A Level Music Eduqas

This subject is broken down into 38 topics in 6 modules:

  1. The Western Classical Tradition 7 topics
  2. Jazz 8 topics
  3. Into the Twentieth-Century 6 topics
  4. Rock and Pop 5 topics
  5. Musical Theatre 6 topics
  6. Into the Twenty-First Century 6 topics
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  • 6
    modules
  • 38
    topics
  • 13,872
    words of revision content
  • 1+
    hours of audio lessons

This page was last modified on 28 September 2024.

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Music

The Western Classical Tradition

The Musical Elements

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The Musical Elements

Structure

  • Recognise and understand the form of classical music - fugue, sonata, concerto, symphony.
  • Study typical structures such as binary, ternary, rondo and theme and variations.
  • Consider how these structures contributed to the development of musical ideas in the Western Classical tradition.

Harmony

  • Acquaint yourself with the basis of Western Classical music - tonality.
  • Understand how major and minor keys, chromaticism, modulation, and functional harmony are used.
  • Notice the use of orchestration, including registers and tonal colours, as all these play critical roles in composing.

Melody

  • Understand how motifs, phrases and themes were developed and revisited.
  • Explore how composers of the Western Classical period used sequence, repetition and transposition.
  • Be aware of contrapuntal writing - where individual lines or melodies interact.

Rhythm and Tempo

  • Examine how pulse, beat, syncopation and polyrhythms shape a piece.
  • Understand the influence of tempo changes and rubato on the overall pace.
  • Get to grips with duple, triple and compound time signatures.

Texture

  • Identify monophonic, homophonic, polyphonic and heterophonic textures.
  • Understand the use of textural contrast which can enhance expression in a piece.
  • Grasp the relationship between texture and musical form in the Western Classical Tradition.

Dynamics

  • Understand how crescendo, decrescendo, forte, piano, and other dynamics shape the expressiveness of a piece.
  • Recognize terraced dynamics, an instant change without crescendo or decrescendo, an essential part of Baroque music.
  • Know how composers use dynamics to highlight structural changes or to delineate thematic content.

Instrumentation

  • Recognise the primary instruments used in the Western Classical Tradition - strings, brass, woodwinds, percussion.
  • Understand the role these instruments play within an orchestra.
  • Gain a general knowledge of each instrument's technical possibilities and characteristic sound.

Course material for Music, module The Western Classical Tradition, topic The Musical Elements

Music

Into the Twentieth-Century

Poulenc Trio for Oboe, Bassoon and Piano

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Poulenc Trio for Oboe, Bassoon and Piano

Poulenc Trio for Oboe, Bassoon and Piano

Context and Background

  • Composed by Francis Poulenc, a significant member of the French group known as Les Six.
  • The trio was written in 1926, during the exciting time of musical experimentation that marked the early 20th century.
  • This composition is a blend of the more traditional forms and structures with the new harmonic language of the early twentieth century.

Formal Structure and Analysis

  • The piece is structured in the traditional three-movement form: a fast first movement, a slow second movement and a fast finale.
  • Movement 1: Marked as Presto, this movement opens with a lively rhythmic theme introduced by the piano followed by the oboe and bassoon.
  • Movement 2: Marked Andante, it is a lyrical and expressive movement, featuring long solo lines for each wind instrument.
  • Movement 3: A Rondo marked 'Très vif' (very lively), it contains a light-hearted main theme that is interspersed with contrasting episodes.

Musical Characteristics

  • The texture of the trio is largely homo-rhythmic, where all three instruments play the same rhythm.
  • A noticeable aspect is the usage of extended techniques, such as flutter tonguing for the wind instruments.
  • Harmonically, the trio balances between tonality and bi-tonality, reflecting Poulenc's individual and modernistic approach.

Interpretation and Performance

  • Requires a high level of technical proficiency and expressive understanding of all three players, due to the complexity of the melodic lines and the speed of some passages.
  • The piece allows each instrument to shine: the rich warm tone of the bassoon, the bright penetrating sound of the oboe, and the percussive timbre of the piano all contribute to the trio's unique sonic character.

Impact and Legacy

  • Poulenc's Trio for Oboe, Bassoon and Piano is a staple and well-loved piece in the chamber music repertoire.
  • It exemplifies Poulenc's unforgettable style – combining serious and comic elements, classical structure with modern harmonies.

Course material for Music, module Into the Twentieth-Century, topic Poulenc Trio for Oboe, Bassoon and Piano

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