Year 8

Why might we wish to decorate a melody?

Year 8

Why might we wish to decorate a melody?

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. In this lesson, we will explore further melodies from Pachelbel's Canon in D. We will learn how performers of Baroque music vary and decorate their melodies, and then explore this practically.

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10 Questions

Q1.
What does 'legato' mean?
Playing something in a harsh way.
Playing something in a short and spiky way.
Correct answer: Playing something in a smooth way.
Q2.
What does 'staccato' mean?
Playing something in a harsh way.
Correct answer: Playing something in a short and spiky way.
Playing something in a smooth way.
Q3.
What are the two sharps in the key of D major?
Correct answer: F# C#
F# D#
F# E#
Q4.
In a scale, what number note is the 'root' note?
Correct answer: 1
3
5
Q5.
Which is the 5th scale degree in D major?
Correct answer: A
D
F#
Q6.
What is a countermelody?
A melody that is faster than the main melody.
Correct answer: A secondary melody.
The main idea in a piece of music.
Q7.
What words did we use to describe the shape of melody 3?
Correct answer: Moves in a combination of steps and leaps.
Moves mainly by leap.
Moves mainly by step.
Q8.
What words did we use to describe the direction of melody 3?
Correct answer: It ascends and descends
It is ascending
It is descending
Q9.
How many beats does each note in melody 3 last?
Correct answer: 1
2
3
Q10.
How does the texture change when melody 3 is added to Canon in D?
It becomes monophonic.
Correct answer: It becomes more polyphonic.
It becomes more sparse.

10 Questions

Q1.
What do we call melodic decorations in music?
Additions
Colour
Correct answer: Ornaments
Q2.
Why do we decorate melodies in music?
To make them more difficult to play.
Correct answer: To make them more interesting when they are played many times.
To make them more modern.
Q3.
What is this ornament?
An image in a quiz
A grace note
A mordent
Correct answer: A trill
Q4.
What is this ornament?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: A grace note
A mordent
A trill
Q5.
How do you play this ornament?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: You alternate between two notes very quickly.
You play it very short before another note.
You play the note above very quickly.
Q6.
What is this ornament and how do you play it?
An image in a quiz
A grace note, you play it very quickly before another note.
Correct answer: A mordent - you play the note above or below very quickly.
A trill - you alternate between two notes very quickly.
Q7.
What words did we use to describe the shape of melody 4?
Moves in equal steps and leaps
Moves mainly by leap, with some steps
Correct answer: Moves mainly by step, with some leaps
Q8.
What words did we use to describe the direction of melody 4?
Correct answer: It ascends at the beginning, then mostly descends.
It descends at the beginning, then mostly ascends.
It descends to the middle, then ascends again.
Q9.
What rhythm does melody 4 use?
Correct answer: Dotted rhythm
Swung rhythm
Syncopated rhythm
Q10.
What are the note values used in melody 4?
Crotchets, minims and dotted quavers.
Quavers, crotchets and dotted minims.
Correct answer: Quavers, minims and dotted crotchets.