Resource list: study pieces and listening list
The suggested listening list for each area of study is a guide. It is not prescriptive.
Area of study 1: Western classical tradition 1650–1910
Study piece
Mozart Clarinet Concerto in A major, K. 622, 3rd movement, Rondo
Suggested listening
Topic Area 1: The Coronation Anthems and Oratorios of Handel
Handel
Coronation Anthems:
- Zadok the Priest
- The King shall rejoice.
Oratorios, including, for example:
Messiah.
Topic Area 2: The orchestra music of Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven
Haydn
Symphonies, including, for example:
- Symphony No. 94 in G major Surprise
- Symphony No. 101 in D major Clock
- Symphony No. 103 in E flat major Drumroll.
Concertos, including:
Trumpet Concerto in E flat major.
Mozart
Symphonies, including, for example:
- Symphony No. 25 in G minor K183 Little G minor
- Symphony No. 41 in C major K551 Jupiter.
Concertos, including:
- Clarinet Concerto in A major
- Horn Concerto No. 4 in E flat major K495.
Beethoven
Symphonies, including, for example:
Symphony No. 6 in F major Pastoral.
Concertos, including:
- Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat major Emperor
- Violin Concerto in D major.
Topic Area 3: The piano music of Chopin and Schumann
Chopin
Preludes, including, for example:
"Raindrop" prelude Op. 28 No. 15.
Polonaises, including, for example:
"Military" polonaise Op. 40 No. 1.
Schumann
"Kinderszenen"
Topic Area 4: The Requiem of the late Romantic period
Fauré
Requiem
Verdi
Requiem
Brahms
German Requiem
Dvorak
Requiem
Area of study 2: Popular music
Study piece
Little Shop of Horrors 1982 off-Broadway version – the following three tracks:
- Prologue/Little Shop of Horrors (overture)
- Mushnik and Son
- Feed Me
Suggested listening
Topic Area 1: Music of Broadway 1950s to 1990s
Bernstein
West Side Story
Alan Menken
Little Shop of Horrors
Jim Jacobs & Warren Casey
Grease
Elton John & Tim Rice
The Lion King
Topic Area 2: Rock music of the 1960s and 1970s
The Beatles
Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
Led Zeppelin
IV
Pink Floyd
Dark Side of the Moon
Topic Area 3: Film and computer gaming music 1990s to present
John Williams
Star Wars; Harry Potter
Hans Zimmer
Gladiator; Pirates of the Caribbean; The Dark Knight
Winifred Phillips
Little Big Planet
Harry Gregson-Williams
Metal Gear Solid 4 – Guns of the Patriots (15)
Topic Area 4: Pop music 1990s to present
White Stripes
Elephant
Taylor Swift
1989 (2014)
Adele
21
Alicia Keys
Girl on Fire (2012)
Coldplay
Ghost Stories (2014)
Area of study 3: Traditional/World
Study piece
Paul Simon: Graceland album – the following tracks:
- Graceland
- Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes
- You Can Call Me Al
Suggested listening
Topic Area 1: Blues music 1920–1950
Robert Johnson
The Complete Collection
Bessie Smith
The Best of Bessie Smith
Big Bill Broonzy
The Anthology
Blind Willie McTell
The Ultimate Blues Collection
Topic Area 2: Fusion music incorporating African and/or Caribbean music
Bob Marley
Legend
Paul Simon
Graceland
Topic Area 3: Contemporary Latin music
Santana
Supernatural
Buena Vista Social Club
Buena Vista Social Club
Piazolla
Libertango
Topic Area 4: Contemporary folk music of the British Isles
Mumford and Sons
Sigh No More
Kate Rusby
Little Lights
Area of study 4: Western classical tradition 1910–present
Study piece
Zoltán Kodály: Battle and Defeat of Napoleon and Intermezzo from Háry János – orchestral version with cimbalon and without vocal parts.
Suggested listening
Topic Area 1: The orchestral music of Copland
Copland
Rodeo
Appalachian Spring
Topic Area 2: British music of Arnold, Britten, Maxwell-Davies and Tavener
Malcolm Arnold
Concerto for Guitar and Orchestra
Benjamin Britten
Peter Grimes: 4 Sea Interludes
Ceremony of Carols
Peter Maxwell-Davies
Orkney Wedding with Sunrise
John Tavener
The Lamb & The Tyger
Topic Area 3: The orchestral music of Zoltán Kodaly and Béla Bártok
Zoltán Kodaly
Hary Janos
Béla Bártok
Concerto for Orchestra
Topic Area 4: Minimalist music of John Adams, Steve Reich and Terry Riley
John Adams
Shaker Loops, Short Ride in a fast machine
Steve Reich
Clapping Music
Terry Riley
In C