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A2 Composition

Hi i'm thinking of composing a string quartet in a classical style for my A2 composition. Was just wondering if anyone could give me any advice? :confused:

Reply 1

reductio

Look at the haydn quartets,
use lots of alberti bass, and functional harmony.
always do an interrupted cadence before a perfect one (see mozart).

Reply 2

reductio

also, have a look at sonata form. expo-develop-recap 1st/2nd subject etc. Tonal relations - tonic 1st subject, dominant second, etc.

Reply 3

Agent Smith

The above two posts pretty much sum it up. I'd just add that it's worth trying really hard to keep the other three parts interesting and independent. Particularly the cello and 2nd violin; that shows a superior talent to a adopting Bach-chorale style approach of melody, bass and two middle parts.

Just throwing ideas out here really, no particular order.

Don't always use root-position chords, and don't restrict your melodic material to the 1st violin.

Allow gaps in the texture - don't feel all four parts have to be going at it hammer and tongs all the time. If you can pull off two-part harmony, have some passages of that. It all helps show confidence in composition.

For A2, you're probably best off sticking to the sectionalised view of Sonata Form outlined above, even though it's completely wrong and stupid. It works, and it's easier to leave it mostly untouched. By all means try occasional small departures from it (two themes rather than just one in your second subject group, perhaps, or a new one that only appears in the coda), but don't do anything too unusual because the examiners are small-minded idiots who will simply mark it wrong if you do.