Music Appreciation Unit 4 - Classical

Absolute music

Music for music’s sake; no underlying themes/ideas; opposite of program music

Theme

melodic idea; building block for larger work of music

Thematic Development

musical expansion of a theme via varying contour, rhythm, harmony, etc.

Theme Fragmentation

ways themes can be divided; parts that make up a theme

Motive

smallest melodic/rhythmic unit of a theme

Sequence

the repetition of a motive in a higher/lower register

Rondo Form

circles back around/recurring sections; (ABACA); sometimes (ABACABA)

Chamber Music

ensemble music for ~10 players; for an intimate setting; one player to a part

String Quartet

violin 1, violin 2, viola, cello; ensemble music

Patron

sponsors for artistic careers/works; commission pieces of music; frequently nobles or church

Rounded Binary

form with two sections; second section ends with a return to the first; both sections usually repeated

Symphony

multi-movement work for a large instrumental ensemble featuring string, brass, woodwinds, and percussion

Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)

worked for Esterhazys for most of career; end stage career in Britain; father of string quartets; wrote piano sonatas, string quartets, symphonies

London Symphonies

The last 12 symphonies written by Joseph Haydn; written during his time in Britain

Prodigy

virtuosic talent at a young age; Mozart wrote his first symphony at age 5; first opera at age 9

Multi-Movement Cycle

I - long,dramatic introduction/sonata-allegro form, II - slow/lyrical, III- dance-like/minuet trio form, IV - lively/spirited/rondo form

Sonata Allegro Form

Introduction → Exposition → Development → Recapitulation → Coda

Exposition

Theme I, modulates to Theme II, closing themes, often repeated

Development

explore and have fun with ideas and themes, expanding/fragmenting themes

Recapitulation

Theme I + Theme II closing themes, no modulation

1st Movement Concerto Form

fast, typically sonata-allegro form

Concerto

several movements for a solo instrument and orchestra; concerto grossi fell out of favor in classical era

Cadenza

improvised extension of a solo instrument in a concerto; often at a strong cadence point

Sonata

Multi-movement work for solo instrument or solo instrument with piano accompaniment

Scherzo

like a minuet (dance in 3), but faster

Moonlight Sonata

Famous Beethoven Sonata, Op. 27 No. 2

Opera Seria

serious, often tragic genre of opera

Opera Buffa

comedic genre of opera, similar plot throughout (old man tries to pursue younger women and a young man stops him)

Opus

translates to work; number given to major published works; pattern started with Beethoven

Requiem

Roman-Catholic mass for the dead, Mozart composed the first famous one right before his death

Minuet

a dance in three

Esterhazy Family

patrons of Joseph Haydn, lead Haydn to be isolated and inventive, Haydn was their court composer for 30 years

Theme and Variations

a theme is presented and then altered in successive statements

Heilegen Testament

Beethoven’s letter to his brother about his impending deafness

Fidelio

Beethoven’s only opera

Missa Solemnis

Beethoven’s only major mass written

Coda

winds down the movement, optional in sonata allegro form

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

child prodigy on piano; early stage (sacred pieces); late stage in Vienna, Austria where most of his great works were created; wrote mostly solo concertos, operas, sonatas, symphonies

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

pushed the boundaries with his composition; wrote symphonies, concertos, piano sonatas, string quartets, mass and opera; early stage (classical); middle stage (transitional); late stage (romantic)

Lorenzo da Ponte (1749-1838)

wrote libretto for Mozart’s most popular operas; in Italian; Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni, Cosi Fan Tutte

Mozart Operas

Abduction, Magic Flute, The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni, Cosi Fan Tutte

Minuet and Trio Form

a a b b | c c d d | a b