Classical people, groups, & movements Flashcards
Who was Karl Stamitz?
a leading figure of the Mannheim School
[p. 104]
By whom was the Mannheim orchestra employed?
Elector Palatine Charles Theodore (1724-1799)
[p. 104]
Who is credited with inventing the modern piano?
Bartolomeo Cristofori (1655-1731)
[p. 102]
List characteristics and representative works of Beethoven’s Middle Period.
“Externalization” (1803-1815)
- more Romantic elements
- increased use of chromatic harmony and abrupt modulations
- expanded the development and coda sections in sonata-form movements
- replaced the menuet & trio with scherzo & trio
- experimented with cyclical form
- linked movements together
- expanded the orchestra to include piccolo, trombone, and contrabassoon
- representative works:
- Fidelio (opera)
- Violin Concerto
- Symphonies Nos. 3-8
[p. 141]
Who was Johann Stamitz?
music director of the Mannheim orchestra
[p. 104]
Describe the Mannheim School.
composers and orchestra active at the court of Mannheim, Germany, in the 18th century
the Mannheim orchestra was known for its precision in performance, wide dynamic range, and dramatic effects
developed the orchestral crescendo, rocket theme, and the grand pause
the basso continuo was often replaced with written orchestral parts
influenced the development of the symphony, and the composers of the Viennese school, including Haydn and Mozart
[p. 104]
Haydn, Mozart, & Beethoven are the 3 masters of what group?
Viennese School
[p. 103]
Franz Joseph Haydn - genres & titles
- Symphonies - over 100, including No. 45 (“Farewell”), No. 94 (“Surprise”), No. 100 (“Military”), No. 101 (“Clock”), No. 104 (“London”)
- Concertos - for piano, violin, cello horn, and trumpet
- Chamber - 68 string quartets, including “Quinten” and “Emperor”
- Piano - over 40 keyboard sonatas, numberous sets of variations
- Operas - 14, including Armida
- Oratorios - The Creation, The Seasons, The Seven Last Words of Christ
- Sacred vocal - including Lord Nelson Mass, Mass in the Time of War
- Novelties - marionette theater works; compositions for the baryton, a now-obsolete string instrument
[p. 116]
Viennese School
Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven
in 18th century, Vienna emerged as a musical center
The balance and symmetry evident in their works became hallmarks of the Classical style.
[pp. 102, 103]
Giacomo Carissimi, Antonio Vivaldi, J. S. Bach, and G. F. Handel all made important contributions to what genre?
oratorio
[p. 111]
What are some of Gluck’s important achievements in opera reform?
- restoration of the chorus by making it an integral part of the dramatic action
- minimizing the contrast between recitative and aria by frequently composing in an arioso style
- making the overture an organic part of the score by using themes that would be heard later in the opera
- the rejection of empty displays of virtuosity in favor of, as he put it, “a beautiful simplicity”
[p. 122]
Who was Baron Gottfried van Swieten?
German-language librettist for Haydn’s The Creation.
[p. 111]
Ludwig van Beethoven - dates
1770-1827
Who was the librettist for The Marriage of Figaro?
Lorenzo da Ponte
[p. 123]
Who were four leading figures of the Mannheim School?
Johann Stamitz
Ignaz Holzbauer
Christian Cannabich
Karl Stamitz
[p. 104]
What is the connection between Franz Schubert and Beethoven?
Schubert idolized Beethoven. Schubert had the honor of serving as one of the torch bearers in Beethoven’s funeral procession. Months later, Schubert himself lay sick and dying. At his request, his friends performed for him Beethoven’s String Quartet, op. 131. Five days later…he passed away.
[p. 137]
Who was Barbara von Ployer?
one of Mozart’s most gifted students
he composed 2 piano concertos for her
[p. 117]
List characteristics and representative works of Beethoven’s Late Period.
