Source: https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/5-1-2-other-features

[Revision notes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes.md) › [GCSE](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse.md) › [Music](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music.md) › [Edexcel](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel.md) › Other Features

# Other Features

Music: Edexcel GCSE, topic 5.1.2

## Structure and Melody

You could say that the melody writing in Release is idiomatic, which means that the writing is suited for that instrument.

### Strophic form

![Strophic form](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2019-05/80160a9e-1200-4401-b2b7-ecbb844fbacf/celt-celtic-pattern-.jpg)

- The structure of the piece does not fit into any conventional forms but is closely related to strophic form. 
- This is a form commonly used within folk music.
- It links back to the idea of fusion with Celtic folk.
- It is best described as a repeating A Section.

### Structure

![Structure](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/35/AfroCelt_Sound_System.jpg)

- Written out, the structure of Release is:
  - Intro.
  - Verse 1.
  - Break.
  - Verse 2.
  - Solo 1 and 2.
  - Break.
  - Verse 3. 
  - Outro.

### Phrases

![Phrases](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2019-05/5063497b-112e-4076-93cf-15314bf15e4b/sheet-music-score-.jpg)

- Each section is split into mostly 8 bar phrases.

### Melody

![Melody](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-07/baaeceaa-8ba7-4cff-bfc2-b9181a98173d/Singing-Sing-Woman.jpg)

- The two vocalists and the solo instruments create the melodic part; everything else forms the accompaniment.
- The melody lines centre around the note C.
- The solo instrumental parts play melodies based on repeated musical motifs and traditional Celtic folk songs.
- You could say that the melody writing is idiomatic, which means that the writing is suited for that instrument.

## Instrumentation

Release features African instruments, Celtic instruments, popular music instruments and three main vocal parts.

### African instruments

![African instruments](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Kora_%28African_lute_instrument%29.jpg)

- African instruments include:
  - The Kora.
  - The talking drum.

### Celtic instruments

![Celtic instruments](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2019-05/33aa9fba-4728-4f6f-8dde-8d99d9b6a33b/accordion-music-instrument-.jpg)

- Celtic instruments include:
  - The uilleann pipes.
  - The bodhrán.
  - The tin whistle.
  - The fiddle.
  - The accordion.
  - The hurdy-gurdy.

### The hurdy-gurdy

![The hurdy-gurdy](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/de/Elf_Fantasy_Fair_2010_hurdy_gurdy.jpg)

- The hurdy-gurdy plays a drone that forms part of the rhythm section. 
  - A drone is a long sustained note.

### Popular music influences

![Popular music influences](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2019-02/a3e39335-67e7-4d75-b3e6-334e72b72964/drum-set-1839383_960_720.jpg)

- The popular music influences include:
  - The Synthesiser.
  - The bass guitar.
  - The drum kit.

### Vocals

![Vocals](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-07/baaeceaa-8ba7-4cff-bfc2-b9181a98173d/Singing-Sing-Woman.jpg)

- The vocals include:
  - A spoken male African voice speaking in Maninka.
  - A female vocal line sung in English.
  - A male singing in Gaelic.

## Texture and Harmony

The piece is mainly homophonic and is built up gradually. The harmony is static.

### Texture

![Texture](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-11/611db632-16f8-4aa9-a121-83412512e5ef/sound-studio-record-levels-radio-.jpg)

- Mainly homophonic and is built up gradually.
- As this piece is multitracked, the sounds and parts are layered.
- As a new section begins, instruments like the bass guitar drop out.

### Key

![Key](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2019-05/d2c2b5c6-a47f-426c-9372-aa15d727f804/african-music-sing-black-man-.jpg)

- The piece is not major or minor. 
- It is modal which is in line with many other folk pieces.

### Mode

![Mode](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2019-04/3fd38908-6b00-4384-95b3-5822f68493c5/silhouette-music-note.png)

- Release is based around C Aeolian mode and during the uilleann pipe solo, C Dorian mode.
- Modes are like an older form of scale or group of notes.

### Harmony

![Harmony](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-10/b9b6f852-3efe-41e3-b6d0-93083d1d1f30/rock-and-roll-2.jpeg)

- The harmony is static, meaning that although certain chords are suggested they are never fully realised and the harmony throughout remains static.

## Test yourself on Other Features

- The Structure of Release
- Release is split into mostly how many bar phrases?
- Which note does the melody lines centre around?
- What do the solo instrumental parts in Release play melodies based on?
- Which is NOT a vocal part in Release?

