Music

History and Analysis Exam, Summer 2020

Subject: 1st movement from Mozart's String Quartet no. 18 in A major K. 464

The paper has to be between 5 and 6 pages (each page being 2400 signs including spaces),
and it has to include the following:

Music History

• an introduction to the piece in focus with historical background information. (2 pages
approx.)
You may discuss or touch upon topics such as
o sources of inspiration
o first performance and reception
o the genre
o the genre compared to other genres
o the working conditions of the composer in relation to the work
o the target group (regarding both audience and performers) etc.

(Remember to add foot notes with source information, remember to consult several sources,
and remember that text copy-pasted from somewhere else is not acceptable. You must write
everything, except quotations, yourself.)

Music Analysis

• A formal analysis of the piece (2 pages approx.)
As a help you could focus on the following aspects (some aspects overlap):
- The themes and their different character and tonality (incl. important motives)
- Phrase and grouping structure (incl. cadences)
- Musical texture
- Harmony
- Different compositional means (dynamics, instrumentation etc.)
- The energy and the flow of the music
- The form in relation to the form of 1st movement classical pieces in general (e.g.
in string quartets, sonatas and symphonies).

• A comparison of the style with Haydn's String Quartet in C, Op. 76, No. 3 "Emperor", 1st
mvt. Score attached. (1/2 page approx.)

• A conclusion including your own opinion about the music. (1/2 page approx.)

• Compare recordings:
1. The Chilingirian Quartet
2. Amadeus Quartet
giving your evaluations of the performances. (1/2 page approx.)

Remember to insert all examples from the score in you paper.
Remember that pages are counted as signs including spaces, each page being 2400 signs
including spaces.