[Listening extract audio not available in printed QP. Skeleton score in Insert.] A three-note idea begins each bar, starting on a higher pitch each time. (a...
Question 1 Report
[Listening extract audio not available in printed QP. Skeleton score in Insert.]
A three-note idea begins each bar, starting on a higher pitch each time.
(a) Name this compositional technique. [1]
(b) Describe the direction of the pattern. [1]
[Total: 2 marks]
Answer Details
(a) The compositional technique is a sequence. [1]
A sequence occurs when a melodic or rhythmic pattern is repeated at a different pitch level. In the score shown, a three-note ascending idea appears at the start of each bar, with each repetition beginning on a higher pitch than the one before. The shape and rhythm of the pattern remain the same; only the starting pitch changes. Sequences can be ascending (each repetition higher) or descending (each repetition lower), and they can be tonal (staying within one key, so interval sizes may vary slightly) or real (maintaining exact interval sizes, which may move through different keys). Sequences are a common device for building musical momentum and developing melodic ideas.
(b) The direction of the pattern is ascending (also accepted: rising or upward). [1]
Each repetition of the three-note idea starts on a higher pitch than the previous one, so the overall pattern moves upward. This ascending direction creates a sense of building energy and forward motion, often used by composers to increase tension or drive the music toward a climax.
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