E-mail comments/questions 
You are given some music and need to opt for one composer from a list. How?
I'll go through some of the examples in the workbook for Grade 6 as you are likely to have that to hand.
I think it would be better to give positive answers which help you to pick a composer. Otherwise you will have to give a reason to rule out all the 0thers which would take too long. However I have added a few pointers in italics.
Page 62 Ex. 8 (g)
The answer is Handel.
It looks like a piece of keyboard music Handel might have written - certainly it look Baroque. There is imitation at the outset so it is contrapuntal, style which is associated with the Baroque.
It start in G minor and ends in B flat major (modulation to the relative major). Hence it is quite likely to be a section from a piece in Binary form, a form associated with the Baroque.
Some of the figurations (the broken 3rds in semiquavers) are Baroque in idiom.
The are Baroque style ornaments.
Schubert wrote mainly songs and his piano parts were nothing like this.
Tchaikovsky wrote a lot of orchestral music and use a much richer harmonic palette as well as thicker textures.
Debussy was an Impressionist composer and use the whole tone scale, which isn't found here. He also use lots of pedal and there are no pedal markings.
Vaughan Williams would not have written in this style. Also he used modes and other harmonic idioms not found here.
Page 63 Ex. 9 (a)
The answer is Mozart.
There is a clear architecture of even phrase lengths (4 + 4, then 2 + 2 + 4 bars) [I mean the overall musical phrase lengths not the slurs, although they could be used as evidence.
There are carefully marked dynamics and articulation indications.
Some of the chromatic inflections are Classical, such as the G# to G in the 2nd full bar.
Variations were popular in the Classical period. This binary piece is a good example of a theme which could be varied. There's a slight hint at the start too!
Page 64 Ex. 10 (a)
The answer is Chopin.
The rhythm is that of a Mazurka (see Q. f) which is a dance style associated with Chopin.
Chopin was a Romantic composer and the word 'rubato' is associated with that period of music.
The pedal marking in the music rule out Scarlatti and are a sign of detailed piano writing of the correct period.
Page 66 Ex. 12 (a)
The answer is Borodin. I'm not 100% sure so I'm going to argue my case.
It isn't Handel or Haydn as it uses a Harp and a Clarinet!
I'll rule out Schoenberg because (although he wrote some tonal music is quite a Romantic style he is associated with serial music (note rows and all that)
Schubert is more associated with Lieder and I think the style is wrong for him (Had Brahms been in the list I'd have had to scratch my head quite hard)
Whilst I do not know much Borodin I am going to cite the changes of texture which includes the way the harp is used as 1 reason.
The unusual scoring at the start - harp, horn and Clarinet
The key signature (is not one Schubert would have opted for immediately)
The extreme dynamics ppp suggest a late romantic composer which leads me away from Schubert.
The fact the the time signature changes twice.
Page 72 Ex. 12 (a)
The answer is Mozart.
A Classical orchestra (Basses and 'cellos share the same stave)
Wind have a chord holding role.
Simple timpani part
Ornamentation is used Classically
The cadential formula in bar 4 points to the Classical period (Feminine cadence = string to weak
Chromaticism in 2nd violin
This page was last edited on 22/07/2008