AOS2 Shared Music

Voice and Accompaniment

Romantic Song (Lieder)
Song for solo voice & Piano
Big in Germany and Austria.
Romantic 1820 1900 approx.
Lieder are songs popular in the 19th century written to accompany the
German romantic poetry of the day.
They were performed in informal, intimate settings like the drawing
rooms of the middle classes. Venue now: concert hall.
Franz Schubert, Robert Schumann, Johannes Brahms.
Strophic: Melody of each verse the same (like a hymn. Through
Composed: Each verse set to different music
Individual songs (Lied / Lieder) or Song Cycles (A selection of poems
which are connected by the text and / or musical devices).
Use of word painting the music portrays the meaning of the words being
sung.
Melismatic: one syllable sung over more than one note. Syllabic: one
syllable per note.
Lots of imitation between the piano and singer.
The singer sings with expression to convey the mood. Texts are often
based on emotional themes, such as love, sadness, loss or anger.
The piano part is usually very descriptive creating effects such as a
babbling brook with rippling passages.
Pop Ballad
Early ballads were folk songs with a story. They were passed down orally
through the generations in the Middle Ages. Originally sung by wandering
minstrels. From the mid 19th century ballad meant a sentimental,
popular song. About LOVE / ROMANCE
Slow tempo
Tells a simple story with sentimental lyrics emphasis is on the lyrics
Memorable melody
Structure is simple (verse/chorus)
Strophic each verse has the same music
Often accompanied with keyboard or guitar
The main tune is called the melody, the backing is called the
accompaniment.
The melody is sung legato (smoothly).
Time signature: 4/4 (sometimes ).
Voice types should be known for this area of study. Male: tenor (mediumhigh), baritone (medium-low), bass (low) and female: soprano
(medium-high), Mezzo-soprano (medium), alto (medium-low). Alto is
short for contralto.

Backing singers or even a whole choir can be used to help emphasise the
lyrics. They are most often used in the choruses or towards the end of the
song to heighten the drama.
Chords in the accompaniment are also usually legato in style with either
soft repeating block chords, broken chords or arpeggios.
Key changes are quite common in ballads. The final chorus is often 'lifted'
to enhance the emotion towards the end of the song. Changing key is
called modulation. The key change will sound a little higher than the
previous chorus.

Music contrasting solo instrument with orchestra/band

Classical Concerto
The Classical period was from about 1750 1820.
Composers: Mozart and Haydn
Is music for: solo (1 player) playing an instrument, accompanied by an
orchestra. You can have a double concerto: 2 soloists (duet, accompanied
by an orchestra). Instruments often: Violin, flute, clarinet, horn, trumpet
In 3 movements (sections): Fast, Slow, Fast. First movement usually in
sonata form
Listen out for: Contrasts between the soloist and orchestra timbre,
dynamics and texture. Virtuoso performance by the soloist (eg. Showing
off using the full range of the instrument, playing fast scalic passages
(notes up and down!)
Venue: Concert halls.
Cadenza = orchestra stops playing; soloists can improvise (make some of
it up); play fast; difficult to play; lots of scales (running up and down
notes); arpeggio (broken chords); decorated melodies.
Homophonic texture (or melody and accompaniment).
Gradual changes in dynamics (crescendos and diminuendos).
Alternation between solo sections (soloist alone or with a light
accompaniment) and tutti sections (for the full orchestra).
Typical Classical phrasing - balanced and clear-cut phrases (musical
sentences) that form questions and answers.
Jazz
The bass instruments will outline the bass of the harmony suggested by
the chords
The drummer will improvise rhythms suitable to the style
The piano will provide rhythmic and harmonic support playing the chords
COMPING
The melody instruments will play the tune (HEAD) then improvise over the
chords
Jazz is a type of music that originated in the southern states of America

during the early 20th century. Over time, many different styles of jazz
have developed, using all sorts of line-ups, from a single piano to a swing
band. The main element that unites most of these styles is improvisation.
1930/40s swing style developed. It became a very popular form of Jazz as
it could be danced to. 1940s Bebop style developed, it was much faster
with lots of improvisation and more complex rhythms.
Scat singing singing to nonsense syllables instead of words, Doo-be-dowah!
Call and Response as well as imitation happens frequently between
players in Jazz groups.
12-bar blues chord pattern using chords I,IV,V
Blues scale a major scale with flattened 3rd, 5th and 7th degrees
Drummers often used brushes rather than sticks for a smoother sound.
Famous musicians Louis Armstrong singer and trumpeter; Duke
Ellington pianist

