No, not an exercise in completing Bach Chorales alla A-level, but an investigation into what criteria we use to complete these.
Why is so much stress placed on Bach Chorales?
How would you go about completing a chorale?
What, if anything, do these exercises tell us about composing in general?
What are the rules that we use for these exercises and where do they come from?
What can you do and who told you that you could, or couldn't do it?
Did the people that have told you what you could or couldn't do really know what they were talking about?
Preparation
Consider the above questions
Listen to some of the chorales from Bach's St Matthew and St John Passion. Consider their role in the music. Consider especially different harmonisations of the same tune. What is the effect/purpose of these different harmonisations. Can you think of any other examples of such harmonisations.
Get a copy of Riemenschneider. Play over a number of the chorales, taking care to follow the harmonies and voice parts. If you want, analyse a phrase or two. Try to reharmonise a phrase or two.