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AS OCR Prescribed Work Analysis – Optional Areas of Study (2017 exams)

A very helpful resource for teachers and students... J Trueman, Music Teacher & Independent Reviewer

Get prepared for the challenging optional OCR AS Music options. With no scores or recordings in the exam, students need to know their piece like the back of their hand. With our analysis resources, your class will become set-work experts – and ready to show it by writing a top essay.

Four steps to exam success:

  1. Set the music in context with relevant historical and cultural information.
  2. Follow along with in-depth analysis, combining comprehensive commentary with annotated score extracts. Regular tasks consolidate learning at every stage.
  3. Study related repertoire with further listening from the spec’s suggested list – including notes on key features, links to the prescribed work, and activities.
  4. Practise exam technique with original exam-style questions to try, sample answers and detailed mark schemes.
Plus!
  • Helpful revision summary concisely covers all musical elements.
  • Comprehensive glossary defines all the essential terminology specific to the area of study.
AoS4: Religious Music of the Baroque Period – JS Bach: Cantata No. 140, Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme  Demystify unfamiliar concepts such as recitative, basso continuo and cantus firmus with student-friendly commentary and accessible contextual information. Takes students through the cantata in manageable sections, analysing important features and encouraging deeper engagement.

AoS6: Innovation in Music 1900 to the present day – Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring, Part I Student-friendly notes and activities support understanding of Stravinsky’s challenging avant-garde masterpiece. With concise key term definitions, easy-to-follow analysis and consolidation tasks, this resource will strengthen knowledge and build analytical skills ready for essay writing.