Music Exam II classical period

The Classical Period

1750-1825

Major themes of the classical period

Aristocratic leaders

development of democracy and capitalism

Vienna a major

fascination w/ balance, order, structure

Aristocratic leaders

becoming less important and middle class rising

Development of democracy and capitalism

declaration of independence and equality of man- exercised cultural center (right voice opinion) creates wealth and equality

Vienna a major

1st school

Major events in classical period

Industrial Revolution and age of reason/enlightenment

industrial revolution

agricultural being reinvented

patrons key

people paying to host musicians in their home and pay room and board

effect on musicians poverty if didn't have constant income

rising middle class

allowed public concerts and purchase of instruments( printing sheet music expanded etc.

diversity of job force

homophonic textures

melody accompanied by chords

major and minor

most used harmonic system, all keys available and tuning system

rise of instrumental music

expanding instrumental ensembles

went from 30 players to 70 players

allowed for more division of roles and change dynamics

repertoire

Centers on viennese masters

mozart, Beethoven haydn (1st Viennas school and set a lot of trends

opera buffa

comic opera (comedy) focused on working class people

opera seria

serious opera

focused on tragedy, aristocratic named heroes

Singspiel

(sung play) a genre of German opera using a folkish or comic spoken play with musical numbers inserted. play that has music with dialogue

Oratorio

a musical composition for voices and orchestra based on a religious text

like opera but no staging

choral works

Vocal compositions for choir, often sacred.

mass

enactment of catholic mass through music

requiem

mass for the dead

Concerto

a composition for orchestra and a soloist

Sonata

a musical composition of 3 or 4 movements of contrasting forms

specific formal structure for 1 movement

chamber music

ensemble music for up to about ten players, with one player to a part

string quartets

2 violins, viola, cello

symphonies

Large orchestral works typically in four movements.

theme and variations

Compositional procedure in which a theme is stated and then altered in successive statements; occurs as an independent piece or as a movement of a multimovement cycle.

rondo

ABACA

A returning after every contrasting

Binary

AB 2 part form

Ternary

three part form (ABA)

used in opera when expressing emotion

Sonata Form

exposition ( two themes and a key) development(action), recapitulation(2 themes and a key)

multimovement forms

set of pieces performed together