1. GPE in Music History: Description
Other Important Information
Scoring Rubrics
GPE in Music History (Pre-1750)
Multiple Choice | Essay | Review Course |
18-30/ exempt* | 6-10 | No review course necessary |
18-30/ exempt* | 0-5 | MUMH 5500 |
0-17 | Not graded | MUMH 5500 |
GPE in Music History (Post-1750)
Multiple Choice | Essay | Review Course |
18-30/ exempt* | 6-10 | No review course necessary |
18-30/ exempt* | 0-5 | MUMH 5510 |
0-17 | Not graded | MUMH 5510 |
2. Graduate Placement Exam in Music History: Sample Questions
Multiple-Choice Questions
Score #1. Ave maris stella (chant)
Score #2. Missa Ave maris stella
Essay Questions
Sample Essay Question
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What is the genre of this piece? Name two or three other composers who worked in this genre, including information on when and where they worked.
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Does this piece resemble stylistically other nineteenth-century pieces that you know - either in the same genre, or in others? Be specific.
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How does Schumann dramatize the text's narrative musically? Again - be specific, and reference specific musical features by measure number.
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How do aspects of the text and its musical setting align with your conceptions of Romanticism in music and poetry? Be specific, and feel free to reference any material that supports your claims.
Ich weiß nicht, was soll es bedeuten
Daß ich so traurig bin;
Ein Märchen aus alten Zeiten
Das kommt mir nicht aus dem Sinn.
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I do not understand what it should mean
That I should feel so sad;
A tale from long ago
Will not leave my mind.
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Die Luft ist kühl und es dunkelt,
Und ruhig fließt der Rhein;
Der Gipfel des Berges funkelt
Im Abendsonnenschein.
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The air is cool, and it grows dark,
And the Rhine flows peacefully;
The peaks of the mountains glow
In the evening sun.
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Die schönste Jungfrau sitzet
Dort oben wunderbar,
Ihr goldnes Geschmeide blitzet
Sie kämmt ihr goldenes Haar.
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The most beautiful maiden sits
Up there in wondrous beauty,
Her golden garments shine
As she combs her golden hair.
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Sie kämmt es mit goldenem Kamme
Und singt ein Lied dabei;
Das hat eine wundersame
Gewaltige Melodei.
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She combs it with a golden comb
As she sings a song;
It has a wonderful
Powerful melody.
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Den Schiffer im kleinen Schiffe
Ergreift es mit wildem Weh,
Er schaut nicht die Felsenriffe,
Er schaut nur hinauf in die Höh.
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The sailor in his small ship
Is seized by her song and filled with overwhelming grief,
He looks not at the dangerous rocks ahead,
He only looks up at the heights.
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Ich glaube, die Wellen verschlingen
Am Ende Schiffer und Kahn;
Und das hat mit ihrem Singen
Die Lorelei getan.
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I know the waves will bring
An end to the sailor and ship;
And this, by her singing,
Is the Lorelei's doing.
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3. Graduate Placement Exam in Music Theory
Format
The Graduate Placement Exam in Music Theory is an online exam consisting of 35 multiple-choice questions, most of which are randomly drawn from question banks. The exam will be available in the College of Music GPE Graduate Center Canvas course. You will need to install LockDown Browser on your electronic device before starting the exam (instructions available here). We recommend that students complete the exam on a desktop computer, laptop, or tablet; completing the exam on a phone is NOT recommended. Students have 105 minutes (1 hour and 45 minutes) to complete and submit the exam.
Theory Topics & Sample Questions
The Music Theory GPE covers a wide range of (tonal) theory topics, including but not limited to:
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Scales, intervals, key relationships, meter and rhythm, triads and seventh chords, instrument transposition
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Two-voice counterpoint and embellishing tones
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Bass line harmonization, including figured bass realization
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Diatonic voice leading
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(e.g., chorale style or SATB style) and modulations
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Chromatic chord identification (e.g., secondary dominants, Neapolitan 6th, Augmented 6ths)
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Cadence identification (e.g., Half Cadence, Imperfect Authentic Cadence, Perfect Authentic Cadence)
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Phrase structure identification (e.g., phrase, Sentence, Period, Compound Period)
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Small form identification (e.g., Binary form, Ternary form)
Below are three sample questions similar to ones that you will find on the exam.
Sample 1
Which chord label is most appropriate for the second chord marked with an asterisk?
- V7/IV (V7 of IV)
- CTo7 (common-tone diminished 7th)
- viio7/ii
- Neapolitan 6th
Answer: 3) viio7/ii
Sample 2
Which of the progressions below realizes the figured bass and has good spacing, complete chords, and voice-leading and dissonance treatment that follows common-practice style?
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Option A (m. 1)
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Option B (m. 2)
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Option C (m. 3)
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Option D (m. 4)
Answer: 4) Option D (m. 4)
Sample 3
Which of the following statements is true about the following excerpt.
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- It is a single phrase. There is no cadence at m. 4 and a half cadence (HC) at m. 8.
- It is a sentence (presentation + continuation). There is no cadence at m. 4 and an imperfect authentic cadence (IAC) at m. 8.
- It is a period (antecedent + consequent). There is a half cadence (HC) at m. 4 and an imperfect authentic cadence (IAC) at m. 8.
- It is a period (antecedent + consequent). There is an imperfect authentic cadence (IAC) at m. 4 and a perfect authentic cadence (PAC) at m. 8.
Answer: 1) It is a single phrase. There is no cadence at m. 4 and a half cadence (HC) at m. 8.