Development Of The Symphony

Question 1

Give key features of the baroque orchestra

Answer 1

• no real standard setup
• approx 10-30
• mostly strings (4 seperate sections)
• brass was natural + valveless (only play harmonic series of key crooked to)
• brass reserved for royal celebrations
• no conductor (harpsichord leading)

Question 2

Give key features of classical orchestra

Answer 2

• four sections: woodwinds, natural brass, strings, percussion
• harpsichord not used as not needed
• conductor leading
• brass still limited
• 30-60 players
• great importance of string section
• woodwinds taking soloistic role
• Beethoven added trombones in late classical era
• clarinets not part of standard setup

Question 3

Give key features of romantic orchestra

Answer 3

• larger orchestra with more brass + woodwinds
• woodwind + brass section doubled/tripled
• melodic material distributed betwen instruments
• larger percussion section
• harp added
• brass domination (tuba added depth)
• strings still largest part of orchestra
• improved development of instruments

Question 4

Give stylistic features of baroque music

Answer 4

• intricate polyphonic textures
• leadership through harpsichord
• bass continuo
• quick chord changes
• one mood though whole piece - little emotion
• importance on interplay between parts instead of melody itself
• contrast provided through timbre changes
• modes replaced with major + minor key systen
• harpsichord pads out melody + harmony
• minimal dynamic contrast
• terraced dynamics
• energetic rhythm
• importance on strings
• emphasis on chamber music
• long, decorative, elaborate melodies
• lack of obvious cadences
• imitation - canon + fugue
• monothematic

Question 5

Give stylistic features of classical music

Answer 5

• simple straightforwrd rhythm
• shot + clearly edefined musical phrases
• emphasis o elegance, symmetry, balance
• two + contrasting themes in a piece
• mostly homophonic
• distinct clear cadences
• greater range of dynamics + terraced dynamics
• abrupt mood changes
• modulation via circle of fifths
• simple harmony
• alberti bass

Question 6

Give stylistic features of romantic music

Answer 6

• bold + dramatic contrasts
• freedom of form + design
• programmatic music
• expressionate due to size of orchestra
• recurring themes + motifs
• rich orchestration
• tonal ambiuity - chromatic + augmented chords
• long lyrical melodies
• irregular phrasing
• variety of melodic ideas
• extensive chromatic harmonies + dissonances
• vituosic playing
• rhythmic complexity
• folk songs basis of melodies
• homophonic with some polyphony
• expansion of musical forms

Question 7

Give key details about the mannheim school

Answer 7

• group of 18th century highly-trained composers + musicians living + working in mannheim court
• helped develop classical style
• established 1750

Question 8

Give key details about symphonies

Answer 8

• longer composition for orchestra
• typically 3 or 4 movements
• means ‘sounding together’
• used in baroque period to describe overtures at start of operas at end of 1600s
• symphony grew from three sections of opera overture (fast-slow-fast)
• Mozart + Haydn completed development of symphony
• last movement known as ‘minuet + trio’

Question 9

Give key details of the early classical symphony

Answer 9

Movement 1: Fast allegro, 3 part structure
Movement 2: Slow, simple form
Movement 3: Minuet & trio form, 3/4
Movement 4: Fast allegro, light-hearted, rondo or theme variation or sonata form
- strings, woodwinds, brass, timpani
- worked for patrons + homes + church
- small orchestra
- strings dominated
- woodwinds fill harmonies

Question 10

Give key details of the late classical symphony

Answer 10

Movement 1: Sonata form
Movement 2: Slow, simple form
Movement 3: Minuet & trio, 3/4
Movement 4: Fast allegro, light-hearted, shortest movement
- larger orchestra
- Haydn ‘father of the symphony’
- typically 15-30 mins to perform
- composers had more independence, wrote for larger resources
- string section increased to balance growing orchestra