Classical Solo Concerto

Question 1

How did the Classical Concerto come around?

Answer 1

During the classical period, the Baroque Concerto Grossos went “out of fashion” and Classical Composers continued to write Solo Concertos for a single solo instrument with more difficult and technically demanding solo parts (more virtuosic) accompanied by now a much larger and more developed orchestra

Question 2

What was the characteristics of the melody?

Answer 2

• The melodies in Classical Solo Concertos were light, simple and elegant and continue to use sequences and ornaments (although not as much as the Baroque Period)
• Musical phrases are balanced and even (eg 4 or 8 bars) maybe with some question and answer phrases

Question 3

What was the melody usually played by?

Answer 3

Usually in the 1st Violins (in orchestral or chamber music)

• (melody and accompaniment was the predominant texture)

Question 4

Who led the orchestra?

Answer 4

The Harpsichord declined in popularity and Classical Composers no longer added continuo parts to the orchestral accompaniment (the textures became fuller and harmonies clearer) and a conductor was now established to lead the orchestra

Question 5

What’s the relationship between the conductor and the soloist?

Answer 5

• Conductor usually follows the soloist and the orchestra follows the conductor, this allows the soloist to interpret the music as they wish without having to constantly worry about fitting in with the orchestra. However, the soloist and conductor obviously have to agree on the interpretation by talking to each other before the rehearsals take place, it is then the conductors’ responsibility to make sure the orchestra follows this interpretation (requires rehearsal)
• This relationship between the soloist, conductor and orchestra demonstrates something that is true in all accompanied music: the accompanist follows the soloist, not the other way around.

Question 6

What does in dialogue mean? (i don’t know asking sir later)

Answer 6

Sometimes the soloist and orchestra perform sections in dialogue with each other

Question 7

How did the development of the piano influence the Classical Period?

Answer 7

The emergents and development of the piano had a massive impact on the style of composition in the Classical Era, enabled composers to concentrate on grace and beauty with expression occurring through varying dynamics

Question 8

What was the size of the Classical Orchestra?

Answer 8

• The Classical Orchestra grew in size and new instruments such as the Clarinet were added
• The Classical Orchestra was typically numbered between 30-60 players

Question 9

What is Alberti bass?

Answer 9

Use of Alberti bass (in piano music and orchestra accompaniment)

• it’s broken chord left hand piano accompaniment(classical feature)

Question 10

What did the strings consist of and what did they do?

Answer 10

The Strings (1st and 2nd violins, violas, cellos and double basses) continued to be the “main section” playing most of the “main melody” and contained more players than in the Baroque Orchestras

Question 11

What did the woodwind section typically feature?

Answer 11

The Woodwind section became more important and formed its own section in the orchestra:

• 2x Metal Flutes, 2x Oboes, 2x Bassoons and 2x (newly invented) Clarinets

Question 12

What was the role of the woodwind and brass section?

Answer 12

• the role of the woodwind and brass would be to colour and punctuate the texture
• and the brass was often used in loud passages, accompanied by timpani and became more prominent

Question 13

What did the brass section continually consist of?

Answer 13

Brass continued to consist of:

• 2x Horns and 2x Trumpets (now valved, originally “natural trumpets” in the Baroque Period and only capable of playing a limited number of notes and became for developed with the addition of valves and could now play a larger range of notes)

Question 14

What did percussion continue to feature?

Answer 14

• Percussion continued to feature only the timpani (if trumpets were in, they would usually be accompanied by 2 timpani)

Question 15

What instruments where chosen to be used for the Solo Concertos?

Answer 15

• Classical Composers wrote Solo Concertos for a single solo instrument accompanied by an orchestra, instruments including the piano (newly invented and replacing the Baroque Harpsichord), violin,cello,flute,oboe,clarinet(also newly invented), bassoon and French horn

Question 16

What changed in the dynamics (compared to concerto grosso and solo concerto)?

Answer 16

• Wider range of dynamics – pp,ff,mp,mf
• Crescendos and decrescendos or diminuendos now used showing an increasing range of dynamics and more emphasis on expression in the music

Question 17

What were the characteristics of the texture?

Answer 17

• Busy Baroque Polyphonic Textures now replaced with clearer homophonic (melody and accompaniment) textures

Question 18

What were harmonies like?

Answer 18

• Simple harmony making use of mainly Primary Chords – I, IV and V
• Diatonic harmony in either clear Major or Minor tonalities

Question 19

What happened in the modulations?

Answer 19

• Modulations to Related Keys (relative major/minor, subdominant major and minor and dominant major/minor)

Question 20

How many movements were there?

Answer 20

Three movements contrasted by tempo and style/mood

Question 21

What was the form?

Answer 21

Classical composers often used Rondo Form (particularly in their final movements) loosely based on an ABACADA… structure

• A is the recurring THEME between contrasting Episodes (similar to the Baroque ritornello form)
• and Sonata Form (3 Movements: Exposition,Development,Recapitulation,Coda) now popular

Question 22

in the sonata form what would happen in the exposition?

