Edexcel GCSE Music Paper 3 June 2025 question paper

Afro Celt Sound System: Release (from the album ‘Volume 2: Release’)

Listen to the following extract which will be played three times.

Name the instrument playing the melody at the start of the extract.

Describe the melody played by this instrument.

Describe the vocal melody at the end of the extract.

Identify one studio effect heard at the end of the extract.

Queen: Killer Queen (from the album ‘Sheer Heart Attack’)

Listen to the following extract which will be played three times.

Describe one musical feature at the start of the extract that creates anticipation.

correct box.

Give two features of the backing vocals in the verse.

Describe the melody in the chorus.

Identify three features of this extract which make it typical of Rock.

L van Beethoven: 1st Movement from Piano Sonata no.8 in C minor ‘Pathétique’

Listen to the following extract which will be played three times.

This movement is in sonata form. Name the section played in this extract.

Describe how Beethoven uses melody and dynamics to create a sense of drama at the start of the extract.

melody

Describe the melody at the end of the extract.

Identify two features of the harmony in this extract that are typical of early Romantic music.

J Williams: Main title/rebel blockade runner (from the soundtrack to Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope)

Listen to the following extract which will be played three times.

Name a family of instruments that play the melody at the start of the extract.

Explain how the composer uses melody and rhythm to create a triumphant mood at the start of the extract.

melody

At the end of the extract the piccolo plays a melody. Name two accompanying instruments.

H Purcell: Music for a While

Listen to the following extract which will be played three times.

Describe the harmony at the start of the extract.

Identify the key and cadence at ‘ till Alecto free the dead’. Complete the table below.

Explain how Purcell uses word painting to reflect the meaning of the word ‘ eternal ’.

Name one accompanying instrument.

J S Bach: 3rd Movement from Brandenburg Concerto no.5 in D major

You will hear two extracts, A and B. You will hear each of them three times in the following order: AB, AB, AB.

whether each statement is true or false.

Identify the harmonic device heard at the start of both extracts.

Name the instrument playing the melody at the start of extract A.

Identify two features of the texture of the extended harpsichord solo in extract A.

Identify two features of the melody in extract B which are typical of Baroque music.

Musical dictation

Listen to the following melody which will be played four times.

Before the melody you will hear the tonic chord followed by the pulse.

Complete the score below by writing in the missing:

You may use the manuscript on page 16 for rough work. However you must write your final answer on the stave below.

melody

rhythm

Identify the key at the start of the extract.

Identify the key and cadence at bar 7 beat 2 to bar 7 beat 3. Complete the table below.

Describe the melody played by the violins in bar 8.

Name one melodic device heard in the vocal part in bar 12 beat 3 to bar 13 beat 3.

Name the voice type singing the melody.

Name the musical period during which this aria was composed.

You will hear extracts from Area of Study 4: Fusions; one familiar and one unfamiliar. In order to answer the question you should refer to the Source Booklet.

The familiar extract, Extract A: E Spalding: Samba Em Preludio (from the album ‘Esperanza’)

The unfamiliar extract, Extract B: L Bernstein: Mambo (Act I from West Side Story)

You will hear both extracts three times in the following order: familiar unfamiliar, familiar unfamiliar, familiar unfamiliar.

Both of these extracts fuse Latin American musical features with elements of jazz. Samba Em Preludio is a sad love song. Mambo is an exciting dance performed by opposing gangs at a social event.

Evaluate how effectively melody, rhythm and performing forces are used to capture the different atmospheres of these two extracts.

The skeleton scores are provided in the Source Booklet.

You should use your knowledge of musical elements, context and language in your response.