Classical Key Terms

Question 1

Classicism

Answer 1

Ancient Greek & Roman designs and influences

Question 2

Patronage:

Answer 2

When people pay you to do your work (like commissions)

Question 3

Absolute Music

Answer 3

Music for the sake of music, no musical ideas or program

Question 4

Themes

Answer 4

Musical Ideas

Question 5

Motifs

Answer 5

Themes that are made out of melodic or rhythmic fragments (often repeat throughout a piece, symbol in music), a short musical idea that can develop into a longer idea- can be sequenced to create longer melody (changes pitches to achieve this)

Question 6

Chamber

Answer 6

Small orchestra, smaller group of performers (2-25)
String Quartet (2 Violins, Viola, Cello)
Duos & Trios
Santana
Divertimento: Faster Tempos, shows technical skill
Serenade: More chill, love songs / lightening the mood

Question 7

Programmatic Music

Answer 7

Music written with something pre-existing (has a program)

Question 8

Absolute Music

Answer 8

Music just for music, story interpreted by listener

Question 9

Thematic Development

Answer 9

When a theme is introduced at the start and changes over the course of the piece (with fragments of the original theme)

Question 10

Multi-Movement Cycle:

Answer 10

A piece of music made out of multiple pieces

Question 11

Symphony

Answer 11

An instrumental work meant to show off the entire orchestra, a genre designed to demonstrate the expressive capabilities of the full orchestra

Question 12

Harmony Modulation

Answer 12

A temporary change in harmony- shock/ surprise

Question 13

Coda

Answer 13

Extended ending (where the surprise is in Symphony No. 100)

Question 14

Rounded Binary Form:

Answer 14

[A B] [A’], like ternary form- but has a small return at the end

Question 15

Requiem

Answer 15

Mass for the dead

Question 16

Concerto

Answer 16

Alternate between two performers (solo vs orchestra)

Question 17

Cadenza

Answer 17

Features a soloist alone (reserved for only the soloist → near the end of a piece), often improvised by the performer- orchestra will pause, making it seem like it will continue as the soloist preforms (can be however long the performer would like)

Question 18

Rondo

Answer 18

Refrain between each episode → [A B A] [C A] [A B A]

Question 19

Sonata Genre

Answer 19

Typically 1-2 performers → if 1- its for a pianist, if 2- its for a soloist and a pianist

Question 20

Through Composed

Answer 20

No form in mind when created, written “through” the music

Question 21

Modified Strophic Form

Answer 21

Long sections of music that return with small changes, also known as Song Form (strophs)

Question 22

Cyclical Form

Answer 22

Returns in a cycle- often repeated and/or altered in many ways

Question 23

Opera Seria

Answer 23

The continuation of the Baroque Opera, often in Italian- Bel Canto (bell-like singing)

Question 24

Opera Buffa

Answer 24

(Comedic Opera): Stories of the “common man”- meant for middle class entertainment, often poking fun at aristocrats, every country has their own “flavor” or styles- Vernacular

Question 25

Ensemble

Answer 25

A section of the opera- has Recitatives, Arias, and Overtures- happens near the end of a movement, many singers sing simultaneously (Polyphony)

Question 26

Librettist

Answer 26

The author of an opera

Question 27

Concerto Form

Answer 27

3 movements that alter fast-slow-fast, the first movement is the longest and most complex- combining elements of Baroque Ritornello procedure and Sonata- Allegro form, and the last movement is fast and lively- often in Rondo form

Question 28

Rondo Form

Answer 28

Regular: A-B-A-C-A, Classical Sonata-Rondo: A-B-A-C-A-B-A, “A” is a catchy dance-like refrain

Question 29

Classical Sonata

Answer 29

Set of either one solo instrument (usually a piano) or for duos (like a violin and piano), sometimes designed for amateur performances in homes or composer-performer show pieces