Classical Era Music Genres, Forms, and Composers Overview

What are the instrumental genres from the Classical Period?

String Quartet, Sonata, Concerto, Serenade, symphony

How many movements are typically found in a symphony of the Classical period?

4 movements

How many movements are typically found in a concerto of the Classical period?

3 movements

Which instrumental genres from the Classical Period might have featured piano?

Sonata and Concerto

According to the sonata-cycle map that we studied for the multi-movement instrumental genres for the classical period, give the most traditional forms for the following movements.

Click here to move on to label movements 1-4

First movement

Sonota-allegro form, fast

Second movement

A-B-A or Theme and Variations, slow

Third movement

Minut and trio, Moderate dance

Fourth movement

Sonota -allegro, or rondo, fast

What are the three sections of Sonata-Allegro form?

Exposition, Development, Recapitulation

What is a cadenza?

A solo passage in the manner of improvisation toward the end of the movement.

How many symphonies did Beethoven compose?

9 symphonies

How many symphonies did Mozart compose?

41 symphonies

How many symphonies did Haydn compose?

104 symphonies

Give one example of a secular vocal genre from the Classical Period.

Opera

What is the difference between opera seria and opera buffa?

Opera seria is serious and tragic, while opera buffa is comedic and lighthearted.

Haydn

Father of symphonies, teacher of Beethoven and Mozart, is Austrian.

Mozart

Child prodigy

Beethoven

German, became deaf. Traditional composer between classical and romantic era.

What are the characteristics of the first movement of Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata?

Slow, minor, played softly.

What is cyclical form? (Essay question)

Structure in which musical material presented in one movement returns in a later movement.

What is the genre of Mozart's Eine kleine Nachtmusik?

Serenade

What was the most prevalent musical texture of the Classical era?

Homophonic texture

What is Mozart's Requiem Mass also known as?

Mass for the Dead

Multi movement cycle

Same as classical era (1.)

Musical styles in the classical era

Diatonic harmony, Homophonic texture, regular rhythms and meters, singable lyrical melody, and frequent use of folk elements