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MUS 215: Appreciation of Music > Classical Era > Flashcards

Classical Era Flashcards

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1
Q

How many performers typically perform chamber music?

A

2-10 players. One per part. No conductor.

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2
Q

What genre was the most important genre in chamber music during the Classical era?

A

The string quartet (Violin 1, Violin 2, Viola, Cello).

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3
Q

Who was Joseph Haydn?

A

Prolific Austrian composer who had a very wealthy patron (Esterhazys) that allowed him to develop music with structural logic, varied moods, and expressive harmony. He wrote over 100 symphonies, 14 operas, 68 string quartets, concertos, and keyboard music. The father of symphonies.

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4
Q

What is the Op. 33 Quartet/Joke Quartet?

A

A set of six quartets written by Haydn for Grand Duke Paul of Russia. Introduced scherzo. Jaunty rondo in section A, new key with sforzando down beats in section B, home key with the violin in high range in section C, and a coda with a sudden adagio tempo with a surprise ending and pauses.

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5
Q

What is a theme in classical music?

A

A musical idea or building block.

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6
Q

How is the theme developed in the classical era?

A
  1. Large form to enhance logic, clarity, and coherence.
  2. Melodic outline with varied harmonies and rhythms.
  3. Sequence of repeating music at a higher or lower octave.
  4. Extension, repetition, contraction.
  5. Motive: melodic or rhythmic theme fragments.
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7
Q

What is absolute music?

A

Music that had no prescribed story or text. Form is the organizing element externally and internally.

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8
Q

How many movements are common in classical music?

A

3-4.

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9
Q

What is programmatic music?

A

Music that has a story or program.

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10
Q

What is the most common musical form?

A

Sonato-allegro.

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11
Q

What is part one of sonato-allegro form?

A

The exposition.
1. Introduction of theme one (home key/ tonic) and theme two (contrasting key).
2. Allegro tempo.
3. Longest movement.
4. The themes are separated by a bridge

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12
Q

What is part two of sonato-allegro form?

A

The development.
1. Fast.
2. Constant key shifts.
3. Builds tension and drama.

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13
Q

What is part four of sonato-allegro form?

A

The Recapitulation.
1. Psychological climax and return to the first theme.
2. Restatement of themes in the tonic.
3. Final cadence in the home key.

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14
Q

What occurred in the classical era pertaining to instrumental music?

A

Many new forms and genres emerged.

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15
Q

What was considered to be the ultimate instrument of the Classical Era?

A

The symphony.

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16
Q

What are some aspects of the symphony?

A
  1. A group that had the greatest musical expressive potential.
  2. Versatile and powerful in the Western world.
  3. Remarkable timbral palette.
  4. Roots in Italian opera overtures.
  5. German influence expanded the genre.
  6. Drawn-out crescendos.
  7. Minuet and other dance-like musical movements added.
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17
Q

What is the heart of the orchestra?

A

The strings.

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18
Q

What do the woodwinds provide an orchestra?

A

Varying color and often double the strings.

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19
Q

What does brass provide to an orchestra?

A

Sustained harmonies.

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20
Q

What does percussion provide an orchestra?

A

Rhythmic life and vitality.

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21
Q

How many players were in a Classical era orchestra?

A

30-40.

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22
Q

What is Haydn’s symphony No. 94/ Suprise symphony?

A

A symphony with sudden fortissimo cords used to wake dozing audience members. Know for appealing melodies and mastery of form. Written in a theme and variation form (A, B, 1, 2, 3, 4). A and B themes in binary structure with 4 variations.

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23
Q

Who was Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and what were some of his major accomplishments?

A
  1. An Austrian composer and pianist considered the most extraordinarily gifted child in the history of music (started composing music at 4 years of age).
  2. Became a freelance musician at 25 because he disliked the patronage system.
  3. Known for creating music with elegant and songful melodies, and contrasting moods.
  4. Prolific composer of chamber music, keyboard works, opera, symphonies, and concertos.
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24
Q

What three operas did Mozart create at the peak of his career?

A
  1. Don Giovanni.
  2. The Marriage of Figaro.
  3. Cosi fan tutte.
25
Q

What are serenades and divertimentos?

A

Lighter genres meant to be easy listening in social settings.

26
Q

What is Eine kleine Nachtmusik (A Little Night Music)?

A
  1. A serenade written for a string quartet and a double bass.
  2. Meant to be played outside and/or in public.
  3. Has three movements (Exposition, Development, and Recap. Could also have a double exposition.).
27
Q

What are the characteristics of movement one of Eine kleine Nachtmusik?

A
  1. Theme 1 is a disjunct, ascending “rocket” theme.
  2. Theme 2 is a descending and graceful theme.
  3. High energy closing theme.
  4. Short development.
  5. Allegro.
  6. Sonato-allegro form.
28
Q

What are the characteristics of movement three of Eine kleine Nachtmusik?

A
  1. Allegretto.
  2. Minuet-and-trio form.
  3. Strong triple meter.
  4. Rounded binary form.
  5. Bright, decisive minuet.
  6. Expressive, conjunct, lyrically contrasting trio.
29
Q

What thing did emphasis shift to during the classical era?

A

To solo instruments from solo groups.

30
Q

How did solo instruments and the orchestra combine?

