What do you need to know about the set work, Grieg's Anitra's Dance, for Area of Study 1?
The Area of Study 1 set work, Anitra's Dance from Grieg's Peer Gynt Suite No.1: its ternary structure, light string-and-triangle scoring, triple-time mazurka dance character, minor tonality with chromatic colour, and the use of pizzicato, grace notes and dynamic contrast to paint Anitra's seductive dance.
A complete guide to the WJEC Area of Study 1 set work, Anitra's Dance from Grieg's Peer Gynt Suite No.1: its ternary form, light string and triangle scoring, triple-time mazurka character, minor tonality with chromatic colour, and the use of pizzicato, grace notes and dynamics.
Reviewed by: AI editorial process; not yet individually human-reviewed
Have a quick question? Jump to the Q&A page
Jump to a section
What this dot point is asking
This dot point covers the Area of Study 1 set work: Anitra's Dance, from Edvard Grieg's Peer Gynt Suite No.1. Two questions on the Appraising paper reward detailed knowledge of the two set works, so you must know this piece inside out: its form, instrumentation (sonority), rhythm and metre, melody, tonality and harmony, texture and dynamics, and how Grieg uses them to paint the character of Anitra's seductive dance. Describe the music in musical terms, not just by its story.
Context: where the piece comes from
Instrumentation and texture (sonority)
Rhythm, metre and melody
Tonality, harmony and structure
Try this
Q1. What forces is Anitra's Dance scored for? [Knowledge recall]
- Cue. Strings only plus a triangle, a light and delicate sonority, with the strings often playing pizzicato.
Q2. Explain how the rhythm and metre give the piece its dance character. [Short explanation]
- Cue. It is in triple time with the lilt of a mazurka, a Polish dance, with light accents and a delicate accompaniment that make the music graceful and dance-like.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of WJEC exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
WJEC (Unit 3, AoS 1 set work)3 marksDescribe the instrumentation, or sonority, of Anitra's Dance.Show worked answer →
A set-work sonority question (AO3 and AO4). Reward precise instruments and how they are used.
The forces. The piece is scored for strings only plus a triangle, giving a light, delicate sound suited to a graceful dance.
How they play. The strings often use pizzicato (plucked) to make the texture dance and sparkle, with the triangle adding glints of colour; muted and quiet playing keeps it intimate.
Top marks. The strings-and-triangle scoring, the pizzicato detail, and the link between the light sonority and the dance character.
WJEC (Unit 3, AoS 1 set work)4 marksExplain how Grieg gives Anitra's Dance its dance-like character.Show worked answer →
A set-work analysis question (AO3 and AO4). Reward features linked to the dance feel.
Metre and rhythm. It is in triple time with the lilt of a mazurka, a Polish dance, with light accents that make it want to move.
Melody and ornament. The graceful melody is decorated with grace notes and chromatic notes that give it a teasing, seductive quality.
Texture and dynamics. A light texture, often pizzicato strings with a delicate accompaniment, and quiet dynamics with subtle swells keep it elegant rather than heavy.
Top marks. Triple-time dance metre, ornamented melody and light texture, each tied to the graceful dance character.
Related dot points
- The forms of the Western Classical Tradition (about 1650 to 1910) studied in Area of Study 1: binary, ternary, minuet and trio, rondo, theme and variations, and strophic form, and how each is built from repetition, contrast and the return of material.
The forms in WJEC Area of Study 1, Musical Forms and Devices: binary, ternary, minuet and trio, rondo, theme and variations, and strophic form from the Western Classical Tradition (about 1650 to 1910), and how to recognise each by its plan of repetition, contrast and return.
- The compositional devices and harmony of Area of Study 1: sequence, ostinato, pedal, syncopation, imitation and canon, together with the harmonic language of the Western Classical Tradition including primary chords, cadences, modulation and major or minor tonality.
The devices and harmony of WJEC Area of Study 1: sequence, ostinato, pedal, syncopation, imitation and canon, plus the harmonic language of the Western Classical Tradition, including primary chords, cadences, modulation and major or minor tonality, and how to recognise each.
- The musical elements used to appraise music: melody, harmony, tonality, rhythm and metre, tempo, dynamics, texture, timbre and instrumentation (sonority), and structure or form, together with the technical vocabulary and notation knowledge needed to describe them precisely.
The toolkit of musical elements every WJEC Appraising answer is built on: melody, harmony, tonality, rhythm and metre, tempo, dynamics, texture, timbre or sonority, and structure, plus the technical vocabulary and notation needed to describe what you hear precisely.
- The structure of Unit 3 Appraising: a written listening paper of about one hour worth 72 marks (30 percent), with eight questions, two on each of the four areas of study, including two on the set works, testing aural skills, analysis of the musical elements, musical context and correct terminology.
How the WJEC GCSE Music Appraising paper (Unit 3) is built: a one-hour listening exam worth 72 marks and 30 percent, eight questions, two per area of study, including the two set works, with extracts played on CD or MP3 and answered against the musical elements.
- The Area of Study 4 set work, Everything Must Go by the Manic Street Preachers: its verse-chorus structure, rock-band line-up enriched by strings, its major tonality and anthemic chorus, the use of riffs, layered texture and dynamic build, and how the band create a powerful, uplifting pop-rock song.
A complete guide to the WJEC Area of Study 4 set work, Everything Must Go by the Manic Street Preachers: its verse-chorus structure, rock-band-plus-strings line-up, major tonality and anthemic chorus, and the use of riffs, layered texture and dynamic build, described in musical terms.
Sources & how we know this
- WJEC GCSE Music specification (from 2016) — WJEC (2016)
- WJEC GCSE Music Guidance for Teaching — WJEC (2016)