[Listening extract audio not available in printed QP. Skeleton score in Insert.] A melody is played first by solo horn, then repeated by the full string sec...
Question 1 Report
[Listening extract audio not available in printed QP. Skeleton score in Insert.]
A melody is played first by solo horn, then repeated by the full string section.
(a) What is the technique of repeating a melody with different instruments. [1]
(b) Describe the effect of this transfer. [1]
[Total: 2 marks]
Answer Details
(a) Technique of repeating a melody with different instruments [1]
The answer is re-orchestration (also accepted: change of timbre, tone colour, or orchestral colour). Re-orchestration is the technique of restating a melody using different instruments or instrumental combinations. The melodic content stays the same, but the sound quality changes because each instrument has its own distinctive timbre.
This technique was a hallmark of Romantic orchestral writing. Composers used it to develop a melody's emotional character across successive statements without altering the notes themselves.
(b) Effect of transferring the melody from solo horn to full string section [1]
When the melody moves from a solo horn to the full string section, the sound becomes warmer, richer and more powerful. The solo horn produces a focused, noble tone with a single timbre, while the full string section brings multiple instruments playing together, creating a fuller texture and increased volume. This gives the melody greater emotional intensity - what began as a personal, intimate statement becomes a grand, passionate declaration. The contrast between the solo instrument and the large ensemble is one of the most effective ways Romantic composers built emotional momentum.
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