Answer 22

Exposition: Musical ideas/Themes/Ideas (Contrasting by pitch or tonality)

• Subject 1 (always tonic (I) in major)(in minor in tonic (I) minor)and Subject 2(in major dominant key (I))(in minor, relative major)

Question 23

in the sonata form what would happen in the development?

Answer 23

• Linked by a bridge passage (from the exposition)
• Development: fragmented thematic development (in relative key not explored in the exposition, where new harmonies are developed,sequences,imitation, inversion or pedal notes could also be introduced)

Question 24

in the sonata form what would happen in the recapitulation?

Answer 24

Recapitulation (same theme as exposition,both in the tonic key often with some ornaments added)

Question 25

what was the names of the bits that make up sonata form?

Answer 25

• Exposition
• Development
• Recapitulation
• Coda

Question 26

what’s the coda in sonata form?

Answer 26

• Coda - concluding section and “ties up the loose ends”, bringing the movement to a close

Question 27

What is “delayed entry of the soloist “?

Answer 27

Classical Solo Concertos often have long orchestral sections before the soloist enters – “delayed entry of the soloist”

Question 28

Table of the Movements in Classical Concerto

Answer 28

(Movements longer than Baroque)
• 1st Movement: Sonata Form (or 1st Movement Form, Symphony or String cortet one)
– Brisk and Purposeful

• 2nd Movement: Ternary or Variation Form – Slow, lyrical and song-like

• 3rd Movement: Rondo, Variation Form or Sonata Form
– Fast and Cheerful

Question 29

When does the cadenza section occur?

Answer 29

• The cadenza occurs just before the end of the first movement (and sometimes the last movement)
• orchestra end on chord V, soloists show off then go back to chord V

Question 30

characteristics of a cadenza:

Answer 30

• This is sometimes unaccompanied and usually difficult and ‘virtuosic’, often based on one of more of the themes from the movement and gives the solo performer the chance to show off their technical skill
• Cadenzas were normally improvised by the soloist and included lots of fast scale passages, broken chords and decorated and ornamented melodies, designed to show off difficult playing techniques on their instrument
• (soloists part was more technically demanding and virtuosic than the Baroque Concertos)

Question 31

how would cadenzas end?

Answer 31

• Often end on a long trill – a kind of signal or cue for the orchestra to get ready to enter again in a final CODA section where everyone plays together to end the movement
• (However Beethoven wrote cadenzas out on the score)

Question 32

What were the venues?

Answer 32

• Performance spaces were becoming larger than in the Baroque Period due to the size of orchestra’s

• Recital and Concert halls and Opera Houses were popular venues for performing Concertos
• Larger grander concert halls and opera houses were being built across Europe which could hold larger audiences.

• Many sought after virtuoso soloists who performed Classical Concerts used to “tour” the continent and be heard at different venues

Question 33

composers of the classical period:

Answer 33

include :

Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven

Question 34

who were the new musical patrons?

Answer 34

• Moved away from the Baroque System, instead ‘the public’ (the ‘newly rich’ wealthy merchant and professional classes) began to become an important musical patron
• Private concerts continued to be arranged by wealthy patrons

Question 35

how would composers also make money?

Answer 35

• musicians earned money from the ticket sales of concertos, and where involved in ‘domestic music making’ (performing ‘at home’ on new instruments such as the piano which had a boom in sales during this period)
• and thus composers would earn money from the sales of printed sheet music

Question 36

what instruments did Haydn write concertos for?

Answer 36

• Haydn wrote concertos for lots of solo instruments including the trumpet, flute,bassoon,violin,cello and piano

Question 37

What did Haydn write for trumpets?

Answer 37

• Haydns Trumpet Concerto was the first piece written for a trumpet with VALVES(opposing ‘natural trumpets’ of the Baroque Period, only play a limited number of notes)
• Opening fanfare for Haydn’s Trumpet Concertos, wider range of notes

Question 38

how many concertos did mozart write and for which instruments?

Answer 38

• Wrote 27 Piano Concertos as well as Concertos for violin, clarinet, flute and horn

Question 39

what was a feature of mozart’s concertos?

Answer 39

• His Solo Concertos have the orchestra a more prominent role and often included long orchestral sections before the soloist enters

Question 40

What instruments did beethoven write concertos for?

Answer 40

• (Early concertos were written during the Classical Period, but his later Concertos can be considered as falling into the Romantic Period)
• Wrote Solo Concertos for Piano and Violin

Question 41

when was the classical period?

Answer 41

1750-1820

Question 42

what is a concerto?

Answer 42

a piece for a soloist and orchestra, usually in 3 movements (fast/slow/fast)

Question 43

what is a symphony?

Answer 43

a large-scale work for orchestra, usually in 4 movements

Symphonies sometimes feature a choir in certain movements