A

The orchestra acted as an ensemble/ support to the solo instrument.

31
Q

How many movements does a concerto have?

A

3 movements (fast-slow-fast).

32
Q

What is cadenza?

A

A virtuosic, improvisational, solo passage that is normally performed when the orchestra falls silent.

33
Q

What is double exposition?

A

When the ensemble and the player perform together.

34
Q

What are the characteristics of the first-movement concerto form?

A
  1. Sonatoallegro form with double exposition.
  2. Orchestral exposition in the tonic key.
  3. The soloist elaborates on theme versions in the second exposition.
  4. Cadenza near the end.
  5. Coda that strongly affirms the tonic key.
35
Q

How many piano concertos did Mozart write?

A

Twenty-seven.

36
Q

What is K. 453?

A

A concerto composed by Mozart for his student, Barbara von Ployer. Contains graceful writing for woodwinds, lyrically slow, thrid movement is dancelike.

37
Q

What is opera seria?

A

A serious Italian opera that is always performed in Italian and was meant to be viewed by an aristocratic audience. Contained recitatives and arias to put the virtuosity of the star singers on display. Normally based on stories of kings, heroes, and classic antiquity.

38
Q

What is comic opera?

A

A lighter simpler opera that was performed in the vernacular and contained stories that addressed common problems. Sponsored by the rising merchant middle class. Used common tunes and humor/satire to appeal to the audience.

39
Q

What were the other names for comic opera?

A
  1. Opera buffa (Italy), Opera comique (France), Singspiel (Germany), dialogue or ballad opera (England).
40
Q

What is Don Giovanni?

A

An opera written by Mozart that contains elements of opera seria and opera buffa with a libretto written by Lorenzo da Ponte. Retells the tale of Don Juan.

41
Q

What are the characteristics of Act 1, Scene 5 of Don Giovanni?

A
  1. An aria with two main sections (A-B-A’-B’).
  2. Short orchestral introduction.
  3. Quick tempo changes, disjunct melody, and sudden dynamic changes.
  4. Soprano aria with interjections.
42
Q

What is a requiem mass?

A

A funeral mass. was performed in concert halls during the Classic era.

43
Q

What is Mozart’s Requiem?

A

The last large-scale composition Mozart wrote. Was finished by Franz Xaver Sussmayr, one of Mozart’s students. Included four vocal soloists, a four-part chorus, and an orchestra. Lots of low wind and brass.

44
Q

What differentiates a requiem mass from a mass?

A

The addition of a Dies Irae.

45
Q

What is Mozart’s Dies Irae from Requiem?

A

A dies irae that contains a full chorus and orchestra with homophony in the first verse. The second verse includes a chorus and orchestra with polyphony. The third verse has a trombone solo and a solo for a bass singer. Plenty of repetition. Continue (4-7) if you feel it is necessary.

46
Q

What is a sonata?

A

An instrumental work written for one or two instruments contains 3-4 contrasting movements and more intimate expression. Piano sonatas by both Beethoven and Mozart are the most significant.

47
Q

What transition occurred in sonatas during the Classical era?

A

Went from use in the home by amateurs to use by professionals in perfromances.

48
Q

What was Ludwig van Beethoven?

A

A German composer who worked under a modified patronage system where he taught aristocrats, composed, published, worked on commission, and performed concerts. Was known for his expertise in large-scale form, his use of individuality, and his three distinct periods of composing. Composed 9 symphonies, 32 piano sonatas, several concertos, 17 string quartets, chamber music, one opera, and choral music. Hailed as a genius who carefully balanced the transition of music from the romantic era into the classical era.

49
Q

What is patronage/the patronage system?

A

A system in which musicians are given money and support, often by a few wealthy benefactors, in exchange for creating music for these benefactors.

50
Q

What is diminution in music?

A

The repetition of a theme where the note length is one-half of that in the original theme.

51
Q

What is augmentation in music?

A

The repetition of a theme where the notes are twice as long as that in the original theme.

52
Q

What is fragmentation in music?

A

The division of the theme into separate segments that are used in the piece.

53
Q

What is a rondo?

A

When a melody or section is restated in a piece of music.

54
Q

What is a concerto?

A

A piece with three movements written for solo instruments or solo instruments accompanied by an orchestra.

55
Q

What is the multimovement cycle?

A

Music that is written with an exposition, development, and recapitulation.

56
Q

What is Moonlight sonata?

A

A sonata written by Beethoven based on a poem by Ludwig Rellstab. Known as a fantasy sonata with 3 movements (1: dreamy. 2: Major key and gentle scherzo. 3: Stormy, dramatic, sonato-allegro form.

57
Q

What are some characteristics of Piano Sonata in C-sharp Minor (Op. 27, No. 2)?

A
  1. Written in Adagio-sostenuto.
  2. Triplet pattern.
  3. Ethereal mood w/ soft dynamics.
  4. Delicate singing melody w/ an expressive minor key.
  5. Has fragments and motives in the development section.
58
Q

What are Beethoven’s symphonies?

A

The symphonies that showed how he addressed the public and his development as a composer.

59
Q

What is Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony?

A

His best-known symphony that is written as a four-movement cycle. Two themes (1: Short-short-short-long rhythmic motive. 2: lyrical and heard against the four-note motive.).

MUS 215: Appreciation of Music (7 decks)

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