Tension
This question is asking you to discuss the use of
musical concepts (what a surprise!) but there is more to it. This is what I
call a ‘separator’ question. Average kids in the state will be able to complete
simple ‘discuss the use of pitch’ questions because they can provide a list of
that pitch elements of this piece. This question asks you to link the use of
musical concepts to the style and the composer’s dramatic intention of the
piece. So the better students will be able to do this and will therefore be
separated (by higher marks) than the average kids.
Tension - mental or emotional strain; intense, suppressed suspense, anxiety, or excitement
It is vital that the features of the musical concepts you mention are linked to the composers intent of creating unease or emotional strain. Here are some suggestions of ways that tension can be created: dissonance; complicated rhythm; extreme dynamics, extreme pitch register, leaping pitch, dissonant intervals, atonality, accents, irregular accents, Multimetre (changing time signatures), irregular time signatures, polyrhythm etc…
Does the music work up to one particular tense point? Is the music always tense or does it start ‘calm’ and the tension builds? Does the tension get RESOLVED? If so you should mention that. How does it get resolved. What musical features relive the tension. You may be asked to discus how the composer relieves tension in the excerpt.
Like a unity and contrast question you should always link your discussion to the question.
Release
Tension - mental or emotional strain; intense, suppressed suspense, anxiety, or excitement
It is vital that the features of the musical concepts you mention are linked to the composers intent of creating unease or emotional strain. Here are some suggestions of ways that tension can be created: dissonance; complicated rhythm; extreme dynamics, extreme pitch register, leaping pitch, dissonant intervals, atonality, accents, irregular accents, Multimetre (changing time signatures), irregular time signatures, polyrhythm etc…
Does the music work up to one particular tense point? Is the music always tense or does it start ‘calm’ and the tension builds? Does the tension get RESOLVED? If so you should mention that. How does it get resolved. What musical features relive the tension. You may be asked to discus how the composer relieves tension in the excerpt.
Like a unity and contrast question you should always link your discussion to the question.
- Tension is created when…
- The ______ builds tension
- The tension gradually builds when the…
- The use of the ___ heightens the tension
Release