Grade 5 – Aural Test

Style and Period

BAROQUE
- continuous melodic lines that are heard in both hands (like a conversation)
- energetic, lively rhythms
- melodic decoration and ornamentation
- crisp light articulation (originally played on a harpsichord so no sustaining of notes or pedal)
- ‘block’ dynamics, a sudden change (no gradual increases or decreases)
- often with an 18th-century dance character

J.S. Bach
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVx1hVVnFjc

Handel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klxj-vzabLE

Scarlatti
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lmqDOjHx70

Couperin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xssz4zRARt0

CLASSICAL
- simplicity, clarity and grace in melody, harmony and rhythm. Dainty music!
- regular, clear-cut phrases and rhythms
- much of the material is based around simple chords, arpeggios and scales
- a clear melody versus accompaniment

Mozart
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoT8YV9qi1g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yomi0-WL5Pg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6X6zE_YiOvM

Haydn
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hS_nF2h1ho8

Beethoven (early era)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBxc47SWE8s
ROMANTIC
- emotional & indulgent
- rich harmonies and increased use of chromatic notes
- more intricate/complex melodic ideas and rhythms
- plentiful dynamics
- wide range of the piano used
- plenty of pedal
- virtuosic (hard to play, shows off the pianist’s skills)

Chopin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGRO05WcNDk

Liszt
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpOtuoHL45Y

Brahms
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3o551FLEX1U

20th CENTURY
Debussy
- vigorous rhythms, spiky accents, “honky-tonk” sound
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhvtsQ-qmHA
- impressionistic, evocative of a drawing and vivid musical colours, freer melodic phrasing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vG-vmVrHOGE

Gershwin
- influence of jazz – chromatic, adventurous and clashing harmony/chords, spiky rhythms
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soEUH4H7gog

Bartok
- ambiguous/uncertain tonality (moves around many keys, neither major or minor)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zz0DXACiQvA