Grade 5

GRADE: INITIAL   1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8
Picture
GRADE 5 BOOK
Musical Knowledge
​These questions test the candidate’s understanding of their chosen pieces, the context of their performance and their knowledge of their instrument and its technical demands, including best practice for rehearsal and performance.
Five questions, each worth 2 marks, will normally be asked. Questions will include discussions on most of the areas mentioned below, but not all parameters will be relevant to all disciplines and pieces, and examiners will select questions as appropriate. 

Grade 5
As for previous grades, and additionally:
  1. Comment on any significant features of the musical style and period, (e.g. Baroque, Romantic, Bebop) of the pieces played.
  2. Point out any interesting or noteworthy structural/formal aspects of the pieces played.
  3. Show an understanding of the keys used in the pieces played, including an understanding of modulations and a knowledge of tonic, dominant and subdominant of the keys in which the pieces are written. 
Allegro
Allegro by Santiago de Murcia (1673 - 1739)
  1. Allegro means ‘fast’
  2. A BAROQUE dance-like piece. IMITATION and SEQUENCES occur throughout the piece. The opening tune in bars 1-2 is repeated (IMITATED) in the bass in bars 3-4. The tune in bars 5-6 is repeated (IMITATED) in the bass in bars 7-8. Bar 9-27 a descending motif leads to a modulation to A minor in bar 27. From bar 28 it modulates through a series of keys by means of SEQUENCES (melodic phrases repeated higher or lower) through D minor - C major - F major - G major - A major - D minor.
  3. FORM - AB form. 
Bars 1 - 8 accompaniment figure-a rising motif
Bars 9 - 19 a high tune is added to the accompaniment.
Bars 20 - 27 a variation in D major
Bars 32 - 36 a reprise of the opening accompaniment figure, now in D major.
Key - D minor. From bar 28 it modulates through a series of keys by means of SEQUENCES (melodic phrases repeated higher or lower) through D minor - C major - F major - G major - A major - D minor.