Music Appreciation Exam Questions

In the Parents’ Union School (1921-1933)

Music programmes for these terms written by Cedric Glover. Portions of examination questions colored in blue also included on pages 172-176 in his book, The Term’s Music.

Composer	Forms	Programmes	Exam Questions
(Various)	1	90, 91, 97-100, 101-127	No exam questions.
(Various)	2	90, 91, 124-127	No exam questions.
(Various)	3	124-127	No exam questions.
(Various)	1	92-96	Tell about some composition by [composer] you have heard.
(Various)	2	95-100, 101, 112-113, 115-116, 118-123	What works of [composer] have you heard this term? Tell what you can about one of them.
(Various)	2	105, 108, 111, 114, 117	What works/music by [composer(s)] have you heard this term? Describe one of the compositions.
(Various)	2	107, 109	What music by [composer] have you heard this term? Say what you can about one of his, (a), songs, or, (b), pieces for piano.
(Various)	3	94-97	Write a few lines on any three of the compositions of [composer] you have enjoyed.
(Various)	3	98, 102	What works of [composer] have you heard this term? Tell what you can about two of them.
(Various)	3	101	What compositions by [composer] have you heard? Write something about three of them.
(Various)	3	108, 111	What works by [composer] have you heard? Do you know anything about his life?
(Various)	3	112-113, 115-116	What compositions from [composer] have you heard this term? Describe one of them.
(Various)	3	114, 118-119, 122	What compositions by [composer] have you heard this term? Say what you can about one of them.
(Various)	3	117, 120, 123	What compositions by [composer] have you most enjoyed? Describe one of them.
(Various)	4	112-117, 120, 123	What music of/by [composer] have you heard? Write your impressions of any/one of the compositions.
(Various)	4	119 122	What music/compositions by [composer] have you heard this term? Say what you can about one of them.
(Various)	4	124, 126, 127	What works/compositions of [composer] have you heard, and what have you learnt? Write (fully) about one composition.
(Various)	5/6	116, 118-119	What compositions of [composer] have you heard this term? Write fully on one of them.
Bach	2	102	(a) What works have you heard by Bach this term? (b), (oral) Can you hum, whistle, or pick out on the piano, one of the airs you have heard?
Bach	4	102	Say what you can about (a), the form of a fugue, (b), Bach’s Fugue in D Major, in particular.
Bach	4	102	What do you know of Bach’s (a), chorales, (b), instrumental works? Which of them have you heard?
Bach	5/6	115	Write fully on two of the compositions of Bach you have studied this term.
Beethoven	2	103	What music by Beethoven have you heard this term? Make a list, and say in each case for what instrument the work was written.
Beethoven	3	103	What music by Beethoven have you heard this term? Make a list, and say what you can about two of the compositions.
Beethoven	3/4	91	Into how many periods is Beethoven’s life divided? State a few characteristics of each period.
Beethoven	3/4	91	Comment shortly on any five [Write a few lines on each] of the following:—Count Rasoumovsky, Choral Symphony, Albrechtsberger, Bagatelles, Sonata Pathétique, the Beethoven Rondo, the Kreutzer Sonata, Scherzo.
Beethoven	4	103	What music by Beethoven have you heard this term? Make a list and describe one of them.
Beethoven	4	103	Write notes on one of Beethoven’s pianoforte sonatas. Can you hum and then write down the principal themes?
Borodin/Moussorgsky	4	98	Give a short account of Borodin. Mention his chief works, and say something about one composition you have heard.
Brahms	2	94	Tell something about two of the works of Brahms you have heard this term.
Brahms	3	107	What (a), songs, (b), pianoforte music, (c), instrumental and orchestral music by Brahms have you heard? Write notes on one of each.
Brahms	4	94	Write a short account of the Brahms-Wagner controversy, or, relate some of the incidents connected with the intimacy of Brahms with the Schumann family.
Brahms	4	94	Write three [a few] lines on any five [each] of the following:—Joseph Joachim, Johann Strauss the younger, the “Sonatensantz,”Marxsen, the two versions of the “Waltzes,” Brahms’ treatment of German folk-song, Remenyi.
Brahms	4	107	What (a), songs, (b), pianoforte music, (c), instrumental and orchestral music by Brahms have you heard? Write notes on one of them.
Brahms	5/6	122	What works of Brahms have you heard, and what have you learned? Write fully upon one of his orchestral works.
Chopin	3	108	(Oral.) Can you hum, whistle, or pick out on the piano any three airs from Chopin’s works? If so, name each.
Chopin/Haydn	4	108	Write notes on the music you have heard from the following:—(1) The Surprise Symphony, (2) The Creation, (3) One of Haydn’s String Quartets, (4) Chopin’s Preludes.
Chopin	5/6	120	Mention six works by Chopin which illustrate his variety of romantic expression. Write fully on any one of them.
Debussy	4	95	Write a few lines of each of the following by Debussy,—”The Children’s Corner,” “Le Noel des Enfants,” “Suite Bergamasque.”
Dvořák	3/4	100	Write three [a few] lines on any five [each] of the following:—”Bagatellen,” motto theme, “Scotch snap,” “The Spectre Bride,” Furiant, Humoreske, Smetana, Dumka.
Dvořák	4	100	What are the main characteristics of Czech folk music, and how are they exemplified in Dvorák’s music? or, detail the compositions which Dvorák wrote under the stimulus of Negro folk music and recount the circumstances in which he became subject to its influence.
Dvořák	5/6	123	What works of Dvorak have you heard this term? Write fully upon (a) a work that expresses his national spirit, (b), upon the Symphony “From the New World.”
Elgar	4	125	What music by Sir Edward Elgar have you heard this term? Write about one composition.