“Reflection” (1815-1827)
- style became more abstract and meditative
- employed counterpoint more frequently, including fugal writing
- experimented further with form and content (ex: adding SATB soloists & chorus to the final movement of Sym #9)
- frequent use of variation technique
- representative works:
- Piano Sonatas, op. 109, 110, & 111
- Missa solemnis
- Symphony No. 9
- String Quartets op,. 131, 132, & 135
[p. 141]
What is the significance of the Esterhazy family?
employed Haydn for nearly 30 years, giving him ample opportunity to explore and perfect his approach to the symphonic genre
[p. 106]
Ludwig van Beethoven - musical style & contributions, general
- one of the most widely recognized and admired composers of all time
- his music demonstrates traits associated with both Classical and Romantic style
- a bold innovator; a highly original and influential figure
- replaced menuet & trio with scherzo & trio (Sym #5)
- use of cyclical structure (Sym #5)
- programmatic elements (Sym #6)
- inclusion of a chorus in a symphony (Sym #9)
- superb designer and architect: planned and meticulously revised his compositions in sketchbooks
- developed and expanded Classical forms (sonata, concerto), transforming every genre that he touched
- employed explosive accents, extreme dynamic contrasts
- incorporated new orchestral instruments: piccolo, trombone, & contrabassoon
- exploited technological improvements to piano
[p. 140]
Who named Beethoven’s three periods Imitation, Externalization, & Reflection?
French composer Vincent d’Indy
[p. 141]
What composers made important contributions to the oratorio repertoire?
- Giacomo Carissimi
- Antonio Vivaldi
- J. S. Bach
- G. F. Handel
Define ‘Sturm und Drang’
literary movement roughly spanning the years 1760-1785
deals with individual’s revolt against conventional society
works of Friedrich Schiller and Johann Wolfgang von Goethe demonstrate the movement
artistic aim was to frighten, shock, or otherwise overwhelm the reader with emotion
musically, it translated into passionate outbursts with emphasis on minor keys
evident in the music of J. S. Bach’s sons, Haydn, and Mozart
[p. 103]
What is Ignaz Holzbauer’s significance?
a leading figure in the Mannheim School
[p. 104]
List characteristics and representative works of Beethoven’s Early Period.
“Imitation” (up to 1802)
- absorbed the Classical style traits exhibited by Haydn and Mozart
- Sturm und Drang influence evident in his preference for minor keys, use of tremolo, and abrupt contrasts
- representative works
- six String Quartets, op. 18
- Symphonies Nos. 1 & 2
- piano sonatas 1-10, up to opus 14
[p. 141]
Who was Johann Wolfgang von Goethe?
an author whose works demonstrated the Sturm und Drang movement
[p. 103]
Christoph Willibald Gluck - dates & biographical info
1714-1787
German-born
occupies an important place in the history of opera because of the reforms he introduced.
[p. 122]
Who said, “I sought to restrict the music to its true purpose of serving to give expression to the poetry?”
Christoph Willibald Gluck (1714-1787)
[p. 122]
For whom did Mozart compose 2 piano concertos?
Barbara von Ployer
[p. 117]
Bartolomeo Cristofori - dates & significance
1655-1731
often credited for invention of the modern piano
instrument builder in the service of the Medici family
[p. 102]
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - genres & titles
- Symphonies - over 40, including No. 35 (“Haffner”), No. 36 (“Linz”), No. 38 (“Prague”), No. 40 (“Romantic”), No. 41 (“Jupiter”)
- Concertos - piano (27) violin (5), flute, flute and harp, oboe, clarinet, horn
- Chamber - string quartets (23), including “The Hunt” and “Dissonance”; duo sonatas, trios, quintets, serenades, divertimenti
- Piano - sonatas, fantasias, variations
- Operas - more than 20, including The Abduction from the Seraglio; Don Giovanni; Cosi fan tutte; Idomeneo; The Marriage of Figaro; The Magic Flute
- Vocal - Lieder; concert arias, motets, and masses, including Coronation Mass and Requiem Mass
[p. 128]
Who was Lorenzo da Ponte?
librettist for The Marriage of Figaro
[p. 123]
Who was Pierre-Augustin de Beaumarchais?
author of a controversial French play which became the inspiration/source for The Marriage of Figaro
[p. 123]
Who was the German-language librettist for The Creation?
