A: Listening and thinking exercises:


Exercise 1

Here are five pieces of music from a variety of composers who make use of sequence: the Baroque masters Vivaldi and Handel; the jazz composers Gershwin and Jobim; Lennon & McCartney, composers of the Beatles' songs.

As you listen to their music see if you can identify when sequences are being used. You will probably soon realize that sequences help to make the music really "catchy". The reason for this is that the pattern used in the sequence stays in our mind, as it repeats so often. But it never becomes boring, because it's always different! What stays in your mind after you have heard the music listed? Was it a sequence?

1. Handel's "Entry of the Queen of Sheba": See if you can hear the difference between ideas in the music which are simply repeated directly and ideas in the music which are repeated in sequence (N.B. repeats occur when the full orchestra plays most frequently and when the oboes are most prominent sequences can be often heard)
   
   
2. Vivaldi's Concerto in F T147: Listen out for repeats and sequences again. The bass is made very clear here by using a bassoon. Are the sequences in the bassoon part harmonic sequences as well as melodic ones?
   
   
3. Gershwin's "An American in Paris": This piece lasts nearly 20 minutes. Just listen to the first 3 1/2 minutes - the lively opening section. Notice how when sequence is used, it is frequently modified sequence which we hear.
   
   
4. "The Girl from Ipanema" ('Garota de Ipanema'), one of Brazil's most famous popular songs, by Antonio Carlos Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes: Listen carefully for repeats as well as sequences (sometimes modified sequences) in the melody. Don't be put off by the shifting harmonies at the beginning into thinking that repetitions are sequences!
   
   
5. "Eleanor Rigby": Listen to how at the beginning of each verse a sequence is built out of an idea containing only 3 notes!
   
   

Exercise 2

In pairs, try to think through two of your favourite songs together. Can you find any sequences in the songs? Does your partner agree with you? Be prepared to sing or play together the sequences you have found.




B: Reading and thinking exercises:

Exercise 3

Mark on the following musical excerpts where sequences appear:

Make sure you check for all types of sequence: melodic, harmonic and modulating?
And both ascending and descending forms too?

1. "Catch a Falling Star" by Paul Vance and Lee Pockriss
   
   
2. "Ne me quitte pas" ('If you go away') by Jacques Brel
   
   
3. "For unto us a child is born" from 'Messiah' by Handel
   
   

(Click to hear a MIDI-file of Catch a Falling Star)

(Click to hear a MIDI-file of Ne me quitte pas)

For unto us a Child is Born