Ensembles:
Indian Classical Music
Indian classical music has a long history of around 3000 years. The music
is learned by ear (oral tradition) and performed from memory typically a
student will undergo a type of apprenticeship with a highly regarded
performer, which as known as a guru.
Instruments: Sitar a type of plucked string instrument with frets. It has
sympathetic strings which vibrate to create a distinctive shimmery sound.
The sitar plays the raga and the melody, and improvises.
Tanpura/tambura a plucked sting instrument with four strings used to
play the drone. Tabla a pair of drums. Sarangi bowed, string
instrument; bansuri bamboo flute. Harmonium (a type of keyboard
instrument)
Tala the rhythmic cycle. There are different talas, each with a set
number of beats, some of which will be accented. The tabla player
improvises rhythms around the tala, which gradually become more
complex as the piece progresses. 1st beat most important = sam.
The melody is based on a set of notes called a raga (scale). There are
many different ragas and most of them are associated with a particular
time of day, season and mood. Some notes in the raga will be more
important than others and will be emphasised.
Common techniques used in the melody pitch bends, glissandos, rapid
scales, ornamentation.
Indian music uses microtones smaller than a semitone.
There is no real harmony in Indian classical music instead a drone is
played throughout a piece. It is based on the most important note or
notes of the raga.
There is often dialogue between the different parts, with call and response

and imitation between the players.

Structure: (A Jolly Jumpy Goat): Alap slow, improvised introduction in
free time. The sitar introduces and explores the notes of the raga. There is
a drone but no tabla drums. Jor faster and more melodic. Gat the tabla
enters, creating a clear sense of pulse. This section is often based on a
pre-composed idea, which the melody instrument uses as a basis for
improvisation. The music builds in excitement more improvisation, faster
and more virtuosic. If it is a song, the last section is called a Bandish
(song) Cascades of scales and intricate rhythms.
Famous sitar player Ravi Shankar. Famous table player: Alla Rakha
Gamelan
The gamelan originated in Indonesia. Java and Bali both have long
traditions of gamelan.
The lower sounding the instrument generally the less it plays. The higher
instruments tend to play the faster speeds.
The word "gamelan" came from Javanese "gamel," which means
"hammer."
A Gamelan is a group of instruments, or orchestra (not a single
instrument). An ENSEMBLE! It can consist of 5-50 players although
normally 10-20. It usually consists of Drums, Gongs and metallophones
(saron). (Others - xylophone (wood), Rebab (bowed 2-string instrument),
Suling (flute), zither, and voices. The Kendhang (drummer) is the most
important they lead the group.
Virtuosos (skilled experts) often give performances of high speed music but they always play to enhance the music of the other players.
The sound of a gamelan can vary from very gentle, dreamy and delicate,
to wild, loud and frantic. Gamelan from Java tends to be more hypnotic
and calmer than Javanese.
Gamelan music is built up in layers.
The core melody is known as the balungan, meaning skeleton. The
notes of the other layers are closely related to the balungan. These layers
help decorate the music or support the structure.
Each Gamelan orchestra is different.
Microtones are sometimes heard in the bowed strings and vocal parts
(microtones are notes between our semitones.)
Gamelans are very important in the everyday life of Indonesians and are
heard on all important occasions. Played in a wide range of settings
indoors and outdoors: Court music for special occasions; in more informal
settings as entertainment. Accompaniment to shadow puppet shows.
Religious events and celebrations.
The Gamelan is thought to be magical and spiritual players treat their
instruments with total respect and would never step over them as they
believe they are tied to heaven and stepping over the instruments could
break these ties.
Gamelan music is handed down from generation to generation with

children learning, watching and copying from their fathers and elders.
This is called the oral tradition where music isnt written down.
Gamelan music uses two types of scale or tuning systems. The pelog
scale made up of seven notes and the slendro scale made up of five notes
(pentatonic scale).
Gamelan music has a heterophonic texture where each layer of sound is
a variation of the main melodic pattern. These variations might be subtle,
such as the addition of ornaments, or more dramatic, such as playing the
melody at a different speed or in a different key.
Gamelan has: Balungen (metallophones/tune). Decoration (high
pitched/quickest). Elaboration (Bonang). Drum rhythms. Gongs.
Improvisation!
Structure: Defined by the large gongs. Cyclical and each cycle ends with
large gong. Last beat of each phrase most important + usually finish on
this. Drummer leads and decides overall but this may be based upon the
dancers, puppet show, drama or religious ceremony.
Baroque and Classical Chamber Music
Chamber music is a term used for instrumental music performed by a
small group of players (between two and eight). It is so-called because it
was originally performed in a chamber or small room, rather than a larger
building. VENUE!
Solo sonatas for one melody instrument with accompaniment
Trio sonatas for two melody instruments with accompaniment
String quartet two violins, viola and cello
Wind quintet flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon and horn
In Baroque chamber music the accompaniment was played from a
continuo part, which provided both a bass line (usually a cello) and
directions for the chords to use (improvised on a harpsichord).
Most Baroque sonata contain at least four short movements, all or mostly
in the same key. Slow and fast movements usually alternate and many are
in various dance styles of the period.
During the Classical period, much chamber music followed a fourmovement plan: a fast first movement in sonata form, a slow second
movement, a minuet and trio (a type of dance with 3 beats in a bar) and a
final fast movement (often in rondo form)
In Baroque chamber music a continuo group will usually be heard with a
cello playing the bass line and a harpsichord providing the harmonic filling
Baroque ornamentation will be often be used such as trills, mordants,
turns, grace notes
Classical chamber music as with the classical concerto will have well
balanced phrases and terraced dynamics.
In the classical period, the harpsichord wasnt used as much. A conductor
was introduced to an orchestra. The orchestra also included the clarinet.
Ground Bass repeated phrase in the bass
Baroque composers: Bach (lots of them); Vivaldi; Handel; Pachelbel;

Purcell; Scarlatti. Classical composers: Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven;

Schubert.
Baroque (1600 1750). Classical (1750 1820).
How do they communicate when there is no conductor? They ;ook at each
other. A slight nod. Lift up the bow / instrument. Intake of breath.

