IB Music HL: Classical Era Vocab

Words Without Definitions

• multi-movement cycle

• overture

• symphony

• theme / variations

• divertimento

• serenade

Deceptive Cadence

• Pretty much anything that ends on a VI or vi

• Phrase ends on anything other than tonic or dominant

• Pop music pop chord progression

  • I IV VI V

Plagal Cadence

• Sub-dominant to tonic

  • I-IV

• Has to end on a four

• “A-men” cadence

  • Often found in hymns

Half Cadence

• Should feel unfinished, feel like a question

  • Weak cadence and calls for more

  • Usually a half way point in a song

• Start from any chord then end on a V chord

  • Can be an inversion

• Only an occurrence in the West

• Any phrase ending on a dominant (V, V7, vii)

Imperfect Authentic

• AKA IAC

• Second strongest cadence

• Still V to I

• Not in root position

• The highest-sounding pitch will not be the tonic

  • Can still be the same G and C hordes but the C is not the highest-sounding pitch

Perfect Authentic

• AKA: PAC

• Root position V (five) (or seven) chord to root position I (one) chord

  • EX: In the key of C this would go from a G chord to a C chord

• The highest voice has to be tonic

  • Has to be the name of the key we’re in

  • EX: In the key of C, the C has to be the highest-sounding pitch

• Cannot be an inversion

• The strongest cadence because it is tonic and in root

Cadence

• Clear end of a musical phrase

• How we get back home

• Sense of a musical phrase feeling complete

classical era characteristics

• 1750-1825

• music is for an audience

• composers are writing big and full compositions with full ensembles, orchestras, and accompaniment

• music is still written for big events

• songs are written for requiem (death)

• new instrumentation EX:

  • bassoon

  • bass clarinet

• incorporating order and structure to keep listeners brains engaged

significant artists

• Beethoven

• Mozart

• Schubert

opéra comique

• an opera on a lighthearted theme

• typically in French

• with spoken dialogue

opera seria

• usually classical or mythological themes

opera buffa

• a comic opera especially one with characters drawn from everyday life

• usually in Italian

ballad opera

• a theatrical entertainment popular in early 18th-century England

• taking the form of a satirical play interspersed with traditional or operatic songs

development

• the beginning of the development is announced by a horn call

exposition

• theme 1

• based on the famous four-note motive in C minor

cyclical form

• a theme or musical idea from one movement returns in another one

gruff

• humorous trio in C major

four-note rhythm

• short-short-short-long

symphony

• vocal soloists and chorus join the orchestra

scherzo

• a quick paced dance

• a variant of the minuet

sonata

• an instrumental work for one or two instruments

• consisting of three or four contrasting movements

first movement concerto form

• based on the recurring theme of sonata-allegro form and the double exposition

concerto

• refers to a solo group and orchestra or a solo instrument and orchestra

cadenza

• a virtuosic solo passage in the manner of an improvisation that comes toward the end of a movement

• emphasized by the fast-slow-fast pattern

da capo

• translates to from the beginning

minuet-and-trio form

• a type of A-B-A form

• consisting of a minuet, trio, and then minuet

coda

• an extension of the closing idea

• leads to the final cadence in the home key

recapitulation

• the beginning of the third section

• restatement

development

• characterized by conflict and action

bridge

• transitional passage leading to a second theme in a contrasting key

exposition

• opening section of sonata form

modulates

• moves to another key

sonata-allegro form / sonata form

• a form which establishes a tonic key

• modulates to another key

• returns to the original key

chamber music

• small ensemble music

• 2-10 players

refrain

• the main theme that repeats

rondo

• a lively movement

• lighthearted feel

enlightenment

• classical Ideals were strong and were combined with philosophical and intellectual movement

thematic development

• varying a theme’s melodic outline, rhythm, or harmony

motive / sequence

• the smallest melodic or rhythmic unit

absolute music

• music with no text or story to hold it in place

• the music is the story