Piano Compositions

IGCSE
Submit 2 compositions, either contrasting in character or written for different forces Must be recorded One of them must be written in a Western tonal style and must demonstrate familiarity with the basic principles of traditional harmonic language; FULLY NOTATED The other may be in any style of the candidates choice and may be notated in whatever form of notation is appropriate to the music, provided that the intention of the notation are clear to the examiner/moderator

Copy these in Homework Diary

Composition due Friday Week 8 Solo performance during Junior Assessment Week (Week 10) Music note book will be collected next Monday, make sure everything is up to date (check Distribution folder in case missing items from the powerpoint)

~composition~
Organisation of sounds over time. The spacing of sound is important for impact and an overall plan helps everything to fit and balance. STRUCTURE is how the ideas are organized DEVELOPMENT is how the ideas grow

Contrary to popular myth

Composers are not usually hit by inspiration falling out of the sky. Composing is a skill that is acquired through practice, experience and lots of listening. The greatest composers are also the greatest listeners because they listen for what makes great music and apply the principles that they discover to their own music. Rhythm, melody, timbre, harmony all needs to be carefully considered when composing

Writing for Solo Instrument

Fully explore the different timbres of the instrument. Most instruments can make different sounds- some traditional and some bizarre! Think of the different ways that an instrument can be played. Invent new ways of playing an instrument and new notations to represent them. Use the entire range of the instrument. Different ranges usually have different timbres that can evoke different moods etc. Show off what is special and unique about your instrument. Write music that could not be played another instrument. You are not limited by what you can play. You can ask someone else to perform your piece for you as long as you are involved in the direction of the performance. Listen to many pieces of music as you can find for your instrument. Listen to many different styles and genres of music. Perhaps use different elements from several styles and create your own style.

Marking Scheme
Ideas 20% Structure of their compositions 20% Use of the chosen medium 20% Compositional technique 20% Presentation and notation of scores 20%

Ideas
1. What kind of rhythmic pattern/value is used? 2. Is the main idea/melody memorable? Sing-able? 3. Are there other ideas introduced? When/where? 4. Is there sufficient variety and contrast between the ideas? 5. Do the chords match the melodies used?

Super Mario
1. 2. What kind of rhythmic pattern/value is used? Is the main idea/melody memorable? Sing-able?

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3. Are there other ideas introduced? When/where? 4. Is there sufficient variety and contrast between the ideas? Do the chords match the melodies used?

5.

Structure
1. How long/short are the melodic phrases? 2. Is there enough variety/contrast between the different phrases? 3. How is variety/contrast achieved in this piece? 4. Do you think the composition is well organized? Why/why not?

Tetris
1. How long/short are the melodic phrases? 2. Is there enough variety/contrast between the different phrases? 3. How is variety/contrast achieved in this piece? 4. Do you think the composition is well organized? Why/why not?

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Hes a pirate
1. How long/short are the melodic phrases? 2. Is there enough variety/contrast between the different phrases? 3. How is variety/contrast achieved in this piece? 4. Do you think the composition is well organized? Why/why not?

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Theme & Variation

The idea is introduced in the beginning (8 bars or more, to allow sufficient material for variation) Listen to Mozarts Twinkle Twinkle Variation Write down how each variation is different compare to the original (rhythm, melody, textureetc)

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Violin + Piano
1. How long/short are the melodic phrases? 2. Is there enough variety/contrast between the different phrases? 3. How is variety/contrast achieved in this piece? 4. Do you think the composition is well organized? Why/why not?

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Click icon to add picture

1. How long/short are the melodic phrases? 2. Is there enough variety/contrast between the different phrases? 3. How is variety/contrast achieved in this piece? Do you think the composition is well organized? Why/why not? 4.

Use of medium
Choice of writing for specific instrumental combinations Appropriate writing for the instrument/s Variety of musical texture

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2 trombone quartets
1. Do you think the composition suit the instruments written for? 2. If you have to re-arrange this composition, what kind of instrument/s would you write for? 3. What is the main texture used in this piece? 4. Do the different parts have interesting/melodic ideas to play during the piece?

