BRONZE

1. This piece of music is for 4 players - 2 violinists, 1 violist and 1 cellist. How do you think they all play together and in time without a conductor?

2. How would you describe the overall mood of this piece?

3. Why do you think Schubert wrote this piece for a variety of instruments, and not just 4 violins, for example?

4. What happens to the speed of the music at the very end of the final movement?

5. Divide a piece of paper into 4 sections, and draw some doodles in each section to represent each of the 4 movements

SILVER

1. Listen closely to the second movement - keep track of how many variations there are on the original theme and for each one, write how the composer creates the variation.

2. How does Schubert vary the instrumentation and texture in order to allow instruments of a lower register to take on a melody?

3. How does Schubert maintain rhythmic impetus in the 4th movement?

4. Make a note of 3 examples of moments in the music which you believe represent something outside of the music - what musical features give you this idea?

5. How far do you agree that this music is ahead of its time?

GOLD

1. Make a note of any repeated ideas or short motif, and notice how Schubert uses them throughout the piece. In which part of the music do you think this is most effective and why?

2. Why is this piece called ‘Death and the Maiden’?

3. How far do you agree that this piece is unconventional for a string quartet?

4. What is the structure of the final movement?

5. On balance, which instrumental part would you say is the most important throughout the piece? Or does it change?