Large Vocal Ensembles

African A Cappella
African a capella singing originated in South Africa.
The term a capella means singing without instrumental accompaniment
or 'unaccompanied'. Literally it means 'in the chapel' and comes from
religous unaccompanied singing.
Mbube singing is loud and powerful, mbube means 'lion'.
Isicathamiya singing is much softer and genter, isicathamiya means 'on
tip-toes'.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo are an all male vocal group who specialise in
isicathamiya singing. The group are known worldwide.
African a capella songs can be polyphonic, homophonic and sung in
unison. There can be a range of textures within one song.
A Cappella used to: Communicate emotions and feelings. For Social
gatherings harvests; birthdays; weddings; funerals; births; gathering of
the chiefs. Combined with speech, dance and vibrant costumes.
Features: Basic form is call and response. Melodies usually short + simple
+ repetitive. Melodies usually in scale of 4, 5 , 6 or 7 different tones.
Performers can improvise new melodies while other singers continue
melody polyphonic texture. Often music sung in rounds. Harmony varies
between tribes but often close harmony (uses notes of the chord within a
narrow range).
Include non vocal sounds to accompany: clicking, clapping, stamping or
more unusual vocal sounds such as tongue clicks and humming.
Work songs are a type of African a capella singing. The song lyrics are
about hard work on a particular task. The main beat of the song is based
on the actions of the task such as digging.
Great Choral Classics
Large scale works for Choir and Orchestra.
These consist of different sections which in sequence tell a story.
Some parts will be for full choir, others for soloists (and occasionally some
for instruments only, interludes).
Most of these works are sacred and called oratorios.
Pieces for the choir are called choruses, songs for Soloists are called arias
(or duets, trios, quartets if there is more than one soloist). Sections where
the story is moved forward in speech-like music are called recitatives.
A choir is usually made up of four voice parts: Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass

(SATB) in order from high to low, female to male. A female voice slightly
lower than a soprano but higher than an alto is called a mezzo-soprano
and the male voice between tenor and bass is a baritone. Boys singing
soprano with unbroken voices are called trebles. Men singing alto using a
falsetto voice are called a countertenors.
The oratorio has a number of similarities to opera. It uses the same
structures, such as choruses and arias, and employs similar forces
(orchestra, soloist and choir).
Both opera and oratorio use the words to tell the story. However, unlike
opera the oratorio uses religious text, which makes it suitable for
performance in churches and cathedrals, where as opera is usually
performed in theatres/opera houses. The oratorio is not as theatrical as
opera, and is generally performed without acting, scenery or costumes
and in a concert hall. VENUE!
A Mass is a choral work is based on Latin texts from the Catholic
communion service. Most masses consist of six movements (Kyrie, Gloria,
Credo, Sanctus, Benedictus and Agnus Dei). The texts are of repentance,
praise and belief.
Mass settings are different from other oratorios in that they are almost
always in Latin, while most oratorios are in the language of the intended
audience.
A Requiem Mass is a Mass for the dead, used to honour the deceased
and is often heard in a funeral context. It omits the more joyful
movements of the ordinary Mass and adds in others such as the Dies Irae
(Day of Wrath). The Dies Irae describes the terror felt when standing
before God at The Last Judgement. Verdi, who composed many operas,
wrote a particularly dramatic Dies Irae in his setting of the Requiem.
The vocal forces created with large 4 part choirs (SATB) is very
impressive. Choirs will sing in unison or in harmony, sometimes
overlapping.
The texture (layers of sound) can change frequently within the same
piece.
Homophonic texture - the choir sings in harmony at different pitches, this
can be chordal or have a melody and accompaniment.
Polyphonic texture - the sections of the choir overlap, there can be several
melodies at once. This type of texture can sound complex. Polyphony
(Polyphonic texture) can also be referred to as Counterpoint (Contrapuntal
texture).
The choir will usually follow a conductor. This helps all of the sections to
stay in time and balance the dynamics.
Choral works are usually written for choir and orchestra. Sometimes a
church organ may be used in addition to the orchestra.
Soloists are often included in choral music. As well as solo arias for an
individual to sing with the orchestra, the soloist may have solo lines to
sing with the chorus.
When all of the singers and orchestra work together this is called tutti (all
together).

The Messiah by Handel is perhaps the most well known Oratorio. The
Requiem Masses by Mozart and Verdi are also famous works within this
genre.
Word painting is typically used by composers to emphasise certain words
or meanings. Higher or rising pitches can be used to represent words such
as God, Lord or Praise. Low pitches would be used for Hell.