← Music syllabus

EnglandMusic

The Concerto Through Time (Area of Study 2)

6 dot points across 6 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

How did the instruments, forces and texture of the concerto change from the Baroque to the Romantic period?

Concerto instruments and texture across the period: the growth from the small Baroque string ensemble with continuo to the large Romantic orchestra, the changing solo instruments, and how texture (the solo-tutti contrast) develops, roughly 1650 to 1910.
A focused answer to the instruments and texture of the concerto in OCR GCSE Music J536 Area of Study 2, covering the growth from the small Baroque string ensemble with continuo to the large Romantic orchestra, the changing solo instruments, and the solo-tutti texture.
10 min answer →

How is a concerto structured across its movements, and how did its forms change over time?

Concerto structure across the period: the three-movement plan (fast, slow, fast), ritornello form in the Baroque, sonata and rondo forms in the Classical and Romantic concerto, and the place of the cadenza, across roughly 1650 to 1910.
A focused answer to concerto structure in OCR GCSE Music J536 Area of Study 2, covering the three-movement plan, ritornello form in the Baroque, sonata and rondo forms in the Classical and Romantic concerto, and the place of the cadenza.
11 min answer →

How do you tell which period a concerto extract comes from, and answer the listening questions on Area of Study 2?

Recognising the concerto by ear for J536/05: using forces, harmony, dynamics, structure and the cadenza to place an unfamiliar extract in the Baroque, Classical or Romantic period, and answering aural and appraisal questions on Area of Study 2.
A focused answer to recognising the concerto by ear in OCR GCSE Music J536, covering how to use forces, harmony, dynamics, structure and the cadenza to place an unfamiliar extract in the Baroque, Classical or Romantic period and answer the listening questions on Area of Study 2.
11 min answer →

What are the features of the Baroque concerto, and how do you recognise one by ear?

The Baroque concerto (roughly 1650 to 1750): the concerto grosso and solo concerto, ritornello form, the basso continuo, terraced dynamics and small forces, with composers such as Corelli, Vivaldi and Bach.
A focused answer to the Baroque concerto in OCR GCSE Music J536, covering the concerto grosso and solo concerto, ritornello form, the basso continuo, terraced dynamics and small forces, with composers such as Corelli, Vivaldi and Bach.
11 min answer →

What are the features of the Classical concerto, and how do you recognise one by ear?

The Classical concerto (roughly 1750 to 1820): the single soloist, the first-movement ritornello-sonata form, the cadenza, Alberti bass and balanced phrasing, the growing orchestra, with composers such as Haydn and Mozart.
A focused answer to the Classical concerto in OCR GCSE Music J536, covering the single soloist, the first-movement ritornello-sonata form, the cadenza, Alberti bass and balanced phrasing, the growing orchestra, with composers such as Haydn and Mozart.
11 min answer →

What are the features of the Romantic concerto, and how do you recognise one by ear?

The Romantic concerto (roughly 1820 to 1910): the virtuoso soloist, the large orchestra, expressive and chromatic harmony, wide dynamic and pitch range, rubato and lyricism, the integrated cadenza, with composers such as Brahms, Tchaikovsky and Grieg.
A focused answer to the Romantic concerto in OCR GCSE Music J536, covering the virtuoso soloist, the large orchestra, expressive chromatic harmony, wide dynamic and pitch range, rubato and lyricism, and composers such as Brahms, Tchaikovsky and Grieg.
11 min answer →