The Classical Concerto (Chapter 34)

Flashcards covering key vocabulary, forms, structural elements, and historical context of the Classical concerto and Mozart's Piano Concerto in G Major, K. 453.

Classical Concerto

A musical genre that shifted emphasis from a solo group to a solo instrument paired with an orchestra, featuring a virtuoso soloist as a strong conversation leader.

Three-Movement Structure

The standard fast-slow-fast movement arrangement of the concerto, established by Vivaldi.

Cadenza

A virtuosic, improvisational solo passage near the end of a movement featuring free play on one or more themes while the orchestra falls silent.

First-Movement Concerto Form

A musical form consisting of sonata-allegro form with a double exposition.

Orchestral Exposition

The first exposition in first-movement concerto form, played in the tonic key to present the themes.

Second Exposition (Solo Exposition)

The section in first-movement concerto form where the soloist enters and presents elaborated versions of the themes.

Coda

The closing section of the first movement that offers a strong affirmation of the tonic key.

Twenty-Seven

The total number of piano concertos composed by Mozart, written for public performances featuring himself at the piano.

1784

The year in which Mozart composed five piano concertos, including K. 453.

Barbara von Ployer

Mozart's student for whom he composed the Piano Concerto in G Major, K. 453.

Piano Concerto in G Major, K. 453

A 1784 work by Mozart featuring graceful writing for woodwinds, a lyrical theme and variations slow movement, and a dancelike third movement theme that he taught to his pet starling.

"Piano Theme"

A new theme introduced by the soloist between theme 1 and theme 2 during the solo exposition of Mozart's K. 453, movement I.