The Swan
1. Do you think the composition suit the instruments written for? 2. If you have to re-arrange this composition, what kind of instrument/s would you write for? 3. What is the main texture used in this piece? 4. Do the different parts have interesting/melodic ideas to play during the piece?

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Click icon to add picture

1. Do you think the composition suit the instruments written for? 2. If you have to re-arrange this composition, what kind of instrument/s would you write for? 3. What is the main texture used in this piece? 4. Do the different parts have interesting/melodic ideas to play during the piece?

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Compositional technique
Basic ideas extended, Developed, Combined, Sequence, Inversion, Drones, Combination & manipulation on a broader scale to produce an aesthetically pleasing composition (with harmonic)

Basic ideas extended, Developed, Combined, Sequence, Inversion, Drones, Combination & manipulation on a broader scale to produce an aesthetically pleasing composition (with harmonic)

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Click icon to add picture

Basic ideas extended, Developed, Combined, Sequence, Inversion, Drones, Combination & manipulation on a broader scale to produce an aesthetically pleasing composition (with harmonic)

Score presentation
Notated scores + audio recording Clear and precise Close attention to details of performance, regardless of notation medium How effectively candidates are able to record their aural imagination in terms of written signs and symbols

Notated scores + audio recording Clear and precise Close attention to details of performance, regardless of notation medium How effectively candidates are able to record their aural imagination in terms of written signs and symbols

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Structures & Shapes

In sections Continuous Building up to a climax

Idea Expansion

Section Organization

Textures
A tune with simple harmony A tune with complicated harmony A tune plus parallel fifths (or other interval) Drone/ostinato Several tunes at once (polyphony/counterpoint) Everybody has a different version of the same tune (heterophony)

Structure & Texture

Debussys Impressionism

Clair de la Lune

Ways of Ending
Stop suddenly Make the music collapse Gradually wind the music down, slowing the tempo One instrument/voice settles on a long note, signaling the end A fade-out ending A special closing section, called a coda

Structure
Binary Ternary Rondo Theme and variation Ground bass

Instrumental and /or vocal effects

Arco pizzicato glissando tremolo harmonics double stopping strumming pitch bending mute, roll melisma blue notes

Viva La Vida Quartet

Viva La Vida Orchestra

Harmony
Primary chords: I, IV, V(7) Secondary chords: II, VI Cadence: perfect, imperfect, plagal, interrupted Modulation to related keys

Compositional devices
repetition Imitation Sequence Canon Inversion Ostinato Drone Alberti bass Pedal Contrary motion

The Nokia Fugue

The Lady Gaga Fugue

Mozart
Rhythm used: mostly quavers & semiquavers Melody: mostly in the right hand, but left hand has some interesting parts with semiquavers leading up to the right hand semiquaver runs. Melodic phrases are short but structured Harmony: mostly tonal, using broken chords/primary chords, it modulates into a minor key in the middle

Zimmer
Rhythm: LH ostinato rhythm in 6/8, contrasted with RH in , creates syncopation Melody: harmonized RH melody, repeat with variation. Phrases vary in length. Quite a lot of ideas introduced.

Bond

Nyman

Binary

Are you sleeping Brahms Lullaby

Notes Treble Bass Alto 4sharps and 4 flats major minor key

Rhythm & Time Signature

intervals

Dynamics

Tempo

Expression

Ornaments & Articulations

Major scales Minor scales Chromatic scales Pentatonic scales

Intervals Melodic movement step or leap

Phrasing Duple, triple, irregular metre Syncopation polyrhythm

Harmony
Primary chords I, IV, V(7) Secondary chords II, VI

Cadence
Perfect Imperfect Plagal Interrupted Modulation to related keys

ensembles
Orchestra Wind/jazz bands choir Chamber ensemble Piano, harpsichord, organ Gamelan, rabab, kora, xylophone Od, sitar, sarangi, tabla, chin, er-hu, shakuhachi, koto, bandoneon, quena, pan-pipes, guitar, un-tuned percussion