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Area of Study 1: Instrumental Music 1700 to 1820

4 dot points across 4 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

What are the key features of the third movement of Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 5?

Bach: 3rd movement from Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D major. Its Baroque concerto-grosso scoring, fugal gigue subject, ritornello structure, and the concertino of flute, violin and harpsichord against the ripieno.
A focused answer to the Edexcel GCSE Music set work, the third movement of Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D major. Covers the concerto-grosso scoring, the fugal gigue subject, ritornello structure, the concertino of flute, violin and harpsichord, and the Baroque features the Component 3 exam rewards.
13 min answer →

What are the key features of the first movement of Beethoven's Pathetique Sonata?

Beethoven: 1st movement from Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor 'Pathetique'. Its sonata-form structure, the slow Grave introduction, the dramatic C minor mood, and the dynamic contrasts of early-Romantic piano writing.
A focused answer to the Edexcel GCSE Music set work, the first movement of Beethoven's Pathetique Sonata in C minor. Covers the slow Grave introduction, sonata form (exposition, development, recapitulation), the dramatic C minor mood, tremolo and dynamic contrasts, and the early-Romantic piano features the Component 3 exam rewards.
13 min answer →

How do the Bach and Beethoven set works compare, and how do you answer the Section B comparison?

Comparing the two instrumental set works (Bach's Brandenburg finale and Beethoven's Pathetique) across the musical elements, and applying that comparison to the 12-mark Section B extended response.
A focused answer comparing the two Edexcel GCSE Music instrumental set works, Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 finale and Beethoven's Pathetique Sonata, across the musical elements (Baroque versus Classical style, ensemble versus solo, counterpoint versus drama), and how to structure the 12-mark Section B comparison.
12 min answer →

What are the Baroque and Classical styles, and how do the two instrumental set works represent them?

The context of Area of Study 1, Instrumental Music 1700 to 1820: the features of the Baroque and Classical styles, the development of the concerto and the piano sonata, and how the Bach and Beethoven set works represent the period.
A focused answer to the context of Edexcel GCSE Music Area of Study 1, covering the Baroque and Classical styles, the rise of the concerto and the piano sonata between 1700 and 1820, and how Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 and Beethoven's Pathetique Sonata represent the period in the Component 3 exam.
12 min answer →