Edexcel

GCSE
MUSIC

Section A (Questions 1 ­ 6)

Instrumental Music: J S Bach

 Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No 5 in D

1-1 Listen to the following extract which will be played three times.

(a) Which of the following best describes the tempo of this extract? Underline
your answer: (1)

Grave Adagio Moderato Allegro

(b) Which two of the following terms best describe the texture of the music in
the first part of this extract? Underline two of the following: (2)

polyphonic octaves homophonic call and response

canon unison fugue melody and accompaniment

(c) Name the first two solo instruments used in this extract. (2)

1 ..…..……………………………………………………………………………………….

2 ..…………………………………………………………………………………………..

(d) What is the interval (eg 3rd / 6th) between the first two notes of the main theme? (1)

……………....…..……………………………………………………………………………..
(e) The main theme has an anacrusic rhythm. What does this mean? (1)

……………....…..……………………………………………………………………………..

(f) (i) The time signature for this piece is 2/4 but the music actually sounds more
like which one of the following time signatures? Underline your answer: (1)

3/4 6/8 5/4 4/4

(ii) Explain the reason for your choice of answer to part (i) of this question (1)

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………....…………………………………………………………………………………

(g) Describe two features of the music played by harpsichord in this extract. (2)

1 ..…..……………………………………………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

2 ..…………………………………………………………………………………………..

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

Total for Question 1-1 = 11 marks

 Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No 5 in D

1-2 Listen to the following extract which will be played four times.

(a) Tick two of the following that are features of the opening passage of this
extract. (2)

Tick two

major key

minor key

chromatic

bass pedal

fugue

monophonic

(b) Following the opening passage is a section which features a trio of solo
instruments - harpsichord, violin and flute.
Describe how these three instruments are used and work together. Make
three points in your answer. (3)

1 ....…..……………………………………………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

2 ..……………………………………………………………………………………………..

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

3 ..…………………………………………………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

(c) In the last part of the score of this extract, the instruction cantabile is used.
What is the meaning of cantabile? (1)

……………....…..……………………………………………………………………………..
(d) Tick two of the following that are features of the closing passage of this
extract. (2)

Tick two

major key

minor key

chromatic

monophonic

call and response

sequence

(e) This extract is taken from a concerto grosso. Explain the meaning of the
term `concerto grosso`. (2)

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………....…………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………....…………………………………………………………………………………

(f) The harpsichord is an instrument which is often used in orchestral music of

the Baroque period. However the way the harpsichord is used in this piece
is quite different to its normal role. In what way is it different? (2)

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………....…………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………....…………………………………………………………………………………

Total for Question 1-2 = 12 marks

 Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No 5 in D

1-3 Listen to the following extract which will be played four times.

(a) Tick two of the following that best describe features of the opening
passage for harpsichord. (2)

Tick two

repetition

homophonic

two part

canon

three part

monophonic

(b) Following the opening passage for harpsichord solo, describe how the
rest of the orchestra is used in the next section and how the harpsichord
works with the orchestra. Make three points in your answer. (3)

1 ....…..……………………………………………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

2 ..……………………………………………………………………………………………..

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

3 ..……………………………………………………………………………………………..

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

(c) This piece is an example of which style of Baroque dance? (1)

……………....…..……………………………………………………………………………..
Here is a short section of score, showing 5 bars of the harpsichord part near
the end of this extract:

(d) (i) In the score above, what is the meaning of `tasto solo` below the stave
in bar 1? (1)

……………....…..……………………………………………………………………………..

(ii) What is the purpose of the figures below the stave in bars 3, 4 and 5? (1)

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………....…………………………………………………………………………………

(iii) Why are notes in the right hand part in bars 3, 4 and 5 shown in small size? (1)

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………....…………………………………………………………………………………

(e) What is the tonality of the music at the end of the extract? (1)

……………....…..……………………………………………………………………………..

(f) Describe the music which follows this extract . . . what happens next? (2)

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………....…………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………....…………………………………………………………………………………

Total for Question 1-3 = 12 marks