SPECIMEN MATERIAL

GCSE
MUSIC
8271

Specimen 2017 Time allowed: 1 hour 30 minutes

General Certificate of Secondary Education

Instructions
 Use black ink or black ball-point pen. You may use pencil for music notation.
 Fill in the boxes at the top of this page.
 Answer all questions in Section A.
 Answer question 9 in Section B.
 Answer one question from questions 10 – 12 in Section B.
 You must answer the questions in the spaces provided. Do not write outside the box around each
page or on blank pages.
 Do all rough work in this book. Cross through any work you do not want to be marked.
 If you need extra paper, use the Supplementary Answer Sheets.

Information
 The marks for questions (or part questions) are shown in brackets.
 The maximum mark for this paper is 96. You have three minutes to read through the paper before
the CD is played.
 There will be suitable pauses for you to read and answer questions.

Please write clearly, in block capitals, to allow character computer recognition.

Centre number Candidate number

Surname

Forename(s)

Candidate signature

Code
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Section A

Question 1 Western Classical Tradition 1650 - 1910 9 marks

You will hear two excerpts.

Each excerpt will be played three times.

Excerpt A

You may find it helpful to tick a box each time you hear the excerpt.

01-1 Name the instrument heard at the beginning of this excerpt

…………………………………………………………………...
[1 mark]

01-2 Name the two textures heard during this excerpt.

(i) ………………………………………………………….
[1 mark]

(ii) ………………………………………………………….
[1 mark]

01-3 Name the cadence at the end of this excerpt.

…………………………………………………………………...
[1 mark]

01-4 What is the time signature of this excerpt?

…………………………………………………………………...
[1 mark]

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Excerpt B

You may find it helpful to tick a box each time you hear the excerpt.

01-5 Which Italian term best describes the tempo of this excerpt?

…………………………………………………………………...
[1 mark]

01-6 Which two of the following melodic features can be heard in this excerpt?
Circle your answers.

Acciaccatura Anacrusis Mordent

Trill Turn
[2 marks]

01-7 To which of the following keys has the music modulated at the end of this
excerpt?
Tick your choice.

A Dominant

B Subdominant

C Relative minor

[1 mark]

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Question 2 Popular Music 9 marks

Each excerpt will be played three times.

This excerpt will be played three times.

You may find it helpful to tick a box each time you hear the excerpt.

02-1 Which of the following best fits the pattern played by the lead guitar?
Tick your answer.

.
[1 mark]

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02-2 How many times is this pattern played before the voices enter?

…………………………………………………………………...
[1 mark]

02-3 How many beats are there in a bar?

…………………………………………………………………...
[1 mark]

Excerpt B

This excerpt will be played four times.

You may find it helpful to tick a box each time you hear the excerpt.

02-4 This excerpt consists of four musical phrases.

Describe the melodic movement of bass during the first phrase.

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[2 marks]

02-5 Which of the following best fits the form of this excerpt?

AAAA AAAB AABB ABAB

[1 mark]

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02-6 Identify three features of rhythm, metre, melody and / or harmony typical of
R&B music.

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[3 marks]

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Question 3 Traditional Music 8 marks

This excerpt will be played five times.

You may find it helpful to tick a box each time you hear the excerpt.

03-1 Which harmonic device can be heard during the opening vocal section?

…………………………………………………………………...
[1 mark]

03-2 Name the tuned percussion instrument playing the accompaniment during this
excerpt.

…………………………………………………………………...
[1 mark]

03-3 Which two of the following best describe the accompaniment played by this
instrument?
Circle your answers.

Arpeggios Falling Rising

Scales Trills
[2 marks]

03-4 The lyrics “Oo h -oo, ooh-oo-o o ” are heard at the beginning and end of
this excerpt.
The opening chord is A flat: which of the following best matches the pattern
used here?
Circle your answer.

Ab Bb Cm Ab Bb Ab Cm Bb Cm Bb Ab Bb Cm Bb Ab Ab Cm Ab Bb Ab

[1 mark]

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03-5
Identify three features of melody, rhythm and timbre typical of contemporary folk
music of the British Isles.

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[3 marks]

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Question 4 Western Classical Tradition since 1910 9 marks

You will hear two excerpts.

Each excerpt will be played three times.

Excerpt A

You may find it helpful to tick a box each time you hear the excerpt.

04-1 Name the two solo instruments heard during this excerpt.

…………………………………………………………………...
[1 mark]

…………………………………………………………………...
[1 mark]

04-2 Identify three features of rhythm, harmony, and / or melody typical of Western
Classical Music since 1910.

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[3 marks]

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Excerpt B

You may find it helpful to tick a box each time you hear the excerpt.

04-3 What is the time signature of this excerpt?

…………………………………………………………………...
[1 mark]

04-4 Which three of the following can be heard in this excerpt?

Circle your answers.

Augmentation Drone Glissando

Ground bass Rubato Scotch snap

Syncopation Tièrce de Picardie

[3 marks]

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Question 5 Western Classical Tradition 1650 - 1910 8 marks

This excerpt will be played five times.

You may find it helpful to tick a box each time you hear the excerpt.

[8 marks]

05-1 On the score, fill in the missing notes in bars 2 – 3 using the given rhythm.

[5 marks]

05-2 Name the interval heard in bar 6.

…………………………………………………………………...
[1 mark]

05-3 Identify two features of texture and timbre typical of Baroque music.

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[2 marks]

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Question 6 Popular Music 8 marks

This excerpt will be played five times.

You may find it helpful to tick a box each time you hear the excerpt.

06-1 How many chords are played during the instrumental introduction?

…………………………………………………………………...
[1 mark]

06-2 When the voices enter, the first chord is major. Which of the following best
describes the second chord?
Circle your answer.

