Musical Structure

This section examines different structural forms in music for Eduqas GCSE Music Revision:

• Traditional pop structure: verse, chorus, verse
• Monothematic: based on a single melodic idea
• Binary form: two main sections (AB or AABB)
• Ternary form: three sections with a return to the first (ABA)
• Rondo form: alternating main theme with contrasting sections (ABACA)

Definition: Monothematic refers to a piece of music based on a single melodic idea

Example: Binary form could be structured as AB or AABB

Highlight: Understanding musical structure is crucial for analysis in Eduqas GCSE Music exams

Melody

This page focuses on melodic concepts important for WJEC/Eduqas GCSE Music:

• Melody is defined as a series of pitches that move forward in a piece of music
• Ostinato is a repeating pattern of notes
• Riff is introduced as a concept
• Accidentals: sharp, flat, and natural signs
• Diatonic notes belong to a key, while chromatic notes do not
• Tonic is mentioned as an important concept
• Pentatonic scale consists of five notes

Definition: An ostinato is a continuously repeated musical phrase or rhythm

Vocabulary: Ostinato, riff, diatonic, chromatic, tonic, pentatonic

Highlight: Understanding melodic concepts is essential for Eduqas GCSE Music composition tasks

Instrumentation

This section covers the main instrument families for Eduqas GCSE Music Revision:

• Strings: lute, violin, viola, cello, harp, double bass, guitar
• Woodwind: flute, recorder, clarinet, saxophone
• Brass: trumpet, trombone, French horn, tuba
• Percussion: drum kit, piano, cowbell, triangle, cymbals

Example: The violin, viola, and cello are all members of the string family

Highlight: Recognizing different instruments and their families is crucial for the listening component of Eduqas GCSE Music exams

Texture

This page explains various textures in music for WJEC/Eduqas GCSE Music students:

• Monophonic: single line of music with no accompaniment
• Homophonic: melody with chordal accompaniment
• Polyphonic: two or more melodies played simultaneously
• Thick texture: many sounds or instruments
• Thin texture: few sounds or instruments
• Unison: more than one person singing the same part
• Chorus: whole cast of a musical or opera singing together
• Ensemble sizes: duet, trio, quartet, quintet
• Descant/countermelody: second melody playing alongside the main melody

Definition: Polyphonic texture consists of two or more independent melodies played simultaneously

Vocabulary: Monophonic, homophonic, polyphonic, unison, descant, countermelody

Example: A duet is a performance by two musicians, while a quintet involves five performers

Tonality and Scales

This section covers tonality and scale types for Eduqas GCSE Music Revision:

• Modes: precursors to major and minor scales
• Major scale: associated with a happy sound
• Minor scale: associated with a sad sound
• Chromatic scale: uses all 12 semitones within an octave
• Pentatonic scale: consists of five notes
• Whole tone scale: made up of only whole tones (no semitones)

Definition: A chromatic scale uses all 12 semitones within an octave

Highlight: Understanding different scale types is crucial for analysis and composition in WJEC/Eduqas GCSE Music

Harmony

This page explains harmonic concepts for Eduqas GCSE Music Revision:

• Consonant: notes that sound pleasant together
• Dissonant: notes that sound clashing or wrong together
• Cadences: end phrases or sections of music
• Types of cadences: perfect (V-I), plagal (IV-I), imperfect (II or IV-V), interrupted (V-VI)
• Drone: sustained note or chord
• Arpeggio: broken chord
• Diatonic and chromatic harmonies
• Passing note: non-chord tone
• Acciaccatura: grace note (very fast ornamental note)

Vocabulary: Consonant, dissonant, cadence, drone, arpeggio, passing note, acciaccatura

Definition: A cadence is a harmonic progression that creates a sense of resolution or pause in music

Example: A perfect cadence (V-I) provides a strong sense of conclusion in a piece of music

Africa by Toto - Analysis

This section provides an analysis of "Africa" by Toto for Eduqas GCSE Music Toto Africa revision:

• Composed by Dave Paich and Jeff Porcaro in 1981, released in 1982
• Genre: Pop music
• Time signature: Cut common time (2/2)
• Tempo: Moderato
• Instrumentation: Drum kit, lead and bass guitar, synthesizer, recorder, male vocalist, male backing vocals
• Tonality: Diatonic, with verse in B major and chorus in A major
• Texture: Homophonic
• Structure: Verse-chorus form with instrumental section
• Dynamics: Mezzo forte in verses, forte in chorus
• Melodic movement: Conjunct
• Other features: Use of pentatonic scale, syncopation

Highlight: "Africa" by Toto is a set work for Eduqas GCSE Music, requiring detailed analysis

Example: The song uses a pentatonic scale in bar 3 of the main melody

Vocabulary: Cut common time, moderato, homophonic, conjunct, pentatonic

Badinerie by Bach - Analysis

This page analyzes Bach's Badinerie for Eduqas GCSE Music Revision:

• Composed by J.S. Bach during the Baroque period (1600-1750)
• Genre: Concerto/Sonata/Suite movement
• Instrumentation: Flute, string orchestra, basso continuo
• Structure: Binary form (AA BB) with two main ideas
• Tempo: Allegro
• Key: Minor
• Time signature: 2/4 (two crotchet beats per bar)
• Texture: Homophonic
• Dynamics: Forte
• Other features: Ostinato, ornamentation, diatonic harmony

Vocabulary: Baroque, basso continuo, binary form, allegro, ostinato

Definition: Basso continuo is a Baroque accompaniment style featuring a bass line with chord symbols

Highlight: Bach's Badinerie is an important work for analysis in WJEC/Eduqas GCSE Music exams

Africa by Toto - Revision Notes

This section provides revision notes for "Africa" by Toto, essential for Eduqas GCSE Music Toto Africa revision:

• Composed by Jeff Porcaro and Dave Paich in 1981, released in 1982
• Tempo: Moderato
• Dynamics: Mezzo forte in verses, forte in chorus
• Melodic movement: Conjunct with syncopation
• Tonality: Diatonic (verse in B major, chorus in A major)
• Instrumentation: Drum kit, flute, guitar, bass, synthesizers, vocalists
• Structure: Verse-chorus form with pentatonic instrumental section
• Other features: Use of 2/2 time signature, chord progressions

Highlight: These revision notes are crucial for Eduqas GCSE Music students preparing for exams

Example: The song's use of syncopation and pentatonic scales are important analytical points

Badinerie by Bach - Revision Notes

This page offers revision notes on Bach's Badinerie for WJEC/Eduqas GCSE Music students:

• Composed by J.S. Bach during the Baroque period
• Instrumentation: Flute, double bass, violin, cello, viola, harpsichord (orchestra with basso continuo)
• Structure: Rondo and Binary form (AA BB)
• Key: Minor, with Section B starting in F#
• Time signature: 2/4
• Tempo: Allegro
• Texture: Homophonic
• Dynamics: Forte with terraced dynamics
• Other features: Ostinato, ornamentation, trills, Neapolitan chord, imperfect cadence in bar 20

Vocabulary: Baroque, basso continuo, rondo, binary form, terraced dynamics, Neapolitan chord

Highlight: Understanding these elements is crucial for analyzing Baroque music in Eduqas GCSE Music exams

Example: The use of terraced dynamics is a typical feature of Baroque music