ROSSHALL ACADEMY
FACULTY OF PERFORMING ARTS
S4 MUSIC
UNDERSTANDING MUSIC
TOPIC 2: HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS
Name _____________________
Class__________
ASSIGNMENT 1: THE BAROQUE PERIOD
RESEARCH TASK 1: Baroque Facts
 During the Baroque period, composers were usually employed through the patronage system:
(a)
Write down a brief description of what the patronage system was:
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(b)
How do you think the patronage system may have affected the musical output of
composers?
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 Baroque is a term that applies to the visual arts too. Look at some examples of Baroque
architecture and use two different adjectives to describe this style of architecture:
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 Write down the name of a famous building from the Baroque era:
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RESEARCH TASK 2: Dido & Aeneas
Dido and Aeneas is an opera composed during the Baroque period.
 Who composed this opera, when was he born, and what nationality was he?
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 Find out about Dido’s character and the part she plays in the opera. Write down one or two
sentences about her story:
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 Go into the shared folder for S4 Music OR the school website, click on HOMEWORK FILES and then
open the listening file or click the YouTube link for Dido and Aeneas.
 Listen to the ARIA ‘When I Am Laid in Earth’ and ensure that you can hear the following concepts
(look up their meanings first if you need to):
SOPRANO
OCTAVE LEAP
MELISMA
MINOR TONALITY
GROUND BASS
DOTTED RHYTHMS
HARPSICHORD
CHROMATICISM
 What is the TIME SIGNATURE of this aria?______________________
 Circle the TEMPO at which the aria is performed: ADAGIO / ANDANTE / ALLEGRO
ASSIGNMENT 2: THE CLASSICAL PERIOD
RESEARCH TASK 1: Classical Facts
 During the Classical period, fewer composers were employed under the patronage system. What
effect might this have had on the musical output of Classical composers?
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 Write down the name of an artist from the Classical period (make sure you are finding about the
18th Century Classical era!) and the title of one of his paintings:
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 Write down the name of a famous building from the Classical era:
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 Look at and compare examples of Classical and Baroque architecture - how do they differ from
each other?
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RESEARCH TASK 2: The Marriage of Figaro
The Marriage of Figaro is an opera composed during the Classical period.
 Who composed this opera, when was he born, and what nationality was he?
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 Name the character who sings the ARIA ‘Voi Che Sapete’ in the opera, describe the role that this
character plays and explain what is unusual about this character & aria (you may need to listen
first!):
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 Go into the shared folder for S4 Music OR the school website, click on HOMEWORK FILES and then
open the listening file or click the YouTube link for Voi Che Sapete.
 Listen to this aria and ensure that you can hear the following concepts (look up their meanings first
if you need to):
MEZZO SOPRANO
MAJOR TONALITY
MELISMA
IMPERFECT CADENCE
PIZZICATO
SEQUENCE
 What is the TIME SIGNATURE of this aria?______________________
 Circle the TEMPO at which the aria is performed: ADAGIO / ANDANTE / ALLEGRO
ASSIGNMENT 3: THE ROMANTIC PERIOD
ARPEGGIO
OBOE
RESEARCH TASK 1: Romantic Facts

Find out about what was happening in science / the other arts / technology during the Romantic period.
Write down three things below:
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
From where / what did composers from the Romantic period take their inspiration? How did this affect the
music that they composed?
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
In what ways did Romantic composers demonstrate Nationalism?
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RESEARCH TASK 2: Exploring Programme Music
(1)
The Hebrides Overture by Mendelssohn is a piece of Programme Music - find out what is meant by
PROGRAMME MUSIC.

What was the Mendelssohn’s inspiration for this piece? What was he trying to convey when he composed it?
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

Go into the shared folder for S4 Music OR the school website, click on HOMEWORK FILES and then open the
listening file or click the YouTube link for Hebrides Overture.
Listen to the excerpt and then write down THREE concepts that you can hear and explain how you think
they help to convey Mendelssohn’s intentions.
CONCEPT
(2)
EFFECT CREATED
The Flight of the Bumble Bee is by Rimsky Korsakov. No prizes for guessing what this piece is about!!


Go into the shared folder for S4 Music OR the school website, click on click on HOMEWORK FILES and then
open the listening file or click the YouTube link for Flight of the Bumble Bee.
Listen to the excerpt and then write down THREE concepts that you can hear and explain how you think
they help to convey Rimsky Korsakov’s intentions.
CONCEPT
EFFECT CREATED
ASSIGNMENT 4: THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
POPULAR MUSIC STYLES: RESEARCH PROJECT
There are many styles of music that are recognised as being Twentieth Century styles, although some of
them have their origins in music prior to this time. Below is a list of popular music styles that you should
already know:
COLUMN 1
COLUMN 2
GOSPEL
JAZZ
RAGTIME
SWING
BLUES
RAP
REGGAE
ROCK
ROCK’N’ROLL
CELTIC ROCK
A STYLE OF YOUR CHOICE!
Part of the outcome for the Understanding Music Unit is that learners will:
Recognise and identify music concepts and styles by identifying and analysing the social and
cultural influences which have influenced the distinctive sounds and structures of specific
musical styles.
RESEARCH TASK
You are going to research the history of FOUR of these styles in the table above. You should use a range
of sources to help you to carry out your research, e.g. the internet / books / your parents’ knowledge.
You can choose the four styles that you want to study, but you must select TWO from each column. Your
aim is to present the following information:
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Give a definition of each style, explaining what the main features / concepts of the style are;
Explain when each style originated and how it developed;
Identify which social and cultural factors influenced the development of each style;
Provide examples of which artistes / songs made each style famous;
Explain (and justify) your personal opinion of each style.
You should decide on a way to present your findings - powerpoint, poster, mind map or word-processed
document.
DATE ON WHICH PROJECT HAS TO BE SUBMITTED____________________________________