WCT (due Tuesday 27th February)

Write an extended essay OR create a pamphlet/handout that outlines the development of the symphony in the later Romantic era (see notes here). You should introduce Romanticism in music in a general way and then make sure you address the following:

• the expansion of the first movement
• the expansion of the orchestra
• the increasing importance of drama and narrative in the Romantic symphony

Composition (due FRIDAY 2nd March)

1) write a short extract of music that depicts storm (see here for notes and examples)

2) write a short love theme. It must include some heartwrenching resolving dissonances such as 9ths etc. and chromaticisms (see examples studied in class here). BUT keep the harmony really simple sticking to normal HARMONIC CONVENTIONS and then you can add diminished sevenths, secondary dominants, augmented sixths etc.

Composition

Hand in on Tuesday (if your lesson is Wednesday) / Wednesday (if your lesson is Thursday) HERE

You need to put your development together. A default structure (from which you can deviate, except for the last bit) might look as follows:

1. Idea in minor (perhaps swapping an idea from top to bottom of texture e.g. violins and cellos with simple accompaniment in the middle)
2. Another idea (perhaps going to a few other keys – you could use parallel motion of some kind – see here)
3. A circle of fifths landing on … (notes here – your sequence in the melody should span TWO chords so then it can sequence down so write a melody for I-IV and then sequence it down a step three times)
4. A dominant pedal in your home key (some notes here and some chords to use here)

The idea is not complexity but VARIETY. So changing the orchestration – who has the melody, how many are accompanying etc.

WCT etc

Annotate your scores from Moodle and revise for a test on Movement 1 of the Haydn on Friday next week. There will also be some musical theatre listening.

You must do at least one music theatre revision activity and one Haydn movement 1 from the quizzes on Moodle.

Composition (Tuesday 6th/Wednesday 7th)

Write THREE development sketches (about 4-8 bars each) OR two slightly longer ones. The need to be in different closely-related keys to the tonic. Try a selection of the following (can be several at a time):

• sequence an idea down by step
• circle of fifths
• modulating into a different key
• new texture (perhaps move into the bass etc.)
• imitation/call and response
• parallel first inversion chords

Essay

Use your research essay to help you write BY HAND and in no more than ONE HOUR an exam essay. It should follow this format

• Brief introduction (perhaps Baroque orchestra context)
• Refer to about 3 or 4 pieces from Classical era (remember to talk about the transition from a 8 to mature classical orchestra and what instruments are added, giving examples in symphonies)
• Discuss the Haydn 104 (what instruments does it use, something about natural brass)
• Refer to about 4 pieces from the Romantic era
• Use your last piece as a conclusion, referring back to a couple of earlier pieces by way of comparison

Composition

Make any necessary improvements to the 16-bar compound period.

TIPS:

• Try and include some more interesting (but not too much) harmonies (see here for help on this)
• If your rhythm is mostly crotchets and minims try to include a dotted rhythm or some quavers somewhere to bring it to life
• Dynamics and articulation add short slurs and staccatos in particular to bring it to life (see here for tips)

THEN write two development sketches (about 4-8 bars each). Try selection of the following (can be several at a time):

• in a closely related (or if you are brave a less closely related) minor key
• sequence an idea down by step
• circle of fifths
• modulating into a different key
• new texture (perhaps move into the bass etc.)
• imitation/call and response
• parallel first inversion chords

Composition

First improve your 16-bar compound period in response to feedback and then run it immediately into your improved tonic filler/noise material. These two exercises now need to be in same file.

If you have time you should start some development sketches. You need to take your lead from Haydn 104, take a fragment of your theme and try selection of the following (several at a time):

• in a closely related (or if you are brave a less closely related) minor key
• sequenced down by step
• circle of fifths
• modulating into a different key
• new texture (perhaps move into the bass etc.)
• imitation/call and response
• parallel first inversion chords

WCT

Write an essay on the development of the orchestra as seen in the symphony from 1750-1900.

You need to spend some time reading and listening on the Development of the symphony pages. You will find that some pieces have specific information on the development of the orchestra (Topic F ) so you should concentrate on those. You can get extra info and context from the internet (there are some links on the relevant pages to get you started) and from listening on Youtube/Spotify etc.

