Your 4 Exam Pieces
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List A · No.2
Le coucou
Louis-Claude Daquin
E minorRondo ABACALate BaroqueRococo
List B · No.2
Allegro
Anton Eberl
C majorBinary ABOp. 5Classical
List C · No.2
Berceuse
Alfred Hill
D♭ majorTernary ABA + CodaLate Romantic
List D
Woodland Sketch
Miriam Hyde
E minorTernary ABA + CodaLate RomanticAustralian
Le coucou — Louis-Claude Daquin
List A · No.2 | French, 1694–1772 | Late Baroque / Rococo
Key Facts
Title MeansA cuckoo bird (or cuckoo clock)
Main KeyE minor
FormRondo (ABACA)
Time SignatureCompound duple (2 dotted beats)
TempoVif — lively (♩≈104)
B Episode KeyG major (relative major)
C Episode KeysA major → B minor (dominant)
CollectionLivre de pièces de clavecin (1735)
About Daquin
- French organist & composer, born Paris (1694), died Paris (1772)
- Child prodigy — performed for the King of France aged 6!
- Royal organist to Louis XV; organist at Notre Dame Cathedral
- Composed mostly harpsichord pieces and church music
- Style: Rococo (late Baroque) — light and graceful
- Contemporaries: Couperin, Rameau, J.S. Bach, Handel
Rondo Structure (ABACA)
A (b.1–23)Main theme, E minor
B (b.25–43)1st Couplet, G major (relative major)
A (b.1–23)Main theme, E minor (Da capo)
C (b.44–70)2nd Couplet, A major → B minor
A (b.1–24)Main theme, E minor (Da capo al Fine)
Ends with a tierce de Picardie (B major chord) in b.69–70 to allow return to E minor.
Musical Terms
VifLively (French)
staccato (·)Short and detached
tenuto (–)Held and slightly emphasised
upper mordent (m)Short trill / tremblement
lower mordent (M)Pincé
turn (~)Ornament around the note
simileSimilarly (same articulation)
pochissimo rall.Gradually very slightly slower
a tempoReturn to the former speed
Da capo al FineRepeat from start to the word "Fine"
FineThe end of the piece
Cuckoo Musical Effects
- The falling minor 3rd (G–E) in the left hand imitates the cuckoo's distinctive two-note call
- Right hand semiquavers may depict the ticking mechanism of a cuckoo clock
- Contrapuntal texture — left hand has cuckoo theme, right hand has countermelody
- Linear 2-part texture throughout, except at final cadences
Rococo Style Features
- Light and graceful character
- Clear, light textures — usually only 2 voices
- Frequent ornamentation (mordents, trills, turns)
- Many sequences (b.5–9 and b.16–20)
- Recurring theme (rondo form)
- Modulations to closely related keys (up/down a 5th)
- Steady pulse; clearly articulated; equality of tone between hands; little/no pedal
- Diatonic (only notes from E minor scale) in Section A
Allegro — Anton Eberl
List B · No.2 | Austrian, 1765–1807 | Classical period
Key Facts
Main KeyC major
FormBinary (AB) — modified sonata form
OpusOp. 5 (Sonatine, 1796)
MovementsAllegro · Andante · Rondo: Allegretto
TempoAllegro — fast & lively (♩≈132)
2nd Theme KeyG major (dominant)
Development KeysA minor → D minor
About Eberl
- Austrian pianist & composer, born Vienna (1765), died Vienna (1807)
- Possibly a pupil of Mozart
- Spent years in St Petersburg — teacher, court musician, conductor
- Returning to Vienna, was compared favourably to Beethoven
- Composed operas, symphonies, piano concertos, sonatas, variations
- Contemporaries: Haydn, Clementi, Mozart, Beethoven
Structure (Modified Sonata / Binary)
A: 1st theme (b.1–23)C major — strong arpeggio opening
A: Transition (b.10–23)→ Modulates to G major
A: 2nd theme (b.24–49)G major — sweet character
A: Closing (b.43–49)G major — tonic pedal
B: Development (b.50–69)G major → A minor → D minor
B: Recapitulation (b.70–95)2nd theme + closing in C major
Section A = exposition; Section B = development + recapitulation.
