Classical Era

Classical Era Review

• Know the years of the Classical era

  • 1750-1825

• Know characteristics of classical-era music

  • Multiple moods

  • Homophonic Texture

  • Simple, Tuneful Melodies (including folk tunes)

  • Gradual dynamics

  • End of basso continuo

o What were melodies like?

o Was a basso continuo still utilized?

o Did music present one mood or multiple moods?

o Were terraced dynamics still widely used?

• Know instrumentation of classical orchestra

  • Strings

  • Woodwinds in pairs

  • Brass in pairs

  • 2 timpani

• Know instrumentation of a string quartet

  • 2 violins

  • 1 viola

  • 1 cello

• What is a symphony?

  • 4 movement work for orchestra

• What is a string quartet?

  • 4 movement work for string quartet (2 violins, viola, cello)

• Know about the 4 movements of a symphony and string quartet (tempos & forms)

o 1st movement - fast tempo & sonata

o 2nd movement - slow tempo & theme and variations

o 3rd movement - Moderate tempo & minuet and trio

o 4th movement - fast tempo & rondo or sonata

• Sonata form – what happens (melodically and harmonically) in this form?

  • 1st & 4th movements of symphonies

o Exposition

  • Theme 1 in home key

  • Transition & modulations

o Development

  • Themes reworked & developed

  • Modulations

o Recapitulation

  • Re-statement of exposition in home key

  • Theme 2 in secondary key

  • Closing theme

• What is a coda?

  • Concluding passage

• Be able to describe Theme & variations form

• Minuet & trio form – in what meter is this form? How many parts are there in this form?

  • 3rd movement

  • Ternary form

  • Triple meter

• With what did Beethoven replace the minuet & trio?

  • Answer: Scherzo & Trio

• Be able to identify rondo form

• What is a classical concerto? how many movements? What are the tempos?

  • Soloists + orchestra

  • 3 movements

  • I. Fast, 1st movement concerto form

  • II. Slow, ternary (or other)

  • III. Fast, rondo

• Be able to identify the structure of first-movement concerto form

  • (Aka “Double-exposition concerto form”)

  • Exposition (Orchestra plays exposition & Soloist plays exposition

  • Development

  • Recapitulation (Cadenza at end)

• What is a sonata (musical work)? It was intended for “_____________” performance.

  • Answer: “at-home”

• Ludwig van Beethoven – know a little about his life and musical innovations

• Joseph Haydn – He is considered the Father of the ____________________________.

  • Answer: Symphony & String Quartet

• W. A. Mozart is most remembered as a _______________.

• Know about the different types of operas Mozart composed:

o Opera buffa - comic opera

o Opera seria - dramatic opera

o Dramma giocoso - mix of serious and comic action

o Singspiel - Germani has spoken and sung dialog

• What is a Requie

  • Mass for the Dead

  • Mozart’s final work


More Notes:

Joseph Haydn

  • 1732-1809

  • Austrian

  • Father of Symphony & String Quatet

  • Esterhazys’ composer

  • Baryton trios for Prince

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

  • 1756-1791

  • Austrian pianist/composer

  • Prodigy

  • Toured Europe with father and sister

Ludwig van Beethoven

  • 1770-1827

  • German pianist/composer

  • Deaf - lost hearing as an adult

  • Added new instruments to the orchestra

  • Added 5th movement to a symphony

  • Replaced Minuet & Trio movement with Scherzo & Trio

Rondo

  • 4th movement

  • Main theme alternates with contrasting material

  • A is main theme; it always appears in the same key

  • B & C (etc.) represents the contrasting material

  • A B A C A - 5 part rondo

  • A B A C A B A - 7 part rondo

The Classical Sonata

  • Intended for “at-home performance” (aimed at amatuers)

  • For 1-2 instruments

  • 3 movements in this Mozart Piano Sonata

  • 1st movement - sonata

  • 2nd movement - theme & variations

  • 3rd movement - minuet and trio