Baron Gottfried van Swieten
[p. 111]
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - contributions to opera
created compelling, realistic characters, dramatically and musically
used the conventional recitativo secco to quickly advance the plot
used sectional forms in his arias to allow shifting moods and points of view in his characters
[p. 128]
Ludwig van Beethoven - genres & titles
- Piano - 32 piano sonatas, including the “Pathetique,” “Moonlight,” “Waldstein,” “Appassionata,” “Tempest,” and “Hammerklavier;” many sets of variations and smaller-scale works (ex: Fur Elise)
- Symphonies - 9, including No. 3 (“Eroica”), No. 6 (“Pastoral”), & No. 9 (“Choral”)
- Orchestral - overtures, including Egmont and Leonora
- Concertos - 5 for piano, including No. 5 (“Emperor”); 1 for violin; 1 triple concerto for piano, violin, & cello
- Chamber - a large variety, including 18 string quartets; 10 sonatas for violin & piano; piano trios, including “Ghost” and “Archduke”
- Vocal - Fidelio (opera); The Mount of Olives (oratorio); Missa solemnis (mass); An die ferne Geliebte (To the Distant Beloved - song cycle)
[p. 141]
What is Christian Cannabich’s significance?
leading figure of the Mannheim School
[p. 104]
Franz Joseph Haydn - dates & biographical info
1732-1809
sometimes referred to as the “father of the Classical symphony” due to his significant contributions to the early development of the genre
employed by the Esterhazy family, which gave him the freedom to compose
[pp. 106, 111]
Elector Palatine Charles Theodore - dates & significance
1724-1799
his court orchestra in Mannheim became known across Europe for its high level of performance and innovative orchestral techniques
Mannheim School
[p. 104]
Who wrote the controversial French play which would become the source/inspiration for The Marriage of Figaro?
Pierre-Augustin de Beaumarchais
[p. 123]
What is Vincent d’Indy’s significance?
Writing about Beethoven in 1926, Vincent d’Indy referred to [Beethoven’s] three stages as the periods of Imitation, Externalization, and Reflection.
[p. 141]
Who was music director of the Mannheim orchestra?
Johann Stamitz
[p. 104]
Who was Friedrich Schiller?
an author whose work demonstrates the Sturm und Drang movement
(Schiller wrote the poem which Beethoven set to music in his Symphony No. 9)
[p. 103]
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - musical style & contributions
- exemplified Viennese Classical ideals: elegance, balance, poise, refinement, and sophistication
- explored, advanced and developed virtually all Classical genres
- skillful use of counterpoint within homophonic texture
- frequently utilized symmetrical phrase structures (4-measure phrases)
- contributed to the development of sonata form
- used double-exposition sonata form in the first movement of concerto
- harmonic language balanced diatonic and chromatic elements
- orchestral writing expanded the use of wind instruments
- crystallized the 18th-century piano style both in his solo works and concertos
- made important contributions to 3 kinds of opera: opera seria, opera buffa, and Singspiel
- absorbed vocal qualities and melodic lyricism into his instrumental writing
- works were catalogued by Ludwig von Kochel in 1862
[p. 128]
Johann Stamitz, Ignaz Holzbauer, Christian Cannabich, and Karl Stamitz were leading figures in what movement?
Mannheim School
[p. 104]
Translate ‘Sturm und Drang.’
German for “storm and stress”
[p. 103]
Franz Joseph Haydn - musical contributions
- fond of experimentation, particularly concerning the formal structure
- embraced the grace and elegance of pre-Classical style but also the dramatic contrasts of Sturm und Drang
- humorous or whimsical nature is revealed in many of his works (“Farewell” and “Surprise” symphonies)
- contributed to the development of sonata form; often included dramatic, slow introductions
- often used a monothematic exposition in his sonata-form movements
- considered the “father of the string quartet,” he developed this new chamber music genre to its highest level
- influenced by folk music as evidenced in his use of rustic melodies, pizzicato strings, and pedal points
- used vivid word painting in masses and oratorios
- dramatic elements included sudden accents and bold changes of chords or keys
[p. 116]
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - dates & biographical info
1756-1791
employed by Archbishop von Colloredo in Salzburg
settled in Vienna where he pursued and perfected his vision of opera
[p. 123]
