[Listening extract, audio available. See printed QP for questions.] A clarinet performs two contrasting phrases. In the first, notes are played smoothly and...
Question 1 Report
[Listening extract, audio available. See printed QP for questions.]
A clarinet performs two contrasting phrases. In the first, notes are played smoothly and connected. In the second, notes are short and separated.
Compare the articulation used in the two phrases. [2]
[Total: 2 marks]
Answer Details
Answer:
The two phrases demonstrate contrasting articulation techniques:
- First phrase - Legato: The notes are played smoothly and connected, with each note flowing seamlessly into the next without any gap or separation. On a clarinet, legato is achieved by maintaining a continuous airstream while changing fingerings, so the sound never breaks between notes. The Italian term legato means "tied" or "bound." In notation, legato passages are often indicated by a slur (a curved line) over the notes. [1]
- Second phrase - Staccato: The notes are short, separated, and detached from one another. Each note is clipped so there is clear silence between successive pitches. On a clarinet, staccato is produced by briefly interrupting the airstream with the tongue (tonguing). The Italian term staccato means "detached." In notation, staccato is shown by a dot placed directly above or below the notehead. [1]
Legato and staccato are the two fundamental contrasting articulations in Western music. Comparing them highlights how the same instrument can produce very different characters simply by changing how each note begins and ends.
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