January 6, 2010

MID-TERM EXAM: TAKE-HOME COMPOSITION

The Dragon Song

Much of the music from eastern Asia is based on a different kind of scale, a pentatonic scale. It is called "pentatonic" because there are only five notes in each octave. Pieces that use a pentatonic scale include the Korean folk songs "Arirang" and "Doraji", and the Japanese children's songs "The Rabbit and the Turtle" and "The Moon.”

Using this pentatonic scale, compose a 12-measure melody for two instruments in A-B-A form.

C D E G A

Grading Rubric:
*Piece MUST be written in 4/4. (1 point)
*The two instruments can be any combination of string instruments. (1 points)
*The key signature is C (no sharps or flats) (1 point)
*The melody should demonstrate good melodic form. Melodic lines can move by steps or skips, but should not have skips of more that one octave. Refer to previous homework for advice on good answering rhythmic phrases. (6 points)
*The melody can be any combination of eighth, quarter and half notes. There can be no more than TWO whole notes. (5 points)
*The accompaniment should also use the given pentatonic scale. You can use it in two ways: (5 points)
Drone: This can be either a single note or two or more notes played together. A drone sounds best when played slowly on an instrument with a sustained tone. For example, accompany the song with a drone using the bass note C and G played together.
Melodic ostinati: Create a secondary melody and rhythm to be played over and over again throughout the song.
*Must be completed in Finale Notepad. (1 point)

SAVE this as a MIDI file (File > Save As > .mid) and e-mail it to me at DarienOrchestra@aol.com. You must also print out a copy to attach to your mid-term exam.

Due: Friday, January 15 @ 10:30 a.m. NO EXCUSES!

This composition is worth 20 points on your mid-term exam.

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