How does classical music use pentatonic scales?

How does classical music use pentatonic scales?

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. In this lesson, we will explore how Debussy and Bartok composed music using pentatonic scales. We will take inspiration from these classical composers to compose our own piece of music.

Licence

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5 Questions

Q1.
What is an accompaniment?
An instrumental or vocal part which doesn't support or complement a melody
Correct answer: An instrumental or vocal part which supports or complements a melody
The main melody of a piece of music
Q2.
What is a drone?
Correct answer: A long held note played in the bass
A short held note played in the bass
A short held note played in the treble
Q3.
What is an ostinato?
A pattern that does not repeat
A pattern that only plays twice
Correct answer: A pattern that repeats
Q4.
To play a triad, which pitches do you play?
Root, 2nd, 3rd
Correct answer: Root, 3rd, 5th
Root, 3rd, 7th
Q5.
Which style of music is the 'oom pah pah' rhythm associated with?
Jazz
Tango
Correct answer: Waltz

5 Questions

Q1.
What can influence composers?
Art and poetry
Correct answer: Both of above
Other composers
Q2.
What did Bartok like to collect?
Art work
Books
Correct answer: Hungarian folk music
Q3.
What style of music influenced Debussy's 'Pagodes'?
Afrian drumming
English Folk songs
Correct answer: Javanese gamelan
Q4.
What did classical composers favour in their work?
Ground bass
Long pauses
Correct answer: Melodic and rhythmic repetition
Q5.
Which scale uses all the black keys on the keyboard?
A major pentatonic
F major pentatonic
Correct answer: Gb major pentatonic

Lesson appears in

UnitMusic / The Power of the Pentatonic