How do I approach an unseen musical analysis?
- Identify the key elements of the piece - these include period, composer, instrument, and information that the title might reveal (such as form and/or key).2) 'Read' the music and highlight any points of interest, such as cadences, a recurring idea, or changes in harmony and texture.3) Use these points of interest to try and map out a rough idea of the piece's overall structure. 4) Don't panic if there are bits that are confusing. Try to unpack why those sections are weird in relation to the rest, maybe think about where these weird sections occur and what significance they might have on the rest of the piece.
When writing an analytical essay, it is important not to simply describe what happens in the music. What the essay marker wants is for you to identify points of interest and explain why they're interesting. This can be how a musical idea keeps returning, or how the harmony impacts the structure or mood of the piece. For example, 'Beethoven increases the harmonic rhythm so as to drive towards the end of the Development section in a way that creates tension and excitement.'