Elgar	5/6	125	What works of Elgar have you heard this term and what have you learnt? Write upon one of his works.
Greig	2	106	What music by Grieg have you heard this term? Describe one of his songs, or, dances.
Greig	2/3/4	93	Give an account of the meeting between Grieg and Liszt, or, enumerate shortly any mannerisms which you may have observed in Grieg’s music.
Greig	2/3/4	93	Write three [a few] lines on any five [each] of the following:—Ole Bull, Vinge, Troldhaugen, Peer Gynt, Alexander Grieg, Ludwig Holberg, Niels Gade.
Greig	3	106	What music by Grieg have you specially enjoyed this term? Write fully about two of his compositions.
Greig	4	106	Write fully on any one of the following,—(a), the Peer Gynt Suite, (b), The Holberg Suite, (c), Greig as a composer of national songs and dances.
Handel	3/4	99	Write three [a few] lines on any five [each] of the following,—Canons, Lesson, “Water Music,” ”Serse,” “The Messiah,” “The Harmonious Blacksmith,” Doubles.
Handel	4	99	Contrast the methods of Handel and J. S. Bach with special reference to their respective treatment of Variations, or, justify the assertion that Handel was as representative of his age as J. S. Bach was unrepresentative.
Handel	5/6	127	What music by Handel have you learnt this term? Write fully about (a) an oratorio, or, (b), a keyboard suite.
Haydn/Chopin	4	108	Write notes on the music you have heard from the following:—(1) The Surprise Symphony, (2) The Creation, (3) One of Haydn’s String Quartets, (4) Chopin’s Preludes.
Haydn	5/6	124	What works of Haydn have you heard, and what have you learnt? Write upon the form of one of his works.
Mendelssohn	4	101	Write an account of one of Mendelssohn’s Oratorios, with notes on any parts of the music which you have heard.
Mendelssohn	4	101	Write three lines on any two of the following,—the Overture to (a) Fingal’s Cave, (b) The Midsummer Night’s Dream; a caprice; one of the Songs Without Words.
Mendelssohn	5/6	117	What works have you heard this term that are characteristic of Mendelssohn’s genius for (a), melody, (b), orchestral colour? Write fully on one of them.
Moussorgsky/Borodin	4	98	What compositions of Moussorgsky have you heard. Describe two of them.
Mozart	3	105	What music by Mozart have you heard this term? Make a list and say what you can about one of his piano compositions or songs.
Mozart	3/4	90	Write three lines on any five [each] of the following,—J. C. Bach, sonata form, “The Marriage of Figaro,” rondo, “Nannerl,” G minor symphony, Archbishop of Salzburg.
Mozart	3/4	90	Relate the incidents which led to the composition of the Requiem Mass, or, describe briefly the events connected with Mozart’s visit to London.
Mozart	4	105	Sing, hum, or play on the piano, any airs you can remember in one of Mozart’s (a), songs, (b), overtures.
Purcell	4	111	What (a), songs, (b), instrumental music by Purcell have you heard? What do you specially notice about his music?
Purcell	5/6	126	What works of Purcell have you heard this term, and what have you learnt? Write (a), fully upon one of his works, or, (b), an essay on “the life and work of Purcell.”
Schubert	3	109	What (a), songs, (b), pianoforte works by Schubert have heard? Write notes on one of each.
Schubert	4	96	Write a few lines on any five [each] of the following,—”the cardinal virtues of good song writing,” Rosamunde, Salieri, enharmonic change, feminine and masculine endings (give illustrations), the meaning of “C” as a time signature.
Schubert	4	109	Write in verse upon “The Unfinished Symphony.”
Schubert	4	109	Write a short Introduction to a volume of Schubert’s songs.
Schumann	2	104	What music by Schumann have you heard this term? Describe one of his songs, or, a piece for the piano.
Schumann	3	104	What music by Schumann have you heard this term? Make a list, and say what you can about one of his songs and one of his pieces for the piano.
Schumann	2/3/4	92	How many kinds of Children’s Music are there? Give examples of each type. In what category would you place Schumann’s “Scenes of Childhood,” and why?
Schumann	2/3/4	92	Write a few lines on any five [each] of the following,—Clara Wieck, “Träumerei”; the “Lied” or art-song; Florestan; G.A.D.E.; Jean Paul Richter; Schumann’s use of the “Marseillaise.”
Schumann	3/4	121	What compositions by Schumann have you heard, and what have you learned, this term? Say what you can about one of them.
Schumann	4	104	What do you know about the chief events of Schumann’s life? How did these influence him as a composer?
Schumann	4	104	What (a), songs, (b), pianoforte music, by Schumann have you heard? Say all you can of two of these.
Schumann	5/6	121	What compositions by Schumann have you heard, and what have you learned, this term? Give instances of Schumann’s power of making us (a), feel, (b), see, or, write fully upon one of his orchestral works.
Wagner	2	110	What music by Wagner have you heard this term? Say what you can about one of his operas.
Wagner	3	110	What compositions by Wagner have you heard? Write what you can about one of the operas.
Wagner	3	97	Tell the story of one of Wagner’s operas.
Wagner	4	97	Relate shortly the story of either “Lohengrin” or “The Master Singers.” In which opera do the following characters appear:—Kurwenal, Fasolt, Senta, Wolfram, Ortrud, Kundry, Hagen, Hunding, Fricka, Beckmesser? Write a short note on any one character which especially appeals to you.
Wagner	4	97	Write three [a few] lines on any five [each] of the following:—The Tarnhelm, leitmotif, Montsalvat, Bayreuth, Wittemberger Nightengale, Villa Triebschen, valve horns, music drama.
Wagner	4	110	Give shortly the story of one of Wagner’s operas, quoting any musical themes that you remember. What music from the opera have you heard?

 

Glover, C. (1925). The term’s music. London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co., Ltd.