Graduate Entrance Exam, VERSION A
Revised Fall 2023
Fundamentals (scales, intervals, chords, voice leading, rhythm, etc.)
Voice leading. For questions 1 – 5, refer to the following example. Choose the appropriate chord (labeled A – K) to identify where the error occurs.
1. A problem with spacing between adjacent voices within a chord.
2. An instance of a doubled leading-tone.
3. An instance of parallel fifths. (List the two chords between which the problem occurs.)
and
4. An instance of parallel octaves. (List the two chords between which the problem occurs.)
and
5. The third of the chord is missing.
Intervals and Chords. For questions 6 – 10, circle the correct answer.
6. What note lies a diminished fifth above Bb?
a. F b. E c. F d. F e. other
7. What note lies an augmented sixth below F# ?
a. G b. A c. A d. A e. other
8. Which of the following is a half-diminished seventh chord?
9. Which of the following is an augmented triad?
10. Which of the following is a major seventh (not major-minor seventh) chord?
Scales and collections. For questions 11 – 12, refer to the following example:
11. Which of these is a harmonic minor scale?
12. Which of these is a melodic minor (ascending) scale?
For questions 13 – 15, refer to the following example. Choose “G” if none of the above.
13. Which of these is an octatonic scale?
14. Which of these is a whole-tone scale?
15. Which of these is a Lydian scale?
Rhythm and meter. For the following questions, circle the correct answer.
16. The following measure is incomplete.
Which rest best completes the measure?
17. The following measure is incomplete.
Which rest best completes the measure?
18. The following measure is incomplete. Which rest / group of rests best completes the measure?
19. The following rhythms sound identical but are beamed differently. Circle the one that best represents the notated meter.
20. The following rhythms sound identical but are beamed differently. Circle the one that best represents the notated meter.
21. Identify the correct meter signature.
22. Identify the correct meter signature.
23. Identify the beat and meter type for the following example:
a. simple duple b. simple triple
c. compound duple d. compound triple
24. Identify the beat and meter type for the following example:
a. simple duple b. simple triple
c. compound duple d. compound triple
Non-chord tones and harmonic analysis. For questions 25 – 30, refer to the following example.
Choose from the following list of non-chord tones:
a. passing tone b. neighbor tone c. appoggiatura d. neighbor group
e. anticipation f. escape tone g. pedal point h. suspension
(identify type: )
25. What type of non-chord tone occurs at #1?
26. What type of non-chord tone occurs at #2?
27. What type of non-chord tone occurs at #3?
28. What type of non-chord tone occurs at #4?
29. This excerpt is in the key of G major. Identify the chord at #5.
30. Identify the chord at #6.
ANALYSIS SECTION
1. For excerpts A and B below, identify the local tonic key in each excerpt. Identify the tonic note and mode, e.g. f# minor. (Hint: These excerpts are taken from the middle of a piece, so your answers may not match the key signatures.)
Excerpt A:
Excerpt B:
2. For excerpts C – E, identify the cadence marked with a bracket or box. Use the letters below:
a. Perfect Authentic
b. Imperfect Authentic
c. Half
d. Phrygian Half
e. Plagal
f. Deceptive
Excerpt C:
Excerpt D:
Excerpt E:
3. Which term best describes the pitch collection used in Excerpt F (below)?
a. Whole-tone
b. Chromatic
c. Diatonic
d. Octatonic
e. Pentatonic
4. Provide a Roman numeral and inversion-symbol label of each of the boxed chords in Excerpt G below.
a.
b.
c.
5. Answer the following questions about excerpt H below.
a. Provide the numerical set-class label, in prime form, for the set labeled “a” in the score.
b. Provide the numerical set-class label, in prime form, for the set labeled “ b” in the score.
c. The interval-class vector for set “a” is: (circle one)
a. 004002
b. 111111
c. 102111
d. 100011
d. The interval-class vector for set “ b” is: (circle one)
a. 004002
b. 111111
c. 102111
d. 100011
e. Set “ b” is related to set “c” . What is the relationship? (circle one)
a. Transposition
b. Inversion
c. Transposition and inversion
d. Z-relation