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Classical Era 1750-1820
Answer the following in complete sentences.
http://www.ipl.org/div/mushist/clas/index.html
1.
Who were three of the great composers of the “Viennese school”?
Giovanni Pergolesi (1710-1736), Emanuel Bach (1714-1788) and Johann Christian Bach
(1735-1782)
2.
Why do you think it was referred to as the “Viennese school” or “Viennese
style”?
The classical era saw the development of the multi-movement cycle that generally
consisted of three or four movements, as seen below. This large-scale work was used in
symphonies, sonatas, string quartets, and concertos.
MOVEMENT
CHARACTER
FORM
TEMPO
FIRST
Long and dramatic
Sonata-allegro
Allegro
SECOND
Slow and lyrical
Theme and Variations,
Sonata form, Ternary form,
or Rondo
Andante, or Adagio, or
Largo
THIRD
(optional)
FOURTH
Dance-like
Minuet (18th Cent.),
Scherzo (19th Cent.)
Lively, “happy
ending” (18th Cent.)
Epic-dramatic with
triumphal ending (19th
Cent.)
Minuet and Trio
Sonata-Allegro
Sonata-Rondo
Theme and Variations
Allegretto
Allegro
Allegro, Vivace, Presto
http://library.thinkquest.org/22673/forms.html
3.
Briefly outline these forms:
Ternary: The movement begins with the first section, followed by the second section. Then
the first section returns (sometimes in a modified way)
Theme & Variation: Consists a theme, which is usually made up of four or eight-bar
phrases and several variations.
Rondo: One or two sections keep on coming round again and again
Sonata: Composers use Sonata form to provide the basic framework for their symphonies
http://www.erikscull.com/portfolio/assets/flash/minuettrio1.html
Minuet & Trio: Commonly heard as the third movement of classical symphonies and string
quartets. It’s in triple meter and it consists of three main sections.
http://www.ipl.org/div/mushist/clas/index.html
4.
In what ways did the symphony change in this period?
Gave composers a lot more freedom and easier ways to incorporate their creative ideas
into the symphonies. They also felt less constrained by the rules set in previous periods
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonata#The_sonata_in_the_Classical_period
5.
As the sonata developed as a form of its own, for what instruments were
sonatas typically written?
Keyboard, piano, or for a keyboard and another instrument which was often the violin or
cello.
6.
What is a sonata?
The term was applied to a variety of works for solo instrument such as keyboard or violin,
and for groups of instruments
http://www.ipl.org/div/mushist/clas/index.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/String_quartet
7.
Why is Haydn known as “the father of the symphony and the string quartet”?
He didn’t actually invent it, but he did develop them into the forms that eventually swept
throughout Europe.
8.
What instruments make up a string quartet?
A quartet is a musical ensemble of four string players - usually two violin players, a violist
and a cellist.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opera_buffa
9.
During the classical era, composers such as Mozart continued to develop the
opera causing it to gain in popularity. What is the difference between opera
buffa and opera seria?
Opera buffa was first used as an informal description of Italian comic opera. It was at first
characterized by everyday settings, local dialects and simple vocal writing. Opera buffa
was a parallel development to opera seria and arose in reaction to the so-called first
reform of Zeno and Metastasio. Opera buffa was indended as a genre that the common
man could relate to more easily, while opera seria was an entertainment that was both
made for and depicted kings and nobility. Opera buffa was made for and depicted common
people with more common problems.
http://www.ipl.org/div/mushist/clas/mozart.html
10.
What were some of Mozart’s greatest accomplishments as a composer?
Mozart was the only composer in history to have written undisputed masterworks in
virtually every musical genre of his age.
http://www.ipl.org/div/mushist/clas/beethoven.html
11.
Why do you think Beethoven wrote significantly fewer symphonies than Mozart?
He was forced to have brutal training in music because Beethoven’s father wanted him to
be as successful as Mozart, whereas Mozart really liked music and has chosen to do it
himself.
12.
How did he develop the symphony from its earlier forms?
Beethoven added more themes, contrasts, instruments, more weight and drama than
previously heard in the symphonic form.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concerto
13.
While the Baroque era had Concerto Grosso plus Solo Concertos, which of
these two continued to be used in the Classical era?
The popularity of concerto grosso has declined after the baroque period, while the solo
concerto continued to be used in the classical era.
http://www.wwnorton.com/college/music/enj10/essentials/content/ch24/study.htm
14.
List the movements and tempo used in a Classical concerto.
The first movement of a Sonata was called the sonata-allegro. It consisted of three
sections. The Exposition, Development and Recapitulation.
!
!
Exposition: This section presented the main theme of the movement in the tonic
key. The theme then transitioned by a bridge and modulated to the dominant key, or
relative major key if the movement was a minor key. The second theme was presented in
the dominant key. This section concluded with a closing theme or codetto
!
Development: This section used the material from the exposition which the
composer developed and expanded. Motives were presented in various keys, registers
and groupings of instruments. This section also have new themes added that were not
found in the previous section.
!
Recapitulation: Was a restatement of the exposition but with all subsections
remaining in the tonic key.
The second movement of a sonata has three specifications that usually occur. It was
written in a slow tempo and in a contrasting key, which was usually the subdominant or
dominant. This movement was a lot more lyrical than the other movements
The third movement in the classical sonata was called the menuetto or minuet. It was
written in a moderately fast tempo, played in the tonic key and was written in 3/4 time. The
minuet has three sections: minuet, trio and a repeat of the minuet.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_period_%28music%29
15.
Using bullets, provide a thorough list of the main characteristics of classical
music.
- Lighter cleaner texture than Baroque music
- less complex
- Mainly homophonic