Major Minor Dominant seventh

[1 mark]

06-3 Describe the texture of this excerpt.

…………………………………………………………………...
[1 mark]

06-4 What is the tonality of this excerpt?

…………………………………………………………………...
[1 mark]

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06-5 Identify four features of rhythm, instrumentation and / or melody used in this
excerpt typical of ‘Rock and Roll’.

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[4 marks]

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Question 7 Traditional Music 9 marks

Excerpt A

This excerpt will be played four times.

You may find it helpful to tick a box each time you hear the excerpt.

07-1 Name two string instruments which can be heard during the instrumental
opening.

…………………………………………………………………...
[1 mark]

…………………………………………………………………...
[1 mark]

07-2 When the vocalist enters, which of the following best fits the form of the verse?
Circle your answer.

AAA A A A AA A AAB
[1 mark]

07-3 When the vocalist enters, the first chord is major.

Describe the second and third chords as major, minor or dominant seventh.

(i) chord 2: …………………………………………………….

[1 mark]

(i) chord 3: …………………………………………………….

[1 mark]

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Excerpt B

This excerpt will be played three times.

You may find it helpful to tick a box each time you hear the excerpt.

07-4 Identify four features of rhythm and timbre typical of Contemporary Latin
music.

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[4 marks]

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Question 8 Western Classical Tradition since 1910 8 marks

You will hear two excerpts.

Each excerpt will be played three times.

Excerpt A

You may find it helpful to tick a box each time you hear the excerpt.

08-1 Which two of the following can be heard in the accompaniment to this excerpt?
Circle your answers.

Dotted rhythms Glissando Hemiola

Inversion Ostinato
[2 marks]

08-2 What is the time signature of this excerpt?

…………………………………………………………………...
[1 mark]

08-3 Which type of choir is singing in this excerpt?

Circle your answer.

Boys’ choir Ladies’ choir

Male voice choir Mixed voice choir

[1 mark]

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Excerpt B

You may find it helpful to tick a box each time you hear the excerpt.

This is an outline of the excerpt’s form:

First section Middle section Final section

Solo Central Solo

instrument section instrument
later joined by plus wind
flute instruments

08-4 Name the solo instrument heard at the very beginning of this excerpt.

…………………………………………………………………...
[1 mark]

08-5 What happens to the dynamics in the middle section of this excerpt?

…………………………………………………………………...
[1 mark]

08 - 6 Which of the following best describes what is played by the solo instrument
during the middle section?
Circle your answer.

Alberti bass Arpeggios

Chromatic scale Glissando

[1 mark]

08-7 Apart from the flute, name one other wind instrument playing during the final
section.

…………………………………………………………………...
[1 mark]

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Section B: Contextual understanding 30 minutes 28 marks

Question 9: Area of study 1: Western classical tradition 1650–1910

09 – 1 Identify two ways in which Haydn brings this second movement to a close.

……………………………………………………………………………………………..

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[2 marks]

09 – 2 Identify two ways in which the woodwind instruments are used to add colour to
the music written for strings.

……………………………………………………………………………………………..

……………………………………………………………………………………………..
[2 marks]

09 – 3 The type of horn in this movement is a ‘Horn in G’.

Identify two ways in which this affects how its music appears in the score.

……………………………………………………………………………………………..

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[2 marks]

9 –4 Explain how Haydn has used musical elements to create contrasts in the
second movement.

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Question 10: The Beatles: Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band 14 marks

10 – 1 Identify two musical features in Within You, Without You typical of the Indian
Classical tradition.
[2 marks]

(i) ……………………………………………………………

(i) ……………………………………………………………

10– 2 Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds is often referred to as psychedelic pop/rock.

Identify two musical features in the song that help to create an ‘hypnotic’ effect.
[2 marks]

(i) ……………………………………………………………

(i) ……………………………………………………………

10 – 3 Identify two ways in which technology is used to enhance the recording of the
guitars in the songs on Sgt. Pepper.
[2 marks]

(i) ……………………………………………………………

(i) ……………………………………………………………

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10 – 4 Explain how Lennon and McCartney use musical elements to create an
uplifting, joyous mood in With a Little Help from my Friends.

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[8 marks]

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Question 11: Santana: Supernatural 14 marks

11 – 1 Identify two percussion instruments featured in Smooth that add a Latin

American flavour to the music.
[2 marks]

(i) ……………………………………………………………

(i) ……………………………………………………………

11– 2 In the song ‘Love of my Life’ Santana uses the theme from the third movement
of Brahms’ third symphony.

Identify two differences in Santana’s use of this theme that change the
character of the music.
[2 marks]

(i) ……………………………………………………………

(i) ……………………………………………………………

11– 3 Identify two features of the guitar playing in ‘Smooth’ typical of rock guitar.
[2 marks]

(i) ……………………………………………………………

(i) ……………………………………………………………

11 – 4 Explain how Santana has used the musical elements to create a fusion of
African, Cuban, American music in Migra.

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[8 marks]

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Question 12: Area of study 4: Western classical tradition since 1910 14 marks

12 – 1 Identify two ways in which the opening bars of Hoedown are made dramatic.

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[2 marks]

12 – 2 Identify two ways in which Copland uses the timbres of percussion instruments
during the Hoedown.

……………………………………………………………………………………………..

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[2 marks]

12 – 3 Identify two ways in which the accompaniment pattern typical of a 2/4

Hoedown dance tune or reel is achieved during the music for the Hoedown.

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[2 marks]

12 – 4 Explain how Copland uses musical elements to achieve the mood of a gentle
waltz in Saturday Night Waltz (after the short introduction).

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[8 marks]

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