Download pdf - Piano Compositions

7/30/2019 Piano Compositions

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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?




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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?




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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?


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


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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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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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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Developed,

Combined,

Sequence,

Inversion,

Drones,

Combination & manipulation on a

broader scale to produce an aesthetically

pleasing composition (with harmonic)



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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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