edexcel gcse music essay questions

12 Mark Questions

How to approach a 12 mark question.

Below you will find examples of the types of questions you could be asked in the 12 mark section of your final exam.

Aos1 - instrumental music 1700 - 1820, j s bach: brandenburg concerto no.5.

Listen to the excerpts from two concerto grossos: one familiar and one unfamiliar.

The familiar extract, Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 3rd movement (0.00—1.45) will be played once.

The unfamiliar extract, Handel’s Concerto Grosso No. 6 2nd movement (0.00—1.16) will be played three times

Compare the use of melody, tonality, texture and instruments. Try to make 12 separate points.

Beethoven: Pathetique

Listen to the exposition from the 1st movement of Mozart’s piano sonata in C major (0.00-0.55), which will be played four times and the exposition of Beethoven’s Pathetique which will be played once

The Mozart sonata was composed in 1788, 10 years before Beethoven composed his Pathetique

Contrast Mozart’s style of piano writing in this expert with that of Beethoven's. Use your knowledge of musical elements, context and language in your response. (12 marks)

Try to make 12 separate points.

AoS2 - Vocal Music

Henry purcell: music for a while.

Listen to the excerpts from two vocal pieces: one familiar and one unfamiliar.

The familiar extract, Purcell’s ‘Music for a While’ (1.27—2.50) will be played once.

The unfamiliar extract, Britten’s ‘Calypso’ (0.00—1.30) will be played three times.

Evaluate how effectively the Purcell and Britten set the texts to music (12 marks)

• Make points about how the composer sets the words in both extracts

• Make comparisons between the two works

• Each point must include musical detail

You should use your knowledge of musical elements, contexts and language in your response.

Queen: Killer Queen

Listen to the excerpts from two pieces: one familiar and one unfamiliar.

The familiar extract, Queen’s ‘Killer Queen’ (o.oo—1.30) will be played once. The unfamiliar extract, Radiohead’s ‘Creep’ (0.00—1.20) will be played three times.

Evaluate how effectively melody, harmony and use of instruments have been used in the extracts from these two songs (12 marks)

AoS3 - Music For Stage and Screen

Stephen schwartz: defying gravity.

Listen to the excerpts from two musicals: one familiar and one unfamiliar.

The familiar extract, Schwartz’s ‘Defying Gravity’ (0.00—2.10) will be played once. The unfamiliar extract, ‘There Are Worse Things I Could Do’ from ‘Grease’ by Jacobs and Casey (0.00—2.21) will be played three times.

Compare how effectively Schwartz and Jacob and Casey communicate both vocally and instrumentally both Elphaba’s and Rizzo’s state of mind and their emotions. (12 marks)

You should use your knowledge of musical elements, contexts and language in your response. Try to make 12 separate points.

John Williams: Star Wars

Listen to the excerpts from Leonard Bernstein’s work ‘On the Waterfront’ , and John Williams’Star Wars IV: A New Hope

‘On the Waterfront’ is a 1950s American crime drama film. The main character witnesses a murder, and must provide testimony in court. However, the men who he is helping to bring justice are his own bosses, and are corrupt, dangerous men.

Evaluate how effectively the two experts set the mood for the opening of the film. (12 marks)

• Make points about how the composer sets the mood in both extracts

• Make comparisons between the works

• Each point music include musical detail

• Which piece do you think is more effective, and why.

AoS4 - Fusions

Afro celt sound system: release.

Listen to the excerpts from two pieces of fusion music

The familiar extract, Release, by Afro Celt Sound System will be played once.

The unfamiliar extract, ‘Diamonds on the Soles of her Shoes’ by Paul Simon (0.00—1.53) will be played three times.

Evaluate how the fusion of music from other cultures and Western pop music has been achieved in these two extracts (12 marks)

• Make points about the use of instruments and voices

• Make points in particular about the use of texture and rhythm

Esperanza Spalding: Samba Em Preludio

The familiar extract, ‘Samba Em Preludio’ (o.oo—1.30) will be played once. The unfamiliar extract is the first 44 bars of the ‘Habanera’ from the opera Carmen by Bizet (0.00—1.51) will be played three times.

The first extract (Samba) is a lament about lost love and the second is a song about a women determined to have the man she fancies. Compare the different ways in which music is used to achieve the mood of each song. Use your knowledge of musical elements, contexts and language in your response.

Manwaring Music Education Blog

Life in a Music Department

Long Answer Question

Introduction

I am sure that most GCSE exams have some kind of Long Answer Question. This blog series is going to focus on the Edexcel GCSE Music Exam and the 12 mark Long Answer Question at the end of the exam. If you are looking to develop your overall musical skills then you can try this no matter what board. I will be posting several of these questions over the coming weeks including a template for your to print and fill in. I will be giving links to the audio but unforatuneyl it is difficult to link to the actual sheet music. A Long Answer Question in an exam is likely to have some kind of skeleton score, but if you can cope without then great!