Musical Terms
AllegroFast and lively; cheerful character
staccato (·)Short and detached
fortepiano (fp)Loud, then immediately soft
triplet3 notes in the time of 2
mezzo staccato (¯)Moderately short and detached
dolceSweetly
grace notes (b.24)Appoggiaturas — usually on the beat
forzando (fz)An accent
Op. (Opus)A work or group of works
sonatinaLittle sonata — several short movements
Classical Style Features
- Short, balanced phrases (question & answer)
- Clear homophonic textures — melody + Alberti bass
- Straightforward harmonies — primary triads (I, IV, V7)
- Well-organised formal structure (sonata form)
- Modulations to closely related keys (up/down a 5th)
- Many detached notes and short slurs
- Steady pulse; clearly articulated; sparing pedal; no dynamic extremes
What is a Sonatine?
A sonatina (or sonatine) = a little sonata — a piece for one or two instruments in several short, contrasting movements.
Eberl's Op. 5 Sonatine (1796) has 3 movements: Allegro · Andante · Rondo: Allegretto.
Op. (Opus) = a work or group of works; the opus number identifies the piece.
Berceuse — Alfred Hill
List C · No.2 | Australian, 1869–1960 | Late Romantic
Key Facts
Title MeansA lullaby or cradle song
Main KeyD♭ major
FormTernary (ABA) with a Coda
TempoTranquillo (♩≈44 minim beats)
B Episode KeyE major (enharmonic modulation)
B also usesG♯ minor (dominant minor)
Published1920
About Alfred Hill
- Australian violinist & composer, born Melbourne (1869), died Sydney (1960)
- Studied at Leipzig Conservatory (Germany)
- Violinist in the Gewandhaus Orchestra
- Worked as composer, conductor, teacher in Australia & New Zealand
- Sometimes used Aboriginal or Maori musical elements
- Composed 13 symphonies, 17 string quartets, operas
- Contemporaries: Delius, Ravel, Rachmaninoff
Structure (ABA + Coda)
A (b.1–16)D♭ major — rocking cradle LH; brief D♭→A♭ (dominant)
B (b.17–28)E major (enharmonic: A♭ → G♯)
B cont.→ G♯ minor; transition in C♯ minor
A (b.29–36)D♭ major — embellished return
Coda (b.37–48)D♭ major — fragmented; off-beat pedal
The best-known berceuse for piano, by Chopin, is also in D♭ major!
Musical Terms
TranquilloCalmly
pedale simileContinue pedalling in a similar manner
poco cresc.Gradually becoming a little louder
calandoBecoming softer and slower
a tempoReturn to the former speed
Tempo IReturn to the original speed
Più mossoQuicker (more movement)
espressivoExpressively
rall.Rallentando — gradually slower
tenuto (–)Held and slightly emphasised
arpeggio (g)Notes of chord played one by one
double sharp (×)Raises the pitch by a tone
What is an Enharmonic Modulation?
A key change that uses a note spelled differently but sounding the same.
Here, the last note of the main theme (A♭, the dominant of D♭ major) is re-read as G♯ (the mediant of E major) in bar 17.
This is a mediant modulation — from D♭ major to E major — a typically Romantic key change by a 3rd.
Late Romantic Style Features
- Lyrical melodies; flowing rhythms
- Rocking left-hand pattern throughout (cradle motion)
- Many notated tempo changes
- Rich harmonies — some chromaticism; 7th chords
- An enharmonic modulation (flat key → sharp key)
- Constant use of the sustaining pedal
- Performed with sincere expression, warm legato tone, tempo rubato
Woodland Sketch — Miriam Hyde
List D | Australian, 1913–2005 | Late Romantic
Key Facts
Main KeyE minor
FormTernary (ABA) with a Coda
StyleRomantic — lyrical melodies, colourful harmonies
A1 TempoAllegro — fast and lively
B TempoMolto grazioso — very gracefully
A2 TempoTempo I — return to original speed
Coda TempoMeno mosso — a little slower
B Section KeyE major (tonic major)
About Miriam Hyde
- Contemporary Australian composer, pianist and teacher
- Born Adelaide, 1913; died 2005
- Awarded scholarship to Royal College of Music, London
- Studied composition with R O Morris; piano with Arthur Benjamin
- Wrote many teaching pieces and studies for piano
- Major works: a sonata, two piano concertos, Valley of Rocks
- Valley of Rocks was selected for the 1988 Sydney International Piano Competition
- Other important Australian composers: Peggy Glanville-Hicks, Peter Sculthorpe, Richard Meale, Nigel Butterley
Structure (ABA + Coda)
