MUSIC 3º ESO. EXAM Nº 3, SECOND TERM.

IES Jiménez de la Espada (2022-2023) (ANSWERS)

MUSIC THEORY (1 mark)
1º) Indicate the names of the notes: (1 mark)

G E A F C D F E G C B A F G D C
sol, mi, la, fa do, re, fa, mi sol, do, si, la fa, sol, re, do

CULTURE (3 marks):
2º) What do you know about the basso continuo? (2 marks)
One of the most characteristic elements of the baroque texture is the
use of the basso continuo. The basso continuo is the part that accompanies the
main melody. The continuo consists of an accompaniment with a bass line and
chords. There were usually two types of instruments playing the continuo,
low-ranged melodic instruments (cello, bass viol or bassoon) for the bass and a
keyboard instrument (harpsichord or organ) or a lute to play the chords.

What do you know about baroque orchestras?

The concept of orchestra was born in the Baroque period. In general,
Baroque orchestras were chamber orchestras (small orchestras that had up to
thirty musicians). The string section was the most important and complete
one in the orchestra and included a harpsichord. There were just a few
instruments in the other sections and the timpani were the only percussion
instruments. Among typical instruments that belong to this type of orchestras,
we can mention instruments from the lute family, as well as natural trumpets
or bass viols.

3º) Match each composer with his period or style. (1 mark)

a) Romanticism b) Baroque c) 20th century d) Classicism

A. Vivaldi: b J. Haydn: d I. Stravinsky: c J.S. Bach: b
W.A. Mozart: d Wagner: a L.V. Beethoven: d Verdi: a
F. Chopin: a Tchaikovsky: a

MUSICAL ANALYSIS AND CULTURE (6 marks)

4º) Analyse the following pieces of music. Refer to the instruments and types
of orchestras, to the role of the most important sections that play the
melody, to the texture, to dynamics and other elements you consider
necessary to indicate the style and period of the following works. (Use
complete sentences to answer the questions). Indicate the names of the solo
instruments too.
A) Orchestra and instruments:
This is a slow movement of a recorder concerto. The solo instrument,
the recorder is accompanied by a string chamber orchestra that includes a
harpsichord.

Main texture (justify your answer):

The texture is an accompanied melody. It is a homophonic texture with
one main melodic line accompanied by secondary melodic lines or chords. In
addition, there is a basso continuo in this piece, a characteristic
accompaniment in Baroque music.

Dynamics (intensity):
There are nearly no variations in the intensity, just a few small contrasts
of intensities in the transitions between the orchestra and the solo parts.

Conclusion (style and period) Justify your answer:

The type of orchestra (string chamber orchestra with a harpsichord), as
well as the solo instrument (a baroque recorder) and the use of the basso
continuo indicate that this is a Baroque music style. This music was composed
in the 17th century or the first half of the 18th century.

B) Orchestra and instruments:

This piece is performed by a large symphony orchestra with a wide
variety of instruments in the woodwind, brass and percussion sections. Any
section or instrument can play important passages (brass, string, woodwind
instruments). The brass section is really large.

Main texture (justify your answer):

The texture is mainly homophonic with one principal melodic line
accompanied by chords or secondary melodic lines. There are short polyphonic
passages too.

Dynamics (intensity):
The composer uses a wide range of dynamic markings (ppp up to ff), as
well as many gradual dynamic changes such as crescendo or decrescendo,
exploring the possibilities of the orchestra.

Conclusion (style and period) Justify your answer:

In conclusion, we can say that this music can be from the Romantic
period (19th century) or the 20th century, because the composer wrote this piece
for a large symphony orchestra with a wide variety of instruments playing
melodic parts and used dynamics with a wide range of intensities and resources
such as crescendo, decrescendo and contrasts.
C) Orchestra and instruments:
This piece of music is performed by a small string chamber orchestra
that includes a harpsichord.

Texture: It is mainly polyphonic with several melodic lines sounding at the

same time accompanied by a basso continuo part, characteristic element of
the baroque texture that is made up of a bass line and chords played on the
harpsichord, as well as on the cellos and the double bass.

Dynamics: There are not many important changes in the dynamics, just a few
variations based on small intensity contrasts and gradual dynamic changes.

Conclusion (style and period): We can conclude that it is a baroque style due
to the string chamber orchestra that includes a harpsichord, a very common
instrument in baroque music, as well as the use of the basso continuo. Baroque
period: 17th century and first half of the 18th century.

D) Orchestra and instruments:

In this piece, there is a solo piano accompanied by a quite small
symphony orchestra. In the brass section, there are just 2 French horns and
there is no percussion.
The strings and the piano play the most important parts.

Texture: The texture is mainly homophonic with one main melodic line. The
other parts are basically an accompaniment or secondary melodic lines.

Dynamics: The composer uses many gradual dynamic changes such as

crescendo and decrescendo, and, contrasts, but with a limited range of
intensities (pp up to ff).

Conclusion (style and period):

This music is from the classicism, because the symphony orchestra is
quite small, the strings play the most important parts, the texture is
homophonic with no continuo part and the gradual dynamic changes use a
small range of dynamics (second half of the 18th century up to the first quarter
of the 19th century).