Music listening - styles

Question 1

Describe Lieder

• period it was written
• 2 possible composers/performers
• instruments(2)
• texture(2)
• location(2)
• structure(2)
• dynamics
• other details(4)

Answer 1

Romantic period - 1820-1900

Schubert, Brahms

Melody - Vocals
Accompaniment - Piano

homophonic(tune and chords); motifs used

Originally at home in drawing room
Now in concert halls

through composed song - each verse different music
Strophic song - all verses the same melody

lots of variation in dynamics(reflects the mood of the lyrics)

Words in german which tell a story
Full of emotions(love/despair/hope)
Call and response
Major/Minor tonality

Question 2

Describe pop ballads

• period it was written
• 2 possible composers/performers
• instruments(5)
• tempo(2)
• dynamics
• structure
• other details(4)

Answer 2

modern - around 19th century

Elton John, Bob Dylan

Melody - Vocals
Accompaniment - guitars(acoustic or electric); piano
Melodic accompaniment - drum kit
Counter melody - String quartet

slow to moderate
4/4

Develops and increases towards choruses

verse-chorus structure

Melisma(stringing a syllable over more than one note)
Broken chord
Arco(string instruments played with bows)
Bridge(contrasting section connecting verse and chorus

Question 3

Describe classical concertos

• period it was written
• where was it performed(continent)
• 2 possible composers/performers
• instruments(2)
• dynamics
• structure
• texture
• other details(4)

Answer 3

Classical period - 1750-1800

Europe

Mozart, Beethoven

Melody - soloist on an orchestral instrument(e.g. piano)
Accompaniment - whole, large orchestra

Gradual dynamic changes(crescendos and diminuendos)

3 movements structure - fast,slow,fast

Homophonic texture

Little ornamentation
Cadenza(soloist plays without the orchestra)
Question and answer
Imitation

Question 4

Describe jazz

• period it was written
• where was it performed(country)
• 2 possible composers/performers
• instruments(9)
• structure(2)
• texture
• rhythm
• other details(7)

Answer 4

Modern - early 1900s

USA

Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis

Frontline section(melody) - trumpet, saxophone, vocals, clarinet, trombone
Rhythm section(accompaniment) - drums, double bass, piano, guitar

12 bar blues structure
precomposed first section with pieces of improvisation

homophonic texture

swung rhythm - first note elongated and second shortened

Walking bass(bass line that moves in regular crotchets with close intervals)
Stabs(short, sharp notes by brass)
Improvisation
Syncopation(off beat rhythm)
Scat singing(singing nonsense syllables)
Comping(piano plays short, simple chords)
Glissando(sliding from one note to another)

Question 5

Describe Indian classical music

• period it was written
• where was it performed(country)
• why was it performed
• 1 possible composers/performers
• instruments(4)
• texture
• how is it passed on
• other details(4)

Answer 5

Very long ago(3000 years)

India

For religious celebrations

Ravi Shankar

Sitar(plucked string instrument) - improvises around raga, bent strings to create twanging
Tampura(string instrument) - plays a drone accompaniment, plucked
Tabla(pair of drums) - provides rhythmic accompaniment, improvise around the Tala rhythm, used to keep time
Vocal - often not words, sustained decorated notes improvised around the raga

Homophonic texture

Passed on by oral tradition - not written down

Raga(scale that the melody is based around)
Tala(repeating rhythm pattern)
Imitation
Improvisation
Drone(long sustained note)

Question 6

Describe Gamelan

• where is it performed(country)
• why was it performed
• instruments(5)
• structure
• texture
• how is it passed on
• other details(3)

Answer 6

Indonesian islands(Bali or Java)

For religious celebrations

Bonang(gongs)
Metallophones(plays the melody)
Suling(bamboo flute)
Drums
Rebab(string instrument played with a bow)

each repeating cycle ends with a note on a large gong

heterophonic texture

passed on by oral tradition - not written down

it is a percussion orchestra
more layers and parts are introduced as the piece progresses
based on slendro(5 note) or pelog(7 note) scales

Question 7

Describe great choral classics

• period it was written
• where was it performed(continent)
• 1 possible composers/performers
• instruments(5)
• texture(3)
• 2 different types

Answer 7

Baroque, classical and romantic eras

Europe(in churches)

Handel

Choir - soprano(high female), Alto(low female), Tenor(high male), Bass(low male)
Accompaniment - full orchestra

Monophonic, homophonic or polyphonic texture

Oratorio - large piece for soloist, choir and orchestra, multiple movements
Mass - based on latin text, 6 movements

Question 8

Describe african acapella

• where was it performed(continent)
• why was it performed
• 1 possible composers/performers
• instruments(4)
• texture
• timbre(2)
• dynamics
• rhythm
• tonality
• other details(3)

Answer 8

Africa

Used for religious celebrations

Ladysmith Black Mambazo

Vocals: soprano(high female), Alto(low female), Tenor(high male), Bass(low male)

Homophonic texture

Soft and mellow timbre

Lots of rise and fall in dynamics(crescendos and diminuendos)

Syncopated, off-beat rhythm that follow the natural rhythm of the words

major - happy sounding

Acapella - singing without accompaniment
Uses body to make sounds - e.g. clicks, claps, stamps
Call and response

Question 9

Describe baroque chamber

• period it was written
• where is it performed(2)
• 1 possible composers/performers
• dynamics
• texture
• melody(3)
• other details

Answer 9

baroque period 1600-1750

Originally performed in a chamber to a private audience
Today in concert rooms

Bach

sudden changes in dynamics

polyphonic texture

melody consists of short motifs, repetition and decorated by ornaments

modulates between related keys

Question 10

Describe classical chamber

• period it was written
• where is it performed(2)
• 1 possible composers/performers
• dynamics
• texture
• melody(3)
• other details

