Modal Music

An iBook by A Edwards
February 2018
 Literacy - Extended Writing
Read the following passage carefully and then use the template in your booklet to
summarise the text in 66 words

Aim: To learn about The Ancient Greek Musical Modes and to be able to summarise
information in non-fiction text in 66 Words.

The Ancient Greek Musical Modes

The word ‘mode’ comes from the Latin for ‘manner, or method’ but musical modes all
originated in ancient Greece, so they have Greek names. The modes were named after
various regions, perhaps to represent the people who lived there, because Greek musical
theorists were philosophers too, and associated the arts with aspects of morality.  

Basically a mode is a type of scale, as in ‘doh re mi fa so la ti do.’ Alter just one of those
notes and you can call your scale a “mode”. Each mode begins on a different note of the
scale, conferring its own character to the set of notes running, for example, C to C (Lydian
mode) or E to E (Dorian mode) and so on.



The seven main categories of mode have been part of musical notation since the middle
ages. So, the list goes: Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian and Locrian.
Some of them are major modes, some are minor, and some are ambiguous. Some modes
are sadder or holier than others.

Ionian


The Ionian mode is a simple ‘doh re

mi’ major key. It is the modern major
scale. It is composed of natural notes
beginning on C.

Dorian



The Dorian mode is very similar to
the modern natural minor scale. The
only difference is in the sixth note,
which is a major sixth above the first
note, rather than a minor sixth.

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Phrygian

The Phrygian is the third mode. It is also

very similar to the modern natural minor
scale. The only difference is in the second
note, which is a minor second not a major.
The Phrygian dominant is also known as
the Spanish gypsy scale, because it
resembles the scales found in flamenco
music.

Lydian


The Lydian mode has just one note

changed from the Ionian, a major
scale, but with the fourth note from
the bottom sharpened to give a
slightly unsettling sound.




Mixolydian

 

The single tone that differentiates this

scale from the major scale is its seventh
note, which is a flattened seventh rather
than a major seventh.


Aeolian

Aeolian is the natural minor scale.

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Locrian


The Locrian mode has five notes in its

scale flattened a half-step. 

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 Scarborough Fair
Listening to Modal Music

Scarborough is a small town on the coast of

England. The "Scarborough Fair" was a popular
gathering in Medieval times, attracting traders
and entertainers from all over the country. The fair lasted 45 days and started every August
15th. In the 1600s, mineral waters were found in Scarborough and it became a resort
town. Today, Scarborough is a quiet town with a rich history

In Medieval England, the original song became a popular folk song as Bards would sing it
when they traveled from town to town. The author of the song is unknown, and many
different versions exist. The traditional version has many more lyrics that the version by
Simon and Garfunkel that you will hear first.

The lyrics are about a man trying to attain his true love. In Medieval times, the herbs
mentioned in the song represented important virtues. Parsley was comfort, sage was
strength, rosemary was love, and thyme was courage.


You will now hear three versions of the song. While you listen to the song answer the
followingquestions in your work books.

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 Scarborough Fair Comparison Listening.

Version

1. What instrument can you hear in the introduction to this piece?

2. Name two other instruments that you can hear in the verses.

3. Which would be the best describe the tempo of song?

Largo, Moderato, Allegro, Presto

4. How many beats in each bar?

3 , 4, 6

5. Which woodwind instrument enters towards the end of this extract?

Version 2

1. Name the woodwind instrument that plays the melody in the introduction?

2. Name two other families of instruments that you can also hear in the introduction and
name one instrument from each (that you can hear).

3. State two ways in which the vocal line is different that in the first version.

4. How many beats in each bar?

3 , 4, 6

5. State one similarity between the first and second versions of this song.

Version 3

1. State three ways in which this version is different from versions 1 and 2.

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 Musical Literacy
Aims

1. To be able to read and write notes on the treble clef.

The Notes of the Treble Clef

The notes are written on 5 lines called the stave or the staff. The position of the note on
the stave tells you what note to play or sing.

