Putting it all together - the HSC Music 2 Exam Question 4

In Question 4 of your exam you will have to refer to two or more of the works studied throughout the year. You should prepare by:

* choosing three works to focus on.

* summarising the overall musical features by the 6 concepts of music (and their sub-concepts)

* summarising the main ways each work achieves unity, variety, interest or contrast, or develops its ideas

* summarising the main ways each work represents its period, genre, or composer's style, and perhaps also ways in which it might be unusual, or innovative

* finding specific examples to demonstrate all of the above in the music (try to find rich examples that convincingly demonstrate multiple things at once)

* memorising and writing out small musical examples, and detailed descriptions of passages in the music (for example, you could write out an example of a melody but then verbally describe how it is developed)

* writing brief plans for a range of possible questions

Here is what the Board of Studies said about the HSC question 4 in 2012:

In better responses, candidates:
 addressed the comparison of works and drew on a significant work studied
 provided a range of observations that reflected detailed listening
 demonstrated a deep understanding of concepts and their use in the given work
 used higher-order skills such as synthesis and comparison to expand on their observations
 made overarching observations that were supported by relevant musical quotes
 responded with reference to appropriate terminology.
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In weaker responses, candidates:
 offered general musical observations with limited reference to the question
 made limited score references that did not strongly support the response
 used musical references and quotes either sparingly or poorly linked to observations
 demonstrated a poor or very limited understanding of concepts that was applied in very general terms
 made extended explanations of musical ideas without references to specific musical examples
 demonstrated a poor understanding of musical terminology.

Here is the link to the 2002 HSC Standards Package for Music 2, with actual examples of marked exam papers.

Read this very informative guide to writing the question 4 essay (extended response).

Homework:

Take this question (2012 Independent Preliminary Music 2 Exam, Q4) and construct a plan, listing examples you would use. Bring it to class to discuss next lesson.

Discuss how INTEREST is achieved in THREE works you have studied from the Mandatory Topic (1600-1900). Give specific details and musical references to support your answer, discussing at least TWO CONCEPTS. 

Here are the Question 4s from the last few years of the HSC, to give you an idea of the sort of questions used (although these refer to the HSC mandatory topic - Music of the last 25 years (Australian focus)).

2012: Compare Bernstein’s treatment of musical ideas in Turkey Trot with the treatment of musical ideas in a significant work you have studied. Note: • The work MUST be chosen from the mandatory topic.

 

2011: How have composers manipulated the concepts of music to achieve unity in their works?
 

2010: How have composers explored the concepts of music to create works that reflect a distinctive style?

 

2009: Discuss how the concepts of tone colour and texture have been manipulated by composers in two or more works you have studied. One work should come from the Mandatory Topic Music of the last 25 years (Australian Focus) AND one work from the Additional Topic. Use musical quotes where appropriate to support your answer.

 

2008: Choose any TWO concepts of music and compare their treatment in TWO or more works you have studied from both the Mandatory and the Additional Topics. Choose at least ONE work from the Mandatory Topic and at least ONE work from the Additional Topic and name these works.

 

2007: What came to me as a revelation was the use of rhythm in developing an overall

structure in music.

PHILIP GLASS

To what extent does this statement apply to ONE work from the Additional Topic and at least ONE work from the Mandatory Topic that you have studied? Refer to specific musical

examples to support your answer.

 

2006: How have composers used pitch in at least THREE works from the Mandatory Topic Music of the last 25 Years (Australian focus)?