Development Of The Symphony

Question 1

What was the role of continuo bass? What instruments?

Answer 1

Provided harmonic support. Usually harpsichord or organ or cello.

Question 2

Describe a baroque orchestra.

Answer 2

Had violin 1, violin 2, viola and cello or double bass. Wind was optional. Continuo bass.

Question 3

When was brass with valves first used?

Answer 3

Early 19th century.

Question 4

Describe classical orchestra.

Answer 4

2 each of flutes, oboes, clarinets and bassoons. 2/4 horns and 2 trumpets. 4 part strings. Timpani.

Question 5

What was patronage?

Answer 5

When composers were funded by the wealthy, royalty or church. Used court orchestras.

Question 6

What was a result of the Age of Enlightenment?

Answer 6

Increased interest in music for middle class and demand for concerts.

Question 7

What was style galante or rococo period?

Answer 7

1720-1770. Simpler compositions, distinctions between melody and accompaniment. Tonic and dominant harmonies.

Question 8

What was sturm und drang?

Answer 8

Means storm and stress. Popular in 1770s. Contrasts in register and dynamics. Intense emotions. Exciting orchestral effects. Instability of key.

Question 9

What was empfindsamer stil?

Answer 9

Means tender, sensitive style. Similar to style galante but less ornamentation. Appoggiaturas, sigh figures, chromaticism.

Question 10

What did symphonies develop from?

Answer 10

Baroque music- sinfonias. Opera overtures.

Question 11

What is the significance of Mannheim?

Answer 11

Place where court orchestra became famous.

Question 12

Who was Stamitz? What are his dates?

Answer 12

1717-1757. Composer and leader of Mannheim orchestra. Favoured 4 mvt symphony and helped development of sonata form.

Question 13

Give features of Stamitz/Mannheim music.

Answer 13

Rhythmic drive and energy. Orchestral tuttis. Accents, crescendo and diminuendo.

Question 14

What is a Mannheim crescendo?

Answer 14

A crescendo for whole orchestra.

Question 15

What is a Mannheim rocket?

Answer 15

Rising passage based on arpeggio with crescendo.

Question 16

What is a Mannheim sigh?

Answer 16

Slurred pair of notes with emphasis on first note.

Question 17

What is Mannheim birds?

Answer 17

Writing for solo instruments that sounded like birds.

Question 18

What are Hayden’s dates?

Answer 18

1732-1809

Question 19

Who did Haydn influence?

Answer 19

Mozart

Question 20

What is Haydn’s nickname and why?

Answer 20

Father of the symphony because he shaped it to be what we hear today.

Question 21

When was his key development of the symphony?

Answer 21

1760-1780

Question 22

What were Hayden’s Paris symphonies?

Answer 22

Six symphonies in 1785-86. Consolidated sturm und drang style.

Question 23

What were Hayden’s London symphonies?

Answer 23

12 symphonies in 1791-95. Commissioned by Salomon- brought Haydn to England. Standards for classical period.

Question 24

How did Haydn develop structure?

Answer 24

Movement 1- sonata form.
Movement 2- slow, sometimes binary.
Movement 3- minuet and trio.
Movement 4- sometimes sonata rondo form.

Question 25

What does ritornello mean?

Answer 25

Structure used for large-scale movements in late Baroque period. Opening instrumental section called ritornello (introduces main ideas) followed by contrasting textures.

Question 26

What are Mozart’s dates?

Answer 26

1756-1791.

Question 27

How many symphonies did Mozart write?

Answer 27

41 numbered.

Question 28

What could be said about Mozart’s Symphony No.38 ‘Prague’ in D major?

Answer 28

Only three movements, all in sonata form. First uses something similar to ritornello structure.

Question 29

By what were Mozart’s last three symphonies influenced by? Why?

Answer 29

Haydn’s Paris symphonies because greater orchestral works.

Question 30

What does ritornello mean?

Answer 30

Structure used for late Baroque music. Opening instrumental section introduces main ideas, then contrasting texture section.

Question 31

Describe Mozart’s melodies when compared to Haydn’s.

Answer 31

Mozart’s are more lyrical and rhythms more complex, e.g cross-accented hemiola.

Question 32

Compare Haydn and Mozart harmony.

Answer 32

Mozart was less adventurous but more chromatic. He filled out the inner parts more.

Question 33

What’s interesting about Mozart’s use of texture?

Answer 33

It is quite complex, there are many fugal and contrapuntal passages. E.g. in finale of ‘Jupiter’ there are five subjects.

Question 34

What are Beethoven’s dates?

Answer 34

1770-1827

Question 35

How did Beethoven change the structure of the symphony?

Answer 35

Changed minuet to scherzo.

Question 36

What did Beethoven’s melodies comprise of?

Answer 36

Germinal motives.

Question 37

How did Beethoven pave the way to the Romantic period?

Answer 37

Didn’t really change symphony structure or sonata form, just expanded it.

Question 38

Beethoven’s compositional style can be split into how many parts? Give an example of the first type.

Answer 38

3 sections. Symphony No.1 in C major (1765).

Question 39

Give example of Beethoven’s middle section.

Answer 39

Symphonies 2-8, e.g. Eroica (no 3) 1803.

Question 40

How is Eroica significant?

Answer 40

Very extended, double length of other classical symphonies.

Question 41

How were Beethoven’s middle symphonies different?

Answer 41

Greater in length, expanded. More dramatic and had personal quality. Slowed down rate of harmonic change. Orchestra increased in size. More energy. Manipulation of themes went on for longer.

Question 42

What was Beethoven’s last symphony? How was it different?

Answer 42

Symphony No.9. Extremely broad, largest orchestra he’d used. Movement 4 features SATB and four soloists.

Question 43

What are some things that Beethoven is remembered for?

Answer 43

Contrasting dynamics, adventurous harmony and dissonance, rhythmic ideas (syncopation, accents) and musical figuration.