How to approach a Long Answer Question

In general these questions are going to get you focussing on why music sounds the way it sounds. Exams over the years have usually had a mixture of short questions, multiple choice questions and then longer answer questions. The Long Answer Question is a chance for you to show your knowledge of why music is the way it is – what makes it sound the way it sounds. A Long Answer Question is also going to test your knowledge of style, genre, musical history and musical language.

When you first read the question you should ask yourself the following things:

• Who composed the piece of music?
• When was it composed?
• Are there any other pieces that are similar?
• Do any particular features jump out at me?
• What is the question asking me to focus on?
• What stylistic features are there?

You might like to start by jotting down some initial thoughts. These questions are going to use one of the GCSE Set Works for Edexcel and then a piece of Unfamiliar music. If you are not with Edexcel then you can still access and use these questions. Essentially they are compare and contrast questions.

Why Compare & Contrast?

I think that the best way to fully explain something is to Compare & Contrast. Let me give you an example that isn’t musical. If someone asks you to recommend a restaurant to them then you are likely to compare your choice to another, to help them understand what it might be like. Same with a book – “Did you read “The Muse” well you will love “The Essex Serpent”. Does that make sense? When trying to understand something we are always going to need to compare it to something else. The pieces I have chosen all link to the set work in some way. In order to answer the question you are going to need to work out features in both pieces and then compare then to each other. This will form a more full discussion. I have attached a document below that will help you with this. Print it out in colour and use it for your planning – again, it can be used for any exam board as all study of music is useful!

Stylistic Features

Another important factor in any discussion or evaluation is to look for key stylistic features. If you were recommending a hotel to a friend you wouldn’t say, it has beds and a sink! No, you would refer to the features of the hotel and in particular any features that make it a great hotel. This is the same with music, and for each Long Answer Question you need to focus on the stylistic features in the piece.

Every single answer simply must be packed full of Key Terms. Music Education thrives on terminology and there are so many words to learn. Some are specific to a piece, style or genre but some are more generic and used widely. It is a good idea to write down as many key terms as possible when you first hear a piece of music. The document below has a space for key terms, use it to log everything you know and everything you hear.

If you are studying Edexcel GCSE Music then you will be familiar with these pieces. If not then please do listen to them today to get your ready for the first Question. These pieces are all great and I will be selecting a piece of music to match each set work. Then I will set any essay question and you can then plan and write the Long Answer. Here is the list of set works:

• Bach – Brandenburg Concerto No. 5, Allegro, 3rd Mvt.
• Beethoven – “Pathetique” Sonata No. 8 in C Minor, 1st Mvt.
• Purcell – Music For a While
• Queen – Killer Queen
• Wicked (The Musical) – Defying Gravtiy
• Stars Wars – Main Titles
• Esperanza Spalding – Samba Em Preludio
• Afro Celt Sound System – Release

Link to Apple Music Playlist

Starting Points

Before we start on the questions, which will begin in the next blog, I think it would be good to do a few things in preparation:

• Listen to all of the pieces above whilst you get on with other work.
• Read through your notes or take a look at the notes on the Edexcel website
• Listen to the pieces again, but this time, jot down some notes on each piece.
• Look up the composers, artists, film & musical that are covered by these set works.
• Download the document below so that you are ready to plan each Long Answer Question.
• Subscribe to this blog so that you get all of the updates & questions.

I hope that this blog series will help students prepare for GCSE Music. It will encourage Wider Listening and will encourage students to think about what makes music sound the way it sounds. It will explore composers, genres, pieces and styles.

• Pingback: Long Answer Question 1 - Manwaring Music Education Blog
• Pingback: 100 Questions - Manwaring Music Education Blog
• Pingback: Long Answer Question 4 - Queen - Manwaring Music Education Blog
• Pingback: Long Answer Question 2 - Beethove - GCSE Music - Manwaring Music Education Blog

Could you do a model answer for each set work?

• Pingback: Question 9 - Manwaring Music Education Blog

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Discover more from manwaring music education blog.

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Type your email…

Continue reading

• International
• Schools directory
• Resources Jobs Schools directory News Search

Wicked Question 9 examples Edexcel GCSE Music

Subject: Music

Age range: 14-16

Resource type: Audio, music & video

Last updated

26 September 2021

• Share through email
• Share through twitter
• Share through linkedin
• Share through facebook
• Share through pinterest

A resource which compares the set work of Wicked to 2 other pieces in preparation for the essay question (question 9). The scores for the unfamiliar pieces are attached. The links to audio are on the pp along with ideas and plans for each of the 2 questions. This could take 2 lessons (along with writing the essays) or be the preparation for an assessment or homework.

There is differentiated success criteria which shows students how to access higher bands.

Tes paid licence How can I reuse this?

Your rating is required to reflect your happiness.

It's good to leave some feedback.

Something went wrong, please try again later.

This resource hasn't been reviewed yet

To ensure quality for our reviews, only customers who have purchased this resource can review it

Report this resource to let us know if it violates our terms and conditions. Our customer service team will review your report and will be in touch.

Not quite what you were looking for? Search by keyword to find the right resource: