Film Music and Classical to Romantic Periods Overview

Diegetic music

Music that characters can hear in the film world (e.g., radio playing in a scene).

Non-diegetic music

Background music not heard by the characters (e.g., soundtrack).

Foley

Sound effects created for film post-production (not music but part of the soundscape).

Motif (Leitmotif)

A short musical idea associated with a person, place, or idea in a film.

Film music

Music written specifically to accompany a film, enhances mood, character, and story.

Sonata form

A 3-part structure: Exposition, Development, Recapitulation.

Exposition (Sonata form)

Introduces 2 themes: Theme 1 in tonic, Theme 2 in dominant.

Development (Sonata form)

Themes are varied, modulated, fragmented—'stuff happens.'

Recapitulation (Sonata form)

Theme 1 and Theme 2 both return in tonic key.

Sonata

A multi-movement work for solo instrument or instrument + piano.

Symphony

A multi-movement orchestral work, typically 4 movements.

String Quartet

2 violins, viola, cello; popular Classical genre.

Form in Classical music

Structured and balanced (Sonata, Rondo, Theme & Variations, Binary, Ternary).

Typical movement pattern

Fast, slow, fast (e.g., Moonlight Sonata reverses this).

Rondo

A main theme (A) alternates with contrasting episodes (ABACA or ABACABA).

Theme and Variations

A musical theme is repeated with alterations in rhythm, harmony, texture, etc.

Binary form

Two-part structure (AB).

Ternary form

Three-part structure (ABA).

Ternary variations

Combines ternary structure with variation techniques.

Salon

Private gatherings for performances, especially Lieder and piano music.

Lieder

German art songs for voice and piano, often performed in salons.

Schubert & Schumann

Major Romantic composers of Lieder; Schubert wrote 600+ art songs.

Piano character piece

Short Romantic piano work focused on mood or a single idea.

Word painting

Musical technique where the music reflects the literal meaning of the text.

Program music

Instrumental music that tells a story or has an external idea (e.g., poem, image).

Absolute music

Music that exists for its own sake, without programmatic meaning.

Rubato

Flexible tempo for expressive purposes; 'borrow time' and return it later.

Prelude

Short, free-form piece that often sounds improvised.

Song cycle

A collection of Lieder that are connected by a story or character.

Scientific Revolution

1600s; emphasized observation, math, and how the world works.

Enlightenment

1700s; focused on reason, rights, social progress; influenced Classical ideals.

Romanticism

1800s; focused on emotion, nature, individualism, nationalism, and the supernatural.

Nationalism (Romantic)

Composers expressed pride in their country through folk songs, dances, and stories.

Beethoven

Bridged Classical and Romantic periods; expanded structure, emotion, and orchestration.

Romantic Era 'Top 3'

Beethoven, Mozart, Haydn (important figures in transition and innovation).

Pentatonic scale

5-note scale, common in folk and world music.

Whole tone scale

All whole steps, creates dreamy or ambiguous sound.

Octatonic scale

Alternating whole and half steps; used for eerie or complex textures.

Multiple choice

Focus on definitions and recognition of terms from all units.

Short answer & long-form questions

Emphasis on analysis of Classical and Romantic pieces.

Analysis focus

Apply knowledge of melody, harmony, form, texture, and historical context.

Theory

Be prepared to apply theory studied during the semester to pieces you analyze.

Listening

You may be asked to identify form, period, or stylistic traits in listening excerpts.