Answer 10

Classical period - 1750-1820

Originally performed in a chamber to a private audience
Today in concert rooms

Mozart

Gradual changes in dynamics

homophonic texture

4 bar phrases, question and answer, less ornaments

modulates between related keys

Question 11

Describe waltz

• period it was written
• where is it performed(2)
• 1 possible composers/performers
• tempo(2)
• texture
• melody
• rhythm
• other details(2)

Answer 11

Romantic period - 1820-1900

Vienna(Austria), in ball rooms

Strauss

fast tempo
3/4 time

homophonic texture

melody decorated with appoggiaturas and chromatic scales

Omm pah pah rhythm - oom is strongest beat

It is a paired dance
Possible dance step - 3 step dance(forward, side, together)

Question 12

Describe tango

• period it was written
• where is it performed(2)
• 2 possible composers/performers
• tempo
• instruments(5)
• tonality
• rhythm(3)
• other details(3)

Answer 12

Late 19th century

Argentina, in dance halls/ small venues

Firpo, Piazzolla

Medium tempo(120bpm)

Accordion, violin, piano, bass and vocals

Minor tonality

Dotted rhythm, syncopated, strong accents

Lyrics in Spanish
Partner dance
Dancers walk to the music making fast and sudden movements, legs entwined

Question 13

Describe salsa

• period it was written
• instruments(7)
• African features(3)
• Spanish features(2)
• rhythm(3)
• dance steps(4)

Answer 13

Modern - 20th century

Melody - vocal
Accompaniment - sax, flutes
Rhythm accompaniment - piano, bass, tres(Spanish guitar), percussion(cow bell, claves etc)

Call and response, emphasis on rhythm, percussion

Spanish lyrics, tres(Spanish guitar)

Clave 3:2 or 2:3

Partners embrace(like waltz and tango) but not as close
Forward and backward together/To the side and back
Spins and holds
Rhythm reflected in dancers’ legs

Question 14

Describe disco

• period it was written
• where is it performed
• 2 possible composers/performers
• instruments(5)
• tempo
• time signature
• dance steps(4)

Answer 14

1970s

America(New York)

Jackson 5, Village People

Drum kit - bass drum plays every beat; snare drum plays accented 2nd and 4th beats; hi-hats plays constant quaver/semiquaver patter, open hi-hats at the end of bars or on off-beats
Electric guitar(semiquavers, effects)
Bass guitar(short, catchy, repetitive riffs)
Electric piano(harmony/chords)
Backing vocals(catchy melody)

Medium tempo(120bpm)

4/4 time

Dance on the spot
Dance is improvised, individual
Wave and move arms
Some specific moves e.g. the hustle

Question 15

Describe bhangra

• period it was written
• where is it performed(2)
• 2 possible composers/performers
• instruments
• rhythm
• melody
• dance steps(3+2)
• use of technology(4)

Answer 15

Modern - 1970s till now

Traditional - Punjab region of india
Modern - UK(Birmingham)

Alaap, Punjabi MC

Dhol(doubled headed drum)

Chaal rhythm

Melody based around minor 3rd, repeated notes

Traditional - actions represent farmers working in the field, dance in a circle, acrobatic stunts(e.g. human pyramid)
Modern - individual and improvised

Remixes
Sampling
Drum machines instead of dhol
Scratching

Question 16

Describe irish jig and reel

• where is it performed
• when is it performed
• instruments(7)
• rhythm(3)
• melody(2)
• dance steps(3)
• structure(2)
• time signature(2)

Answer 16

Ireland

At social dances(e.g. celebrations, weddings)

Fiddle(violin), Irish wooden flute, tin whistle, accordion, guitar, bagpipes, percussion

Strong regular rhythm
Emphasis on first beat
Constant quaver movement

Clear phrases in melody
Question and answer patter

Upperbody straight and still, arms hang down, intricate footwork
Often in a line/circle
Fast and energetic(e.g. steps, hops, kicks, jumps)

Binary structure(AABB)
Two 8 bar sections repeated - 32 bar melody

Jig is in compound time(6/8)
Reel is in simple time(2/4,4/4)

Question 17

Describe club dance

• where is it performed(2)
• when is it composed
• 1 possible composers/performers
• technology(5)
• dance steps(2)
• time signature(3)
• structure

Answer 17

Started in Chicago(nightclubs, raves, parties)

1980s - now

DJ Frankie Knuckles

Synthesisers
Samplers
Sequences
Drum machines
Remixing

Solo and improvised
Jump to beat

4/4
Strong and constant
Emphasised by by bass and drums

Short repeated sections

Question 18

Describe American line dance

• where is it performed(country)
• when is it composed
• 1 possible composers/performers
• dance steps(4)
• structure(2)
• tempo
• instruments(5)

Answer 18

America

Modern(though existed for hundreds of years)

Billy Ray Cyrus

Group dance(no physical contact)
Choreographed steps
Stand in lines facing the same direction
Steps such as the grapevine, the stomp and the heel dig

verse chorus structure
Clear sections - lots of repetition

moderate tempo

Violin, guitar, banjo, accordion, harmonica

Question 19

Describe programme music

• where is it performed
• when was it composed
• 2 possible composers/performers
• dynamics
• instruments
• other details(2)

Answer 19

Concert halls

Romantic period(1820-1900)

Berlioz, Mendelssohn

Dramatic dynamics - crescendo, diminuendo, sudden pauses

Large orchestras

Composers imitate real life sounds(e.g. short, staccato quiet notes to imitate someone tiptoeing)
Represents mood, story, event or character with music alone