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Yearly Archives: 2014
Piece of the week (w/c 22nd December)
This week one of the best carols from the green/orange book era: Adam lay ybounden:
YouTube link
It has to be that or Poston’s apple tree.
Merry Xmas
Piece of the week (December 15th 2014)
This week’s piece (an old favourite rather than something new) is the final movement Symphony No. 1 by Gustav Mahler (1860-1911).
Mahler’s symphonies are dramatic and epic – he famously said to Sibelius in 1907 that “The symphony must be like the world. It must embrace everything”. His music not only encompasses extremes of emotion but also those of style – with even popular songs of his time sometimes finding their way into the musical fabric. The turbulent last movement of his first symphony was originally entitled “Dall’inferno al Paradiso, as the sudden expression of a deeply wounded heart”. After much frenetic soul-searching it eventually triumphs in D major – a moment well worth waiting for. If you like this you should move onto his other symphonies – his second and fifth are both pretty accessible.
Xmas Homework Year 13
Applied
Update your anthologies using revision notes and notes on Moodle. I will be looking at a random sample of anthologies to check you have done this.
Instrumental
There will be a timed essay during your first lesson back after Christmas. In preparation for this essay revise the Beethoven, Schumann and Louis Armstrong works,
Xmas Homework Year 12
Instrumental/Vocal
- Update your anthologies with notes from Moodle and from comparisons work. I will take in anthologies for inspection on MONDAY 12th for G group and TUESDAY 13th for F Group (NOTE: this is a week later than originally set). You must cover the Mozart, Poulenc, Kinks, Van Morrison, Faure and Tavener.
- Complete a grid using the Coggles done in class on Structure and Texture in the Mozart and Poulenc (link)
- Learn the Standard Comparison Questions on pp. 17-18 of your Course Handbook for Harmony, Melody, Structure and Texture. You should also review the answers to these on Coggles/Comparison grids. You will be tested on your ability to remember the questions AND their answers for the Poulenc and Mozart in the first week back.
Composition
Find two more pieces that you can take influences and describe in detail specific features of TEXTURE, INSTRUMENTATION or HARMONY that you can steal for your own compositions. You can present this in any way you want but it must be detailed and refer to specific bar numbers.
Piece of the week (December 8th 2014)
This week’s piece is Symphony No. 7 by the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius.
Sibelius’s seventh (1924) is his last completed symphony although he lived until 1957 and destroyed or left fragments of other works. Composition students may recognise the bit at around 5’30ish …
This is a fascinating symphony – it develops quite slowly and organically and in its single movement it rarely moves out of C major for long. Sibelius was the master of the long span – his music always sounds like it is moving purposefully forward, sometimes with excitement, sometimes sternly and sometimes with trepidation. He makes you wait for climactic moments but you feel you deserve them when they do arrive.
There is a really good Discovering Music programme about this symphony from Radio 3.
If this piece with its sombre opening textures does not immediately grab you then try the last movement of his fifth symphony first or his Tchaikovskian first symphony.
AS (G) Homework w/c 8th December
Instrumental (for Tuesday)
Comparison Essay: Compare the Poulenc and the Mozart in terms of Harmony and Melody.
Make at least 18 points, ordering them systematically according to the comparison standard questions on p.17-18 0f the Course Booklet.
Remember the workshop for this class is on THURSDAY at 1.15
Vocal (for Monday)
Write a short biography of John Tavener. Use the Telegraph obituary on Moodle and any other web research to help you.
Harmony (for Friday)
Not yet set – see last week
Remember the workshop for this class is on TUESDAY at 1.15
Composition (end of Wednesday)
COMPOSITION AND INFLUENCES TO BE SUBMITTED ON MOODLE FOR CHRISTMAS ASSESSMENT BY TUESDAY 16 DEC 4pm
You must have 2 substantial sketches representing different parts of the river’s journey, plus the start of a 3rd sketch.
* Please submit the three sketches as a SINGLE Sibelius file
* Make sure it is clear what part of the river journey each section of your piece represents
* You must also submit an updated ‘Influences used’ sheet
AS (F) Homework w/c 1st December
Instrumental (for Tuesday)
Comparison Essay: Compare the Poulenc and the Mozart in terms of Harmony and Melody.
Make at least 18 points, ordering them systematically according to the comparison standard questions on p.17-18 0f the Course Booklet.
Remember the workshop for this class is on THURSDAY at 1.15
Vocal (for Wednesday)
Write a short biography of John Tavener. Use the Telegraph obituary on Moodle and any other web research to help you.
Harmony (for Wednesday)
Finish pp. 26-27 of your harmony workbook
Remember the workshop for this class is on TUESDAY at 1.15
Composition (end of Wednesday)
Submit by the end of Wednesday your Composition, Influences Used Tracker and Structure Planner (see details of what what you need to submit)
Remember the workshop for this class is on WEDNESDAY after college.
A2 (D) Homework set w/c 8th December
Instrumental Update your notes and Anthology on the Schumann, especially harmony. Finish the Harmony Worksheet – next lesson will test you on this so please answer on the sheet given out in class.
Applied No homework this week (but there will be Xmas homework)
Chorale Fingerprint 15 is set for over the holidays
Composing Don’t forget to submit your work on Moodle including a structure planner.
A2 (A) Homework set w/c 8th December
Instrumental
Update your notes and Anthology on the Schumann, especially harmony.
Finish the Harmony Worksheet – next lesson will test you on this so please answer on the sheet given out in class.
Applied
No homework this week but there will be a Christmas homework
Chorale
Worksheet 15 in the Fingerprints booklet for after the holidays.
Composing
NO FEEDBACK THIS WEEK – Sorry!
Prepare your piece for handing in over Christmas. You need to have 2 minutes of music.
AS (G) Homework w/c 1st December
Instrumental (for Tuesday)
1. Consolidate your notes and anthology
2. Read the notes on Moodle for the Mozart (1 & 2 in the folder) and annotate your scores
3. Write the following essay, which must have an intro, conclusion and TEN clear points made, preferably in different paragraphs: Identify features of the Mozart that are typical of the Classical style
Remember the workshop for this class is on THURSDAY at 1.15
Vocal (for Monday)
Keep on working on intervals using the resources provided
Harmony (for Friday)
Cadence Worksheet 6 (given out in class but also p. 25 of Workbook)
Remember the workshop for this class is on TUESDAY at 1.15
Composition (end of Wednesday)
Not yet set – see last week