Writing about Descriptive Music.In the exam, you are required to write about how a musical extract describes a scene/person/event. You will be expected to refer to the musical elements above and explain HOW the music describes the scene/person/event
Step 1
Identify the musicalfeature. Choose from your TRADED TIPS!
Step 2
Use a connective to link the two parts of your sentence.
eg. Sounds like or represents.
Step 3
End by Referring back to the
SUBJECT that the music is trying to describe.
Examples...
The forte trumpets ---- sound like ---- a victory fanfare. The low pitched drone ---- depicts---- the plane's engine. Legato strings ---- create the feeling ---- of romance.
Step 1
Identify the musicalfeature. Choose from your TRADED TIPS!
Step 2
Use a connective to link the two parts of your sentence.
eg. Sounds like or represents.
Step 3
End by Referring back to the
SUBJECT that the music is trying to describe.
Examples...
The forte trumpets ---- sound like ---- a victory fanfare. The low pitched drone ---- depicts---- the plane's engine. Legato strings ---- create the feeling ---- of romance.
Devices
Repetition – A recurring musical phrase.
Sequence – A musical phrase repeated at a different pitch.
Imitation - Where one voice (instrument) copies music played by another.
Ostinato – A repeated pattern in classical music.
Retrograde – A musical phrase played backwards.
Riff – A repeated pattern in pop/rock/blues/jazz
Improvisation – Music created as it is played. Common in Jazz or a classical concerto Cadenza.
Call and Response - Question and answer phrases between instruments.(pregon and choro in Salsa)
Drone - A continually sounding (long held) note.
Walking bass – Steady bassline moving by step – popular in Jazz, Blues and Pop.
Stabs – Short, accented notes by the horn section (brass) in disco, salsa and Jazz.
Leitmotif - short melody used in film or programme music.
Sequence – A musical phrase repeated at a different pitch.
Imitation - Where one voice (instrument) copies music played by another.
Ostinato – A repeated pattern in classical music.
Retrograde – A musical phrase played backwards.
Riff – A repeated pattern in pop/rock/blues/jazz
Improvisation – Music created as it is played. Common in Jazz or a classical concerto Cadenza.
Call and Response - Question and answer phrases between instruments.(pregon and choro in Salsa)
Drone - A continually sounding (long held) note.
Walking bass – Steady bassline moving by step – popular in Jazz, Blues and Pop.
Stabs – Short, accented notes by the horn section (brass) in disco, salsa and Jazz.
Leitmotif - short melody used in film or programme music.