Instrumentation & Texture

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Instrumentation

The instruments are split into the concertino and the ripieno.

2 groups

The instruments are split into 2 groups:
- The concertino (soloists).
  - This includes the violin, flute and the harpsichord.
- The ripieno.
  - This includes the larger string orchestra and the harpsichord.

The harpsichord

The harpsichord had a dual role as a solo instrument and as the accompaniment.
The harpsichordist uses a figured bass to work out which chords should be used.

Texture

The piece starts with a monophonic passage and then becomes contrapuntal and fugal.

Monophonic

The piece starts with a monophonic (one sound) passage.
This is played by the violin.
The texture then becomes polyphonic (overlapping melodies) and fugal (the Baroque style of composition ‘fugue’) with instruments overlapping.

Homophonic

The B Section starts with a homophonic (melody and accompaniment) texture where the flute is playing the melody line.

Texture and dynamics

In the Baroque period the texture was closely linked to dynamics.
- Where passages needed to be quieter composers would write for fewer instruments.
- Where passages needed to be louder they would include more instruments.
This is called terraced dynamics.

1Musical Elements

1.1Organisation of Pitch

1.1.1Melodic Pitch

1.1.2Melodic Devices

1.1.3Harmonic Pitch

1.1.4Harmonic Devices

1.1.5Harmonic Progressions

1.2Tonality

1.2.1Major & Minor Tonality

1.2.2End of Topic Test - Musical Elements

2Instrumental Music 1700–1820

2.1Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D Major

2.1.1Concerto No. 5 in D Major

2.1.2Structure & Melody

2.1.3Instrumentation & Texture

2.1.4Harmony

2.1.5Wider Listening

2.2Beethoven: Sonata ‘Pathétique’

2.2.1Piano Sonata No. 8

2.2.2Structure & Melody

2.2.3Other Features

2.2.4Wider Listening

2.2.5End of Topic Test - Instrumental Music 1700–1820

3Vocal Music

3.1Purcell: Music for a While

3.1.1Music for a While

3.1.2Other Features

3.1.3Wider Listening

3.2Queen: Killer Queen

3.2.1Killer Queen

3.2.2Other Features

3.2.3Wider Listening

3.2.4End of Topic Test - Vocal Music

4Music for Stage & Screen

4.1Schwartz: Defying Gravity

4.1.1Defying Gravity

4.1.2Other Features

4.1.3Wider Listening

4.2Williams: Star Wars Episode IV

4.2.1A New Hope

4.2.2Structure & Melody

4.2.3Other Features

4.2.4Wider Listening

4.2.5End of Topic Test - Music for Stage & Screen

5Fusions

5.1Afro Celt Sound System: Release

5.1.1Release

5.1.2Other Features

5.1.3Wider Listening

5.2Spalding: Samba Em Preludio

5.2.1Samba Em Preludio

5.2.2Structure & Melody

5.2.3Other Features

5.2.4Wider Listening

5.2.5End of Topic Test - Fusions

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