Melodic Composition Grade 6 ABRSM Music Theory

Grade 6 Melodic Composition: possible layout You will be given the opening of a melody and asked to complete it and to include a modulation. Your answers should be laid-out in four-bar units, with an eight-bar phrase, also know as an eight-bar period, being the basis. If we call the opening four-bar unit A (which will include the given opening), our melodies should be structured in one of the following ways: If asked to complete an eight-bar melody:

Bars 1 to 4

A

Bars 5 to 8

B

A modulation is possible at the end of either A or B If asked to complete a ten-bar melody:

Bars 1 to 4

A

Bars 5 to 8

B

Bars 9 and 10

(ending open, probably an interrupted cadence) (bars 7 to 8 repeated, this time ending closed, with a perfect cadence)

A modulation would work best at the end of A, but would also be possible at the end of bar 10 This is still considered an eight-bar period, eight bars with an extension of 2 bars. If asked to complete a twelve-bar melody:

Bars 1 to 4

A

Bars 5 to 8

B

(ending open, imperfect cadence)

Bars 9 to 12

B1

(ending closed, perfect cadence)

A modulation is possible at either the end of A, or at the end of B1  – it would not work at the end of B. This is still considered an eight-bar period, eight bars with an extension of 4 bars. If asked to complete a sixteen-bar melody:

Bars 1 to 4

A

Bars 5 to 8

B

Bars 9 to 12

A1

Bars 13 to 16

C, or B1

A modulation is possible either at the end of B, or at the end of C/B1.