General Knowledge for Darcee M.:

List A Piece: Charles-Auguste de Beriot "Theme and Variations" Op.77
-- Time signature is 3/4: simple triple time, because there are 3 (as in triple) simple beat notes (crotchet notes) in a bar.
-- air varies is the French equivalent of English theme and variations - a popular item for a concert player in nineteenth century. It enables to show off different playing techniques in each movement. These movements are based on a simple, often popular tune of the time (like a known tune from an opera). The variations here are always built upon the previous one, with note values diminishing until you reach the semiquaver "moto perpetuo" style.
-- The form of the piece is "theme and variations"
-- The theme and all variations are in the key of G major (look at key signature: F#; look at last note of the piece: G, which is the tonic note for G major; tonic note is the first step/degree of a scale)
-- Tempo marking moderato means "at a moderate pace"
-- mf is for mezzo forte and means "moderately loud"
-- f is for forte and means "loud".
-- ff is for fortissimo and means "very loud".
-- bowings used:
detache in theme and Var. VI - which means separate bows
legato in Var. I and IV - with 2 or 8 notes to a bar
martele in Var. III - military-like strokes in lower half of bow
spiccato in Var. V - off-string bowing in lower half of bow
-- simile in bar 49 means "in a similar manner"
-- the lines under notes in Var. VI mean to play notes with wide bows.
-- Charles-Auguste de Beriot was a Belgian violinist and composer of the Romantic Period in music. Romantic Period in music was during 1820-1910 and de Beriot lived 1802-1870. He is best known as a founder of the Franco-Belgian violin school of the 19th century. He was influenced by Nicolo Paganini, performed a lot through Europe and wrote a violin method book, some concerti and various violin and piano pieces.

Test yourself:
  • What does 'theme and variations' mean?
  • In what key is this piece?
  • What different bow strokes do you use in this piece?
  • What do you know about de Beriot? What else did he write for the violin?
  • What are the names of the rhythmic values used in each variation and what are they worth?


    • List B Piece: Henry Purcell "Rondeau"
    -- A rondeau is the French word for a piece of music in a rondo form. In a rondo a theme (heard at the beginning) returns several times, separated by other musical material. The sections of this piece can be represented as: ABACA where A is the returning theme and B, C are new "sections" different from each other. These different sections are called episodes>
    -- The sections are in following keys: Theme is in D minor (look at key signature: Bb; look at last note of the piece: D, which is the tonic note for D minor; tonic note is the first step/degree of a scale)
    Section B called first episode (bars 9-16) is in F major (same Bb key signature as D minor)
    Section C called second episode(bars 25-32) is in A minor -- Time signature is 3/4: simple triple time, because there are 3 (as in triple) simple beat notes (crotchet notes) in a bar.
    -- Tempo marking moderato means "at a moderate pace"
    -- mf is for mezzo forte and means "moderately loud"
    -- f is for forte and means "loud".
    -- mp is for mezzo piano and means "moderately soft" - not as soft as piano
    -- p is for piano, which means "softly"
    -- cresc. in bars 1, 7 etc. is for crescendo and means "gradually becoming louder". Sometimes the direction is represented as an extended < sign.
    -- ritard. in last bar is for ritardando and means to "gradually slow down".
    -- an arch with a dot over the last note is called a fermata ("pause" in English) and means to hold the note a little longer
    -- You have some demi-semiquavers in bar 32. They are worth half semiquaver each - in other words 2 of them makes one semiquaver.
    -- Like many of Purcell's compositions, this Rondeau was written for use during and between the acts of a stage play (in this case the play called "Abdelazar" written by Aphra Behn, who was Britain's first known professional female writer).
    -- Henry Purcell was an English composer and organist of the Baroque Period in music. The Baroque Period in music was during 1580-1730 and Purcell lived 1659-1695 (only 36 years!). He wrote music for plays, music for church, as well as anthems, songs and music for various string combinations.

    Test yourself:
  • For what purpose was this piece written?
  • Where does each phrase begin and end?
  • How do the dynamics (volume) correlate with key changes?
  • Identify some of the sequences in this piece.


    • List C Piece: Loreta Fin "Danza Hellenica"
    -- Time signature is alternating 6/8 and 3/4.
    6/8: compound duple time, because there are 2 (as in duple) compounded beat notes (made of crotchet + a dot) in a bar.
    3/4: simple triple time, because there are 3 (as in triple) simple beat notes (crotchet notes) in a bar.
    -- The piece is written in ternary form, which means it has three sections: ABA where sections A are same. -- Section A (bars 1-28 and 50-76) is written in the key of G major and section B (bars 29-49) is in the key of E minor - they both have same key signature: F#
    -- Tempo marking con spirito means "with energy/play full of life"
    -- Loreta Fin was born in 1961 and is an Australian composer and violinist. She lives in Brisbane. She often writes pieces that engage imagination of the player and help to develop the playing technique of beginning students. She also wrote some elementary string orchestra pieces.
    -- This piece "combines" characteristics of Greek music (rhythm) with Western use of violin and piano accompaniment.

    Test yourself:
  • Which country's dance traditions are referred to in the title of this piece?
  • What is the time signature of this piece? What does that mean?
  • What is the key signature of this piece?
  • How do you play the articulation shown on the second and third beats of bar 2 with your bow?
  • What does con spirito mean?


    • GOOD LUCK!!! I know you'll do just fine. :)







































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