[Practise this topic for free](https://app.senecalearning.com/classroom/course/8a9f121c-bdb0-42db-bbd6-a88f8f723518/section/f09355f9-c2ec-4d6f-9342-71dd8339d304/session)

- Previous topic: [5.1.1 Release](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/5-1-1-release.md)
- Next topic: [5.1.3 Wider Listening](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/5-1-3-wider-listening.md)

## Music: Edexcel GCSE contents

### 1 Musical Elements
- 1.1 Organisation of Pitch
  - [1.1.1 Melodic Pitch](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/1-1-1-melodic-pitch.md)
  - [1.1.2 Melodic Devices](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/1-1-2-melodic-devices.md)
  - [1.1.3 Harmonic Pitch](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/1-1-3-harmonic-pitch.md)
  - [1.1.4 Harmonic Devices](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/1-1-4-harmonic-devices.md)
  - [1.1.5 Harmonic Progressions](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/1-1-5-harmonic-progressions.md)
- 1.2 Tonality
  - [1.2.1 Major & Minor Tonality](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/1-2-1-major-and-minor-tonality.md)
  - [1.2.2 End of Topic Test - Musical Elements](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/1-2-2-end-of-topic-test-musical-elements.md)

### 2 Instrumental Music 1700–1820
- 2.1 Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D Major
  - [2.1.1 Concerto No. 5 in D Major](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/2-1-1-concerto-no-5-in-d-major.md)
  - [2.1.2 Structure & Melody](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/2-1-2-structure-and-melody.md)
  - [2.1.3 Instrumentation & Texture](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/2-1-3-instrumentation-and-texture.md)
  - [2.1.4 Harmony](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/2-1-4-harmony.md)
  - [2.1.5 Wider Listening](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/2-1-5-wider-listening.md)
- 2.2 Beethoven: Sonata ‘Pathétique’
  - [2.2.1 Piano Sonata No. 8](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/2-2-1-piano-sonata-no-8.md)
  - [2.2.2 Structure & Melody](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/2-2-2-structure-and-melody.md)
  - [2.2.3 Other Features](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/2-2-3-other-features.md)
  - [2.2.4 Wider Listening](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/2-2-4-wider-listening.md)
  - [2.2.5 End of Topic Test - Instrumental Music 1700–1820](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/2-2-5-end-of-topic-test-instrumental-music-1700-1820.md)

### 3 Vocal Music
- 3.1 Purcell: Music for a While
  - [3.1.1 Music for a While](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/3-1-1-music-for-a-while.md)
  - [3.1.2 Other Features](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/3-1-2-other-features.md)
  - [3.1.3 Wider Listening](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/3-1-3-wider-listening.md)
- 3.2 Queen: Killer Queen
  - [3.2.1 Killer Queen](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/3-2-1-killer-queen.md)
  - [3.2.2 Other Features](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/3-2-2-other-features.md)
  - [3.2.3 Wider Listening](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/3-2-3-wider-listening.md)
  - [3.2.4 End of Topic Test - Vocal Music](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/3-2-4-end-of-topic-test-vocal-music.md)

### 4 Music for Stage & Screen
- 4.1 Schwartz: Defying Gravity
  - [4.1.1 Defying Gravity](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/4-1-1-defying-gravity.md)
  - [4.1.2 Other Features](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/4-1-2-other-features.md)
  - [4.1.3 Wider Listening](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/4-1-3-wider-listening.md)
  - [4.1.4 End of Topic Test - Defying Gravity](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/4-1-4-end-of-topic-test-defying-gravity.md)
- 4.2 Williams: Star Wars Episode IV
  - [4.2.1 A New Hope](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/4-2-1-a-new-hope.md)
  - [4.2.2 Structure & Melody](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/4-2-2-structure-and-melody.md)
  - [4.2.3 Other Features](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/4-2-3-other-features.md)
  - [4.2.4 Wider Listening](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/4-2-4-wider-listening.md)
  - [4.2.5 End of Topic Test - Star Wars Episode IV](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/4-2-5-end-of-topic-test-star-wars-episode-iv.md)

### 5 Fusions
- 5.1 Afro Celt Sound System: Release
  - [5.1.1 Release](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/5-1-1-release.md)
  - [5.1.2 Other Features](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/5-1-2-other-features.md)
  - [5.1.3 Wider Listening](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/5-1-3-wider-listening.md)
- 5.2 Spalding: Samba Em Preludio
  - [5.2.1 Samba Em Preludio](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/5-2-1-samba-em-preludio.md)
  - [5.2.2 Structure & Melody](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/5-2-2-structure-and-melody.md)
  - [5.2.3 Other Features](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/5-2-3-other-features.md)
  - [5.2.4 Wider Listening](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/5-2-4-wider-listening.md)
  - [5.2.5 End of Topic Test - Fusions](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/music/edexcel/5-2-5-end-of-topic-test-fusions.md)