Welcome to ListeningLinks A Level

YouTube links for Area of Study 1: Vocal Music

Johann Sebastian Bach - Ein feste Burg

A short introduction to the Baroque Era

What is a Cantata? https://youtu.be/f4ZU4PlXqu4

Analysis of 1st movement of Ein feste Burg BWV 80: https://youtu.be/eTq3gszPsIQ

Full performance of Ein feste Burg including secco recitative example at 9'50"

Ein feste Burg secco recitative example Erwäge doch, Kind Gottes (bass recit.)

This extract from Handel’s Messiah contrasts passages of secco recit. with accomp. recit. culminating in a chorus.

What is a violone? https://youtu.be/S3-nAWn2EH8

Other music (formally wider listening) includes the other movements of the cantata Ein feste Burg, the cantata Ich Elender Mensch, the oratorio Messiah by Handel, movements from Gloria by Vivaldi and Bach's St Matthew Passion.

Score of Bach Cantata BWV 48 'Ich Elender Mensch'

Recording of Ich Elender Mensch: https://youtu.be/C3EBfiFBEAs

Lecture on The Vocal Music of Bach: https://youtu.be/XLVOoFNvO9Y

George Frederick Handel And the Glory of the Lord from Messiah: https://youtu.be/4egNeuAf0Bg

George Frederick Handel Hallelujah Chorus from Messiah: https://youtu.be/7YaGwI7GjlA

George Frederick Handel Worthy is the Lamb and Amen (The Final Chorus) from Messiah: https://youtu.be/3x2fSxOeij4

George Frederick Handel I know that my Redeemer Liveth from Messiah: https://youtu.be/qShczRbvO5E

George Frederick Handel Aria - Why do the Nations from Messiah https://youtu.be/yNcZgu9yFjU

Johann Sebastian Bach St John Passion Opening Chorus Herr unser Herrscher: https://youtu.be/quBYEomIAZM
Translation of this Chorus: Lord, our ruler, whose fame in every land is glorious! Show us, through Your passion, that You, the true Son of God, Through all time, even in the greatest humiliation, have become transfigured!

Antonio Vivaldi Gloria:

No.1 Gloria: https://youtu.be/0ICW_iZcti4

No.3 Laudamus te: https://youtu.be/Bfv8rqL5FVI

No.10 Qui sedes ad dexteram Patris: https://youtu.be/pDCoHfr7sgE

No.12 Vivaldi Gloria cum Sancto Spiritu (Final Chorus): https://youtu.be/azS9Km5kK8g

Ralph Vaughan Williams - On Wenlock Edge

Context and Wider Listening links for On Wenlock Edge by Vaughan Williams:

Beethoven - An die ferne Geliebte (To the Distant Beloved) score and recording

Schubert - Die schöne Müllerin score and recording

Schumann Dichterliebe score and recording

Mahler - Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen (Songs of a wayfarer) piano reduction and recording

Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen full score (bar numbers at bottom of score)

Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen orchestral performance

‘The lads in their hundreds’ from Song Cycle from A Shropshire Lad by Arthur Somervell

‘The lads in their hundreds’ from Song Cycle from A Shropshire Lad by Arthur Somervell score

Butterworth - Bredon Hill score and recording:

Ravel - String Quartet in F

Gurney - The Lent Lily from The Western Playland

YouTube links for Area of Study 2: Instrumental Music

Clara Schumann - Piano Trio in G minor Op. 17

Robert Schumann Piano Trio No. 1 score

Fanny Mendelssohn Piano Trio Op. 11 score

Ludwig van Beethoven ‘Ghost’ Piano Trio score

Clara Schumann piano trio score and recording
LSO Discovery Seminar

Emilie Mayer - Piano Trio in B Minor, Op. 16 score

Emilie Mayer - Piano Trio in B Minor, Op. 16 recording

Hector Berlioz - Symphonie Fantastique

Berlioz Reading 1

Berlioz Reading 2

Berlioz Reading 'The Symphonies'

Franz Liszt - A Faust Symphony

Franz Liszt - A Faust Symphony score

Beethoven Symphony No.3 'Eroica'

Symphonie Fantastique 5th movement

Liszt Piano Sonata in B minor

Wagner Das Rheingold (Prelude)

Hector Berlioz - Le Francs Juges

Beethoven Symphony No.6 'Pastoral'

Beethoven's 6th Symphony is often regarded as the first ever Programme symphony. It has five movements (like the Berlioz) the extra movement is the 4th which depicts a storm and is very dramatic in its use of the orchestra and in the use of chromatic harmony, particularly the diminished 7th. (It finishes with a hymn-like melody as the storm dies away).