The stave can be separated into lines and the areas between the lines called the spaces.

The Notes in the Spaces

You can remember the notes which are in the spaces as DeFACE from the lowest in pitch
to the highest in pitch.

The Notes on the Lines

Most people use a mnemonic to remember the notes on the lines. There are lots of
different ones that you could use or you could even make up your own. One of the most
common is.

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Now try using your knowledge of notes to complete this crossword which can be found in
your workbook.

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 Performing Task
Performing Daeloian
Success Criteria for This performance.

This table shows you the national curriculum levels for music from level 3 - Exceptional
performance. You will be able to achieve the levels that are shown in this column.

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 Performing

Daeolian
Aim: To be able to play a modal tune with a drone accompaniment on an instrument using
the appropriate technique.

Listen to this piece of music that you are going to learn to

play. It is called Daeolian because it uses the dorian mode
and a little bit of the Aeolian mode.

You can use the video to help you to learn to play the piece of music. You also have the
sheet music in your booklet and you can write the notes in if you want to and you can find
the midi file here - this can be played, sped up and slowed down on the Synthesia app on
this device.

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Here is the full sheet music in staff notation.

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Here is TAB notation for the tune which can be used on the guitar. Click here for a guide to
reading TAB.

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Here is TAB notation for the drone which can be used on the guitar.

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You could also play this on a different instrument, e.g. the trumpet, if you play one and you
can bring it to school for your music lessons.

Choose your level of challenge! Push yourself as hard as

you can but make sure you practice each part in small
chunks, slowly at first.

Everybody should try to learn to play the tune and the

drone and if you are working with a partner you should
try to play both parts (so two performances).

You will have two full lessons to prepare your performance.

At the end of each lesson review your progress and set

yourself a target in your workbook.

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 Composing a
Modal Tune with
a Drone.

This composition task will allow you to achieve up to level 6. Look at the statements from
the national curriculum to see how to achieve each level.

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 Section 1

Composing

You are now going to compose a short piece of music that uses the dorian mode with
drone accompaniment. You will work individually or in pairs and you must write and
perform your piece.

Follow these steps two help you to write a successful piece of music.

1. Writing the Drone

A drone is where a note or chord is sounded throughout most of the piece.

Because you are writing in a dorian mode it makes sense to create a drone that is based
on the note D. You could also try adding an A to your drone if you want to make it into a
chord.

Set a metronome on your keyboard or iPad to a steady speed and experiment with playing
your drone in different ways. You could use one of the rhythms shown below or make up
your own - your teacher will help you to write it down. Make sure your drone is one bar,
of four beats, in length (you repeat it throughout your piece). When you have made up
your drone write it on the lower stave of the system (in staff notation) in your workbooks.

Possible Rhythms for your Drone

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2. Writing a Tune

When you are writing a tune consider the following points.

The tune needs to have a clear, balanced rhythm - a balance of long and short
notes.

The tune needs to have a balanced shape - a balance between ascending and
descending notes and phrases.

The tune can incorporate repetition, but balance it with contrasts - e.g. You could
have an 8 bar pattern split into two four bar phrases. The first two bars of each
phrase could be the same (repetition) but the second half of each phrases could be
different (see below).

A memorable tune moves mostly by step - conjunct - look at the example above.
Most of the notes are next door to each other with a few leaps (disjunct movement)
to keep it interesting.

Now write your own tune to go with your drone. You can use the (one bar) rhythms in the
bank on the next page if you want to or write your own, your teacher will help you to write
them down. Just as in the example about there will be four beats in each bar.

Your tune should be at least 8 bars long.

Your tune should start and end on the note D.

You should end each phrase with either a D or an A.

Each note of your rhythm needs a pitch.

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When you have finished composing and writing down your tune and when you have
refined it to make it as good as you possibly can, you must learn to play it either by
yourself or with a partner.

Rhythms for your melody.

Ta - Ta - Ta - Ta

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