reach the end they start again, e.g. Frère Jacques.
Ternary A B A. A form where the first section is always repeated at
the end. See Binary.
Additional Concepts Accelerando Getting gradually faster. Compare Rallentando. Accented Notes which sound louder than others. Answer A reply to a musical question. See Question. Beat The basic pulse you hear in music. The pulse may be in groups of 2, 3 or 4 with a stress on the first beat in each group. Contrapuntal Texture in which each of two or more parts has independent melodic interest; similar in meaning to Polyphonic.
Contrary motion Two parts which move in opposite directions, e.g. as one part ascends the other part descends. Countermelody A melody played against the main melody. Crescendo Getting gradually louder. Compare Diminuendo. Cross rhythms 1. Term used to describe the effect of two notes being played
against three (e.g. in piano music it might be groups of two quavers in the right hand and groups of triplets in the left hand).
2. The term is also used to describe the effect that occurs when the accents in a piece of music are different from those suggested by the time signature (e.g. the division of 4/4 time into 3+3+2 quavers).
Diminuendo Also known as a decrescendo. Getting gradually quieter. Dotted rhythm A short note following a longer one. Grace note A type of ornament played as a quick note before the main note of a melody. Sometimes there may be a group of grace notes at the start of a Phrase. Homophony Texture where you hear melody with accompaniment or where all the parts move together rhythmically. See Harmony and Polyphony. Imitation When the melody is immediately copied in another part. It need not be an exact copy. Legato The notes are played or sung smoothly. Think l=long. Compare
Staccato. Off the beat The main accents are against the beat. Compare On the beat. On the beat The main accents fall on the beat. Compare Off the beat. Ornament An ornament decorates a melody by adding short, extra notes. Ostinato A short musical pattern repeated many times. See Repetition and Riff. Riff A repeated phrase usually found in jazz and popular music. See Repetition and Ostinato. Rubato A rhythmic give and take in a phrase allowing more expression.
Sequence A melodic phrase which is immediately repeated at a higher or lower pitch. c d e f g | d e f g a | e f g a b | f g a b c’ | | Inverted pedal A pedal point which sounds in an upper part instead of in the
bass. See Pedal. Passing note A note which moves between two notes of the same chord
which are a 3rd apart. Pedal Short for pedal point. A note which is held on or is repeated
continuously in the bass beneath changing harmonies. Very often the note held on will be the tonic (tonic pedal) or the dominant (dominant pedal). See Inverted pedal.
Phrase A short musical idea which is part of a melody. Polyphony Texture which consists of two or more melodic lines,
possibly of equal importance and which weave independently of each other.
Question An opening phrase. It may be followed by an answer. See
Answer. Staccato The notes are short and detached. Think s= short. Compare
Legato. Syncopation Strongly accented notes playing off or against the beat. Trill Rapid and repeated movement between two adjacent notes. Triplet Three equal-value notes within one beat. Up beat The last beat in the bar. Compare Down beat.
The Comparison Question
Version 1 Version 2 Instrumental forces and how they are used
List the instruments being played. Be specific and include voices.
How are these instruments being played? Pizzicato, muted, etc. What role do they play? Melody, accompaniment, counter-melody, ostinato, etc.
4 marks Two ½ marks for ‘Instruments/Voices’ and two ½ marks for ‘How they are Used.’ NNoottee:: tthheessee mmuusstt bbee lliinnkkeedd ttoo eeaacchh ootthheerr..
2 marks
2 marks Rhythm/Tempo Time signature.
State whether the piece is in simple or compound time.
Tempo marking – adagio, moderato, allegro, presto. Changes in tempo – rallentando, accelerando. Use of dotted rhythms, Scotch snaps, rhythmic ostinatos, etc.
1 mark ½ a mark for the ‘Rhythm/Tempo’ in each.
½ mark
½ mark Tonality Major or minor.
Is there a modulation?
1 mark ½ a mark for the tonality in each
½ mark
½ mark Note:
1) This question is worth 6 marks. 2) This question only appears in the Credit Listening Paper. 3) You will be credited for each concept only once for each version of the piece. However,
the same concepts can appear in both versions. For example, if both pieces are written in a major key, you will receive a ½ mark for writing major for version 1 and another ½ mark for writing major in version 2. Try to use as many concepts as you can in other areas.
