Hello forum members, I'm just about to start an analysis of a piece of music for my Module 1 Exam in January (Friday 13th ) I've chosen to analyse the Chopin Polonaise No.6 in A flat Op.53, but how can you describe use of instrumentation and harmony? I need to get this done within 5 weeks otherwise I'll fail Module 1!

Any help is appreciated!

IrisH - LoonY

I'd help but I don't have the score!

Instrumentation- is it just for piano?

Well, yes, It's one of Chopin's masterpieces for piano. Wrote EVERYTHING for piano with the exceptions of

Grande Polonaise Brilliante Op.2, Grande Duo Concertante and Sonata in G minor Op.65 for Cello and Piano

2 Piano Concertos Op.11 and Op.22 and a couple other works for piano and Orchestra

Variations on a Theme by Rossini for Flute and Piano

A few songs

A couple of piano duet works including a rondo.

Bar them...he wrote exclusively for the piano.

IrisH - LoonY

Thank-you for that information

Is that sarcasm?

IrisH - LoonY

No

Oh ok sorry *blush*

IrisH - LoonY

No Chopin experts out there?! Darn!

IrisH - LoonY

There might be, but not everyone comes online at once!

ok not an expert but look at your score and think about simple things

Harmony: Is it conventional? Classical? Concordant/discordant? Uses 7ths? diminished? How quick is the rate of harmonic progression (how often does it change chord)? Does it change quicker in other places?

Instrumentation: How is the piano used? full range? pedal? dynamics?

Don't know much about either sorry, but it might be a start!

You should really be sorting this out for yourself. You're the one taking the exam!!

Do you know Chopin's Bolognaise in A#minor, Op 73 for bass flute, alto saxophone and trumpet in C?

*raise eyebrow*

Are you feeling ok?

IrisH - LoonY

By the way folks, I think I might do the Op.40 No.1 in A "Military", appears to be easier to analyse than the Heroic!

What exam board is this for?

I don't get the question-are you wanting us to give you ideas for analysing it, or are you wanting us to do it for you?

Good Lord NO! I just need ideas on HOW to analyse it! And I'm doing it with AQA.

IrisH - LoonY

Have you got anywhere then?

AQA???? I didn't know their new syllabus had a Chopin work in it

It doesn't. Maybe it's an alternative to another part?

Possibly, I thought that..but then why does she need to analyse it by January?

Maybe she's doing it early? Or it's a module?

But it isn't though...you can't submit it in January surely? You need the composition with it.

We had to choose some music to analyse to write about in Module 1 in January, I've got a basic idea of it mind you! Here it is!

Chopin – Polonaise No.3 in A major Op.40 No.1 “Military”

Melody
The melody in this particular polonaise is relatively modal, with the main A and C sections being largely in the home key of A major with the contrasting B section in the subdominant of D major. Chopin incorporates Western music influences such as modal and chromatic scales.

Rhythm and Metre
The metre used in this polonaise is the traditional time signature of ¾, standard of the polonaise. It has no upbeat on any phrasing and is typically like a dance.

The rhythm a polonaise is typically associated with is shown below
*insert diagram* Left: Typical Polonaise rhythm

A typical polonaise would traditionally finish a phrase in one of two ways:

(a) *insert diagram* Left: Typical ending of a phrase with an accent on the 2nd beat of the bar.

(b ) *insert diagram* Left: Another typical ending of a phrase with an appoggiatura on the 2nd beat (usually played for a whole beat)

Chopin imitated the use of rhythms from the traditional Polish folk melodies in his Polonaises such as cross rhythms and crushing notes

Tonality
Chopin used relatively simple harmony in this particular polonaise, not going too astray from the home key and using Classical like modulations and structure but, at the same time, writing it with such passion and melancholy to give rise to piano music, raising it to fresh new heights of beauty, astonishment and virtuosity.

Harmony
Chopin was revolutionary with harmony. He was a pioneer of the Early Romantics, creating his own unique and unmistakable form of harmony, using novel ideas and putting unusual chords and dissonance to great use.

Form
Binary form as A:B:A, with an A:B:A in each section. I.e. in the first A section of the whole piece, the first 8 bars is A, the next 8 bars is B and the next 8 bars is the first 8 bars repeated.

Instrumentation and Texture
This Polonaise, like many of Chopin’s other works, is written for solo piano, as the piano was Chopin’s pen, and the music he wrote was his poetry. His music is described as musical poetry.

P.S. I'm Male...

IrisH - LoonY

Is this for AS LEVEL or A2 LEVEL AQA Music??

AS

IrisH - LoonY

Are you sure? What exactly is this exam in January?

100%

Module 1 Friday January 13th 2006 AM session, same time as a General Studies Exam >.< (I'm taking that in the afternoon!)

IrisH - LoonY

Do you have a copy of the syllabus? What exactly does the exam involve?

Right then Irish Loony....get things straight.

You cannot be doing AS Music with AQA if you are analysing a Chopin work that you have chosen. That is nowhere in the syllabus.

So before you post irrelevant rubbish, get your story straight.