RCM Theory Level 7 History

program music

instrumental music with extra musical associations inspired by literature, visual arts, historical events, or scenes from nature. (Overture to A Midsummer Night's Dream)

Concert Overture

A category of program music, a freestanding orchestral work not connected to an opera or ballet, usually in sonata form. (Overture to A Midsummer Night's Dream)

Sonata Form

The most important musical form invented in the classical era, consists of three sections: exposition, development, and recapitulation (Overture To A Midsummer Night's Dream)

Overture To a Midsummer Night's Dream Background Info

a) Genre - Concert overture
b) performing forces - symphony orchestra
c) Key - E major
d) Form - Sonata Form
e) Composer - Mendelssohn

Nationalism

Patriotism expressed through music, composers drew inspiration from native folk songs, dances, myths, and legends. (Revolutionary Etude)

Revolutionary Etude Background Info

a) Genre - Solo Piano Work
b) Performing Forces - Piano
c) Key - C minor
d) Tempo - Allegro con Fuoco
e) Form - ABA
f) Composer - Chopin

Ballet

Genre developed in the 17th centure that flourished in the romantic era (Petrushka)

polytonality

two or more keys sounding simultaneously creating dissonance (Petrushka)

Petrushka Chord

Polychord of C major and F sharp major triad (petrushka)

Rondo Form

Developed in Classical era with a form of ABACA or ABACABA (Petrushka)

Petrushka Background Info

a) genre - ballet
b) Performing forces - large orchestra with expanded percussion
c) Form - Rondo
d) Composer - Igor Stravinsky

Musique Concrete

Early form of electronic music where natural sounds were taped and manipulated (dripsody)

Dripsody Background Info

a) Genre - Electronic Music
b) Performing Forces - Recorded sound of water
c) Duration - 1:28
d) Composer - Hugh LeCaine

Twelve Bar Blues

common musical structure used in jazz consisting of three four measure phrases (Dripsody)

Jazz chorus

one full statement of the twelve bar structure (Dripsody)

Ko-Ko Background info

a) Genre - Twelve bar blues
b) perforing forces - big band orchestra
c) key - E flat major
d) Structure - Introduction, seven choruses, coda
e) composer - Duke Ellington