4) No marks are rewarded for rough working.
An example of the marking scheme provided by the SQA for this question. Note how the ‘Instruments/Voices’ and ‘How they are Used’ must be linked to receive the marks for this question.
Version 1 Version 2
Instruments/Voices and How they are Used
Male voice – Tenor Voice Lead, melody, tune, syllabic, legato, sequence, solo repetition Piano Accompaniment, harmony, backing, chords, fills, introduction Drum Kit/Drums Brushes, swing*, fills Guitar/Acoustic or Electric Bends, chords, accompaniment, strumming, backing, harmony, introduction Strings/Violins Arco, legato, accompaniment,backing, countermelody, harmony, introduction Double Bass Pizzicato, introduction, accompaniment
Orchestra(l) Introduction Flutes Introduction, descending scale, chromatic, legato, fills Strings/Violins/Cellos Introduction, accompaniment, legato, arco Cellos Melody, tune, legato, arco Oboe Melody, tune, legato, solo Woodwind Harmony, legato, accompaniment, backing, chords Harp Harmony, accompaniment, backing Glockenspiel Introduction, descending scale,chromatic, fills
Rhythm/Tempo Anacrusis, syncopation, Moderate, medium, Moderato, andante, swing*, jazzy 2 beats or 4 beats, duple or quadruple, Simple time, faster (than version 2) Common time
Anacrusis, syncopation, Adagio, slow, slower (than version 1) 2 beats or 4 beats, duple or quadruple, Simple time Common time Rubato Triplets
Tonality Major Major
* means the concept is only counted once – i.e. you would only receive one half mark for writing this in both boxes of the same version.
The Descriptive Question
1) This question appears in the Credit Listening Paper. 2) As with the ‘Comparison Question,’ this question ensures that you are able to listen to
music and use a suitable vocabulary to describe what you hear. 3) To be awarded any marks, each concept must be linked to the effect that it provides
within the piece. Hence, no marks are awarded for correct concepts only. 4) Each concept can be credited only once, even if linked to a different effect. 5) Any feasible link is accepted as long as it is related to a concept. Note: the following
marking scheme from the SQA does not detail the effects provided for this reason. 6) Each correct answer receives 1 mark. There are a maximum of 2 marks for each of
the boxes. The question is worth 5 marks. 7) You must put the concepts under the correct headings. 8) Before listening to the piece you should be asking yourself how you would create this
effect in music. How would you depict the wind blowing the sand? What types of instruments would you use and how would they be played? Would you write in a major or minor key or would there be a modulation? Would the tempo of the music be fast or slow and would it change? Etc. It is likely that you will have similar ideas to the composer.
9) You must write in at least 3 of the 4 columns to receive marks for this question. 10) REMEMBER: TO RECEIVE A MARK YOU MUST WRITE DOWN THE
CONCEPT AND THE EFFECT IT CREATES. For example: accelerando – the storm approaching.
Example of this type of question and its marking scheme:
In this question you will hear a piece of music which describes a storm.
Comment briefly on how the composer uses musical means to suggest: • The calm before the storm • The wind blowing the sand • The storm approaching • Thunder and lightning FINAL ANSWER (Remember to comment on at least three of the following.)
Musical Aspect Musical Means AND Effect Created
Rhythm/tempo
Adagio or slow or Lento or Largo Accelerando or gets faster Dotted rhythms 4 beats in the bar or 2 beats in the bar Simple time Triplets Ostinato* or repetition*
Melody/harmony
Arpeggios Chromatic Contrary motion Cluster Discord or dissonance Glissando* Homophony Legato* Interval of a Minor 2
nd
Scale-chromatic or ascending or descending Inverted pedal Imitation Inversion Ostinato* or repetition* Pedal or drone Polyphony or contrapuntal Sequences
Orchestration
Arco Legato* Glissando* Tremolando/tremolo Brass Strings Percussion Woodwind Orchestra(l) Piano(s) Bass drum Cello(s) Clarinet(s) Cymbals Horn(s) or French horn(s) Pizzicato/strumming Trombone(s) Timpani/kettle drums Violin(s)
Dynamics
Pp or p or mp or soft or quiet Crescendo or getting louder or< mf, f, ff, sf, moderately loud, loud or very loud or suddenly loud Diminuendo or getting softer or >
