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Music Paper 2, May/June. 2009  
Questions: 1 2 3 4 5 Main
General Comments
Weakness/Remedies
Strength

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

















Question 1
(a) Melody Writing

Either

(i) Continue the melody below to form a passage of not less than 12 and not more than 16 bars.  Modulate to the relative minor in the course of the passage and return to the original key.

                    Or

(a) Set the text below to a suitable melody.   Indicate the tempo, phrasing and dynamic marks.  Credit will be given for originality of the composition and proper alignment of text to the notes.

To be loyal to my nation,
With men of law and integrity,
Where equity and justice reign,
In these I give my pledge.

(b) Two – Part Writing

Add an independent flowing bass below the given melody

(c) Four – Part Harmony

Harmonize the melody below by adding Alto, Tenor and Bass parts.

You may also use the suggested chords at the points indicated.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Observation

In the attempt to maintain the rhythmic and melodic character of the given opening phrase in the

(a) -  Melody Writing, many candidates just repeated verbatim the same melodic    

    phrase  from bar 1 to 16   without any melodic or rhythmic variation, forgetting
    to the required key.  As a result, candidates lost the marks obtainable for correct
    answer(s).

   Below are some of the useful tips on how to extend the given opening phrase to
   form a passage of between 12 and 16 bars.

  Example  I  -  12 – bar passage in ternary form

 Section A  =  4 bars of 2 + 2 Tonic Key (Fmajor)

     “        B   =  4 bars of 2 + 2 – contrasting Section
                                                Rel minor (d minor)
    “         A  =   4 bars of 2 + 2 – Repeat of Section A or Slightly modified
                                                 (tonic key)

Example II   -   16 bars   ABA

(F major)                                (Dminor)                                Fmajor)
        A                                            B                                           A
  8 bars                                         4 bars                                  4 bars
115
4 + 4                                          (2 + 2)                                    (2 + 2)
  (2 + 2)(2 + 2)                                     b                              Repeat a or a, exactly or slightly modified.

Or

Setting text to melody

The given text could be set to a suitable melody in 2, 3 or 4 or even 6 time.  Even though the
                                                                                           4  4      4                8  
Phrase structure is best as anacrusic, down beat interpretation is possible.  Candidates should consider the following basic rhythmic patterns:

.(i)

(ii)

(iii)

Candidates are equally advised to allow the melodic range have an average vocal compass of just an octave as shown below which is quite comfortable for all the voices.

(b) Two – Part Writing

Many candidates did not understand what 2 – part writing is all about and therefore added a dependent part 
of the same rhythm and melodic contour just in parallel   intervals above or below the given melody. This in
 effect contributed to their poor  performance.

They were advised to note that:  (i)  the contour of added part doesn’t usually have the   same rhythm and
same note – values as the given part.

(ii)  the use of good harmonic progression/devices and phrasing, where applicable is very essential in 2 - Part
    essential in 2 – Part Writing.

(iii)   They have to avoid the use of too many chords in a bar and treat some notes in both the
         given  and the added parts as non-harmonic tones in the example below:

In bar I, a is a passing tone, (b) is upper neighbour  The (C) in given part is treated as upper neighbour while (d) – (e) are changing notes or Cambiata and (f) in given part is treated as a passing tone candidates were not expected to attain the professional level (as shown above) but they should be taught the basic concepts of Part – Writing.

In (C) four – Part Writing, candidates should note that the harmonization of a given melody does not mean that all the notes in the melody (especially some quavers approached and quitted by step need to have different chords.

They should have treated some notes as non-harmonic and avoid using too many chords in a bar, mostly primary triads i.e. I/i, IV/iv and V/V chords in their root positions and first inversions extensively.

The following useful hints will assist candidates a great deal in future examinations;

  1.   To harmonise ‘doh’ at the beginning or end of a given melody, use only chord I but elsewhere chord I or IV and less of chord vi can be used.

  (ii)  To harmonise ‘ray’ use more of chord V and  less of chord (ii)
 (iii)   For‘me’ use chord I
 (iv)   For Fart’ – use chord IV and less of chord ii and sometimes use chord V
 (v)    Use  only chords I or V for ‘solo’
 (vi)   Use chord IV for ‘lah’ not chord VI
 (vii)   For ‘te’ use only chord V or V7.

Candidates are advised not to use chords iii or vii at the elementary level.  Below is a prototype of the elementary four – part harmony explained above.

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