Writing an evaluation of a piece of music

Year nine pupils have been studying the piece ‘ Vltava’ by the composer Smetana. This piece of music describes a river and the places it passes on its route to the sea.

There are four different descriptions of the piece below, (written by year nine pupils), each was awarded a different level mark depending on how much musical detail was added.

Level 3:

The piece ‘ Vltava’ by Smetana describes the places which the river passes on its way to the sea. In the first section you can tell that the stream grows into a river because the music gets louder and faster. There is a beat in the dance section and the harp in the quiet section is like the ripples on the water. The brass instruments are used for the rapids and all the instruments play at the very end when the river reaches the sea.

* This was awarded level three because it only provides a description of the story and doesn’t really tell us how Smetana used the instruments to describe the mood of the music.

Level 4:

‘ Vltava’ by Smetana is an example of ‘programme music’ (music that tells a story). In the music Smetana uses different instruments to create different moods. The music begins with the stream turning into the river. To suggest this Smetana starts with a duet and then adds other instruments, so it is like the river getting bigger. The hunters in the forest section uses timpani drums to represent the hunter’s guns and there is a steady beat in the village wedding section to make us think that people are dancing and enjoying themselves. I like the night time section because the harp is very gentle and is like the reflection of the moon on the water. The brass section are the rapids because they are loud and forceful. All the instruments play at the end – the music has to be loud because we have reached the se

* This is more detailed than the first example but doesn’t use musical vocabulary to help with the descriptions. There is evidence though that the pupil understood what the mood was that Smetana was trying to describe.

Level 5:

The piece ‘ Vltava’ by Smetana is an example of programme music. In this piece the river passes many different places and Smetana uses many different moods and instruments to create a musical picture of this. The music starts with a duet played by the flute and clarinet – this is very quiet. As the river grows more instruments are added and the music crescendos – we can tell that the river is pretty big now. The music crescendos again in the Hunter’s section – the music is very forceful and drum rolls on the timpani represent the hunter’s guns – the rhythm of the music also suggests horses galloping. There is a rhythmic ostinato in the village dance section – this makes sure that all the people keep their dance steps in time. There is then a diminuendo into the night section where string instruments are used to create a soft and gentle atmosphere – however, the mood soon changes when the river hits the rapids – the brass and percussion instruments are used to create an evil mood – the cymbals are waves crashing on the rocks. All the instruments play at the end when the river reaches the sea this is called the ‘tutti’ section.

* This example is very descriptive and describes the music using subject specific vocabulary. However, there is little evidence of the pupil’s own thoughts about the music.

Level 6:

The piece ‘ Vltava’ uses many musical devices to describe the different places which the river passes. Some of these devices include dynamics, tempo, instrumentation and rhythm.

Dynamics are used to great effect in each section of the piece but especially at the beginning. Smetana uses volume to suggest size – for example the stream music is pianissimo (very quiet), the river is forte, (loud), and the sea is fortissimo (very loud). Sometimes each of the instruments have to play different dynamics, but often the music gets louder or quieter by instruments being added or taken away. (This is known as changing texture).

Smetana also uses tempo to create different pictures. The music is largo (slow), in the night time section and this helps to create a tranquil mood, but it is presto (very fast) in the rapids section this helps to create excitement and fear. In this section there are examples of accels. And ralls. (speed ups and slow downs.)

Smetana uses many different instruments to help paint different pictures in the music. He uses the harp in the night section. This sounds very effective, but I think he could have also used a glockenspiel to create a light effect. I think though that the triangle is a good choice to describe the dancing water sprites. The most exciting sections are when all of the instruments play – this is called ‘tutti’ which means everyone.

The rhythms also change in the piece – sometimes there are many rhythms at once like in the rapids section – this helps create an excited mood. However, the dance section uses one rhythmic ostinato, this is to suggest a beat for the dancers to dance to.

I think that ‘ Vltava’ is a very good example of programme music because Smetana uses many different musical devices to create different moods and atmospheres.

* This is a very detailed description of the music and uses many subject specific words. However, it is not a commentary of the piece - the pupil has taken each musical device and has found examples of each in the music. Also the pupil offers opinions on how the music could be altered to create different moods and effects.