YouTube links for Area of Study 3: Music for Film

Bernard Herrmann - Psycho

Psycho: Prelude/City/Marion clip timings are: Prelude: Start - 1:54 The City: 1:54 - 2:56 Marion: 4:34 - 5:22

Psycho: The Murder

Psycho: The Cellar and Discovery

Psycho: Finale

Introduction to film music (score-movie.com trailer)

Danny Elfman - Batman Returns

Score: A Film Music Documentary trailer
Interview with Danny Elfman
Batman Returns: birth of penguin and opening credits

Music for Film - Context and other music (formally wider listening) links

Liszt Dante Sonata

Vivaldi ‘Summer’ from The Four Seasons

Berlioz fifth movement of Symphonie Fantastique

Sondheim Overture to the Musical Sweeney Todd whistle screech

Sondheim Sweeney Todd overture violent down-bows

Elfman Beetlejuice

Beethoven ‘German Dance in D’

Haydn Adagio from ‘String Quartet in D’

Satie Gymnopédie No. 1

Vaughan Williams Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis

Miss Potter Nigel Westlake with additional music and orchestration by Rachel Portman

Youtube clips for Area of Study 4: Pop and Jazz

The Beatles - Revolver

The Beatles - Revolver: An illustrated history part 1

The Beatles - Revolver: An illustrated history part 2

Part 2 discusses the freedoms achieved once the Beatles had decided to give up touring. This decision meant that the tracks they recorded would never need to be reproduced live. This enabled them to be much more compositionally adventurous in the studio.

The Beatles - Revolver: An illustrated history part 3

Part 3 discusses how sound engineer Geoff Emerick took risks in the studio to develop the Beatles' sound. In 'Tomorrow never knows' we hear virtually no harmonies, a drone, lyrics from Tibetan Book of the Dead and five tape loops. The tape loops are:

1. Distorted and sped up recording of Paul McCartney laughing (sounds like seagulls)

2. Orchestral chord of Bb major from a recording owned by Paul McCartney (early example of sampling)

3. Fast electric guitar phrase in C reversed and played at double speed

4. Mellotron voicing (strings and brass?)

5. distorted sitar heard in the instrumental break following the lines 'it is being; it is being'

Courtney Pine - Back in the Day

Summertime from Porgy and Bess

So What from Kind of Blue

Heebie Jeebies

Sir Duke

Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin

Courtney Pine listening test extracts on Inner State (of Mind):

Courtney Pine listening test extract on Love and Affection:

Kate Bush - Hounds of Love

Short biography (10 minute watch) 'Birds don't sell' (EMI mantra as reported by Bob Mercer)

Music with strong female lead singer:

Tori Amos - Winter (considered to have been strongly influenced by Kate Bush) 1992

Eurythmics - Thorn in my side (Singer Annie Lennox) 1986

Madonna - Material Girl 1984

Blondie - Heart of Glass 1977

Youtube clips for Area of Study 5: Fusions

Claude Debussy - Estampes

LSO A-Level Seminar

LSO A-level Seminar slides

The Moon descends on the temple ruins - Debussy

Estampes No. 1: Pagodes

Estampes No.2: La soiree dans Grenade

Estampes contains three pieces. The third is Jardins sous la pluie.

Jardins sous la pluie describes a garden in the Normandy town of Orbec during an extremely violent rainstorm. Throughout the piece, there are sections that evoke the sounds of the wind blowing, a thunderstorm raging, and raindrops dropping. It makes use of the French folk melodies "Nous n'irons plus aux bois" and "Dodo, l'enfant do". Chromatic, whole tone, major and minor scales are used in this movement. (source: Wikipedia)

Anoushka Shankar - Breathing under water

Breathing under water podcast