This document contains a summary of all 13 set works in the Edexcel A-Level specification for the appraising exam. It approaches AoS 1, 2 and 4 (Vocal Music, Instrumental Music and Popular Music & Jazz) in a holistic manner, describing the key features for each movement of each set piece. AoS 3, 5 ...
,A-Level Music Summary
1 AoS 1 – Vocal Music .................................................................................................................. 2
1.1 Ein Feste Burg – Johann Sebastian Bach 2
1.2 On Wenlock Edge – Ralf Vaughan Williams 3
1.3 Wider References 4
2 AoS 2 – Instrumental Music ................................................................................................... 5
2.1 Piano Trio in G Minor – Clara Schumann 5
2.2 Symphonie Fantastique – Hector Berlioz 6
2.3 Wider References 7
3 AoS 3 – Music For Film* ..........................................................................................................8
3.1 Psycho – Bernard Herrmann 8
3.2 Batman Returns – Danny Elfman 11
3.3 Wider References 14
4 AoS 4 – Popular Music and Jazz ........................................................................................ 15
4.1 Revolver – The Beatles 15
4.2 Back in the Day – Courtney Pine 16
4.3 Hounds of Love – Kate Bush 17
4.4 Wider References 18
5 AoS 5 – Fusions* ..................................................................................................................... 19
5.1 Estampes – Claude Debussy 19
5.2 Breathing Under Water – Anoushka Shankar 21
5.3 Wider References 23
6 AoS 6 – New Directions* ...................................................................................................... 24
6.1 Petals – Kaija Saariaho 24
6.2 The Rite of Spring – Igor Stravinsky 26
6.3 Wider References 29
AoS 3, 5 and 6 are essay focussed, so have much more detail, and runs through each cue in
a chronological order, whereas AoS 1, 2 and 4 are approached in a more holistic manner
, 1 AOS 1 – VOCAL MUSIC
1.1 EIN FESTE BURG – JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH
The actual date of composition is unknown, but musicologists believe it
Date of Composition was originally composed in 1723, with revisions made between 1728 and
1735
Cantata with 8 movements
Mvt. 1 Chorale Fantasia (SATB)
Mvt. 2 Aria (SB)
Mvt. 3 Recitative (B)
Structure Mvt. 4 Aria (S)
Mvt. 5 Chorale (SATB)
Mvt. 6 Recitative (T)
Mvt. 7 Aria (AT)
Mvt. 8 Chorale (SATB)
- Contrapuntal fugato
- Voices enter in order: TASB
- Oboe plays the cantus firmus
Mvt. 1 - Voices doubled by instruments, with some
heterophonic texture
- Cyclical repeats of opening idea, but with different
texts each time
- Bass enters first, followed by the Soprano
- Usually only 1 soloist in an aria (Queen of the Night –
Key Features and
Mozart)
Notes Mvt. 2 - Very virtuosic
- When one part is more syllabic, the other is more
melismatic
- Ritornello-like start
- Tutti voices
- ABCDEAB form
Mvt 8. - 4-part harmony style – congregation joins in
- Mostly conjunct
- Each voice doubled by instruments
J.S. Bach’s (1685-1750) is considered to be one of the best composers
of all time, and a genius when it comes to counterpoint. His Cantata Ein
Feste Burg ist Unser Gott translates to “Our God is a might fortress”,
and was written for Reformation Day on the 31st of October
It is a liturgical and sacred work
Context The thematic material for this cantata comes from the well-known
Lutheran hymn from Matin Luther, written in 1529
At the time of Bach writing this work, he was the choir director at the
St. Thomas Church in Leipzig
He wrote many cantatas there, such as Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme
and Also hat Gott die Welt geliebt
2
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