A1 — Allegro (b.1–14)E minor; ends with perfect cadence + tierce de Picardie; continuous semiquaver pulse; chromatic chords (dim. 7ths b.9–10; Neapolitan 6th b.11)
B — Molto grazioso (b.15–33)E major (tonic major); no real modulation; brief references to A major (b.19–22, 29–30) and B major (b.23–24); more flowing melody; contrasting rhythm
A2 — Tempo I (b.34–45)E minor, as before; slightly altered ending
Coda — Meno mosso (b.46–49)Melody from Section B returns briefly, in E minor
Musical Terms
AllegroFast and lively
molto graziosoVery gracefully
Tempo IReturn to the original speed
Meno mossoA little slower
poco marc.A little marked (emphasised)
poco rit.Hold back the speed a little
cantabileIn a singing style
piu p.More softly
brillanteWith a clear, bright sound
piu espress.More expressively
Special Harmony Features
- Tierce de Picardie — A1 ends on E major chord (major ending in a minor piece)
- Diminished 7th chords — chromatic tension chords in b.9–10
- Neapolitan 6th chord — chord built on the flattened 2nd degree, in b.11 (F major chord in E minor)
- Tonic major — Section B is in E major (same tonic, changed mode)
- Continuous semiquaver pulse throughout Section A — typical Romantic perpetual motion
Romantic Style Features
- Lyrical, flowing melodies
- Colourful harmonies — chromaticism throughout
- Contrasting sections (fast/semiquavers A vs. flowing/graceful B)
- Expressive Italian tempo and character markings
- Romantic harmonic colour — Neapolitan 6th, diminished 7ths
- Use of tonic major for contrast (E minor → E major in B section)
- Australian composer — contemporary but romantic in style
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💡 Background info — your exam focuses most on your own 4 pieces! Use this section as extra support.
🎼 Musical Periods
Baroque
Harpsichord · Clavichord
Ornate and elaborate. One mood, one theme. Polyphonic texture. Bach, Handel, Scarlatti...
c.1750–1810
Classical
Fortepiano
Light, elegant and restrained. Homophonic. Alberti bass. Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven...
c.1810–1900
Romantic
Pianoforte
Passionate and expressive. Rubato essential. Chromatic harmonies. Chopin, Liszt...
c.1890–1918
Impressionist
Pianoforte
Delicate and misty. Whole-tone scales. Dominant-tonic cadences avoided. Debussy, Ravel...
20th/21st C
20th/21st Century
Pianoforte
Diverse styles. Serial, neoclassical, jazz-influenced. Bartók, Prokofiev, Kabalevsky...
⚡ Quick Reference
🎵 Le coucou — Daquin (List A)
KeyE minor
FormRondo (ABACA)
B episodeG major (relative major)
C episodeA major → B minor
Cuckoo callFalling minor 3rd (G–E) in LH
StyleRococo / Late Baroque; light & graceful
🎵 Allegro — Eberl (List B)
KeyC major
FormBinary (AB) / Modified sonata
2nd themeG major (dominant)
DevelopmentA minor → D minor
OpusOp. 5 (Sonatine, 1796), 3 mvts
StyleClassical; light and elegant
🎵 Berceuse — Alfred Hill (List C)
TitleLullaby / cradle song
KeyD♭ major
FormTernary (ABA) + Coda
B episodeE major (enharmonic from A♭→G♯)
Published1920 — Australian composer
StyleLate Romantic; lyrical; lots of pedal
🎵 Woodland Sketch — Hyde (List D)
KeyE minor
FormTernary (ABA) + Coda
B sectionE major (tonic major)
A1 special chordsDim. 7ths; Neapolitan 6th; tierce de Picardie
A1 textureContinuous semiquaver pulse
StyleLate Romantic; lyrical; Australian
📖 Terms — Daquin & Eberl
VifLively (French)
AllegroFast and lively
dolceSweetly
fortepiano (fp)Loud then immediately soft
mezzo staccatoModerately short and detached
Da capo al FineRepeat from start to "Fine"
simileSimilarly (same articulation)
📖 Terms — Hill & Hyde
TranquilloCalmly (Hill)
calandoBecoming softer and slower (Hill)
molto graziosoVery gracefully (Hyde)
Meno mossoA little slower (Hyde)
cantabileIn a singing style (Hyde)
brillanteWith a clear, bright sound (Hyde)
🏅 Composer Quick Facts
DaquinFrench · 1694–1772
EberlAustrian · 1765–1807
Alfred HillAustralian · 1869–1960
Miriam HydeAustralian · 1913–2005
🎼 Period Cheat Sheet
BaroqueOrnate · Polyphonic · Harpsichord
ClassicalElegant · Homophonic · Fortepiano
RomanticPassionate · Rubato · Wide dynamics
ImpressionistMisty · Whole-tone · Vague harmony
20th CenturyDiverse · Jazz · Serial · Modern