You should structure you essay as follows:

• Introduction (have a quick read of this and look at the the Corelli and the Stamitz Trio Symphony on the Development of the symphony pages.
• Development of the orchestra in Early Classical era (look at Stamitz Op. 3/2 and Haydn Symphony No. 2 for starters)
• Expansion in the mature Classical period
• Beethoven’s use of the Orchestra
• Finally the expansion of the orchestra in the later Romantic era (start with Berlioz and choose a few others including Strauss and Mahler)

First Subject Composition Homework (due in Tuesday 16th / Wednesday 17th)

Write a 16-bar theme (ending on I at the beginning of the 17th bar) for orchestra string section (Vl I, II, Vla, Vc, Bass) in the same key, time signature and tempo as your tonic filler homework. It needs to follow the structure of the first subject of the opening movement of Haydn 104 as follows:

• 4-bar theme (include simple, triadic and scalic ideas which will work well for development)
• 4-bar idea that ends on I-V imperfect cadence
• Exact repeat of 4-bar theme
• Adapt bars 5-8 so that they end on a PERFECT cadence (use ii6 or a cadential 6/4 as well). The perfect cadence will land on the beginning of the next bar (bar 17)

1. Submit Allegro tonic composition by the end of Tuesday please (earlier if you have finished it)
2. Make sure you have done the online tests mentioned below
3. Finish annotating your Minuet score using resources on Moodle to help you

Please review chord labelling etc. and complete the following quiz on Moodle at least TWICE:

Basic Diatonic Chord Labelling (5 random questions)

Review your knowledge of the Haydn and complete the following quiz on Moodle at least ONCE:

Haydn Minuet Questions (five random short questions plus a 5-marker)

You should have submitted your final minuet compositions by Tuesday 5th / Wednesday 6th. 

AoS A (for Tuesday 12th December)

Make a Haydn timeline, adding career and life events plus any major works. You should use the following:

• Music Academy Online Biog (start with this)
• CMG Haydn from this folder in Moodle (pick up some extra details from this)
• You might also want to look at Taruskin – Haydn in the same Moodle folder for some more sophisticated notes
• There are some notes also in the Rhinegold Study Guide

Allegro Composition (for Tuesday 12th/Wednesday 13th)

Write a passage of 16 bars or more in a fast 4/4 (or 2/2 like the Haydn) as follows:

• Uses strings, flutes, oboes, horns and timps
• In G, D or A major
• Use phrases that are multiples of 2 bars
• No more than one or two chords per bar (depending on speed)
• Lands regularly on I
• Melody is made up of scales, arpeggios, auxiliary notes and repeated notes only
• Finishes with a ii-V-I cadence

The passage MUST include (for notes on these please look at the WCT Fingerprints page):

• a tonic pedal (Use some of I , ii, IV, V⁷ and vii over it)
• some parallel thirds and/or sixths
• some octave unison

In class we looked at:

• Stamitz – La Melodia Germanica No 1 – First Mov (first movement)
• Mozart – Symphony 41 (first movement)
• Haydn – Symphony 104

You can use other ideas but they must be taken from the models provided (in the Allegro folder on Moodle).

Composition
The first task is to correct and improve your basic A:||B(A’) 24 bars. Please ensure that:

• you have a tempo at the beginning and then dynamic and articulation markings throughout in all parts (see guide)
• your A section has both the modulation AND the secondary dominant
• your B section has a selection of chords over the pedal (see in WCT Fingerprints)
• you have included TWO textures based on the minuet models 
• you have followed all the guidelines here

All students must submit this on Tuesday/Wednesday next week in quartet form.

The task following week (but you can start this week if you are ready) is to do one or more of the following extensions:

• orchestrate using small Classical orchestral forces (a 8 combinations). You can go as large as Haydn 104
• add a coda
• write a trio to go alongside it also in binary form

WCT Essay (NEXT Friday)

Write a revision leaflet/poster/booklet for Haydn 104 Minuet. You can use the annotated score on Moodle (requires log-in) and the resources on A level music (development of symphony) to help you.

It must include:

• a structure table (include main keys)
• features including harmony and rhythm
• information and examples that puts it in context in terms of its orchestration
• an introduction to humour in Haydn referring to a couple of other examples.