Style Composition Exercises

1) Stravinsky has a Tango, Waltz, etc. in 20th-century (Neo Classic) style in L'Histoire du Soldat. Pick a dance form not used by Stravinsky and write a section for a group like that in L'Histoire.

2) Pick a Psalm of David as a text and set a section in the style of Byrd. Set the same text in the style of Britten.

3) Write a cadenza for a first movement of a Mozart Piano Concerto (your choice) that is stylistically consistent with the piece.

4) Write a popular song in the style of Gershwin.

5) Write a string quartet slow introduction like that of Beethoven's Op.18 No.6 Finale ("Malenconia").

6) Produce a small tutti codetta for orchestra after those in the London symphonies of Haydn.

7) Write a choral interlude like the one in Schoenberg's Moses und Aron, using the usual contrapuntal tricks and a row.

8) Write a short introduction for percussion ensemble like that in Varese's Ionisation.

9) Try two phrases of a chorale prelude in the style of Buxtehude with the CF in the bass.

10) Write a waltz for piano trio in the style of Schubert.

Set II:

1. Set a large tutti D major chord for: a) Haydn orchestra (Paris or London), b) Brahms orchestra, c) Mahler chorus and orchestra (a la Eighth Symphony), d) Debussy (modify chord), e) Webern (use D, F F# cell).

2. Create a song in Romantic style (generation of composers born around 1810) with a text of your choice. Set the first part of it with three different piano accompaniments. Compose a section with clarinet obbligato as in Schubert's Shepherd on the Rock.

3. Take the opening of Schoenberg's Piano Concerto (30 meas.) and rewrite it as a tonal Romantic piece.

4. Write a Sarabande (French Baroque) and Double for harsichord. Substitute totally chromatic elements and turn it into a 20th-century piano piece (see Schoenberg's Op. 25 Suite.

5. Transcribe a section of any Berlioz choral composition for contemporary wind ensemble.

6. Write a symphonic slow introduction in the style of early Beethoven.

7. Take a movement for a J.S. Bach solo cello suite or violin partita and transcribe it for string quintet.

Set III:

1. Set a large tutti F major chord for: a) Haydn orchestra (Sturm und Drang), b) Debussy orchestra, c) Brahms chorus and orchestra (a la German Requiem), d) Stravinsky (modify chord), e) Webern (use D, F F# cell).

2. Create a song in Romantic style (generation of composers born around 1810) with a text of your choice. Set the first part of it with three different piano accompaniments. Compose a section with horn obbligato as in Schubert's Auf Dem Strom.

3. Take the opening of Brahms' Piano Concerto No. 2 (30 meas.) and rewrite it as a atonal piece.

4. Write a Gavotte for harsichord. Substitute chromatic elements and turn it into a 20th-century piano piece (neoclassical style).

5. Transcribe a section of any Bruckner choral composition for contemporary wind ensemble.

6. Write an aria in the style of Verdi or Puccini ("A" section in short score).