Development of the Symphony - Harmony/Tonality Flashcards
What were the features of harmony at the start of the Early Classical period?
At the start of the Early Classical period, harmony was primarily triadic (harmony with 3 notes) and diatonic (belonging to a key).
How was harmony built during the Classical period?
Harmony would be derived from the use of a major or minor scale with a 3rd and 5th added above each note of the scale.
What are primary chords, used heavily at the start of the Classical period?
Chords I, IV and V
Were there extended chords in the Early Classical period?
Yes, but in a limited way. The only extended chord (4 notes or more chords) that was commonplace in this time period was the dominant seventh (V7) chord.
What chromatic chords were used in the Mature Classical/Early Romantic?
In the Mature Classical, composers began to implement/explore more use of chromatic chords, notably the Neapolitan 6th, Augmented 6th and Secondary dominant/diminished chords.
What is a circle of fifths progression and what was it commonly used for?
Circle of fifths is a progression that descends down by a 5th each time. It was common practice to see circle of fifths chord progressions being used to modulate between different keys within sections of a symphony.
What were the innovations to harmony in the Late Romantic period?
In the Late Romantic period, there was a large expansion of harmonic practices. It was common to find chromatic harmony and extended chords (7ths, 9ths, 11ths).
What harmonic practices were used in Stamitz’ Symphony in D (1750)?
In Stamitz, Symphony in D, Op. 3, No.2 (1750) the main thematic material in the first movement is supported with mostly primary chords in the key of D Major.
What symphony can be used as evidence of a circle of fifth progression?
In Mozart’s, Symphony No. 25 in G minor (1773) he implements an entire circle of fifths progression in Bb Major in the transition section between the first and second subjects of movement I.
What regular type of chord is found in Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 4 ‘Italian’?
In Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 4 ‘Italian Symphony’ in movement 3 he uses a dominant seventh with a flattened 9th (A7b9) (b.65).
What unusual harmonic innovation is used in Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 ‘Resurrection’?
In Mahler’s, Symphony No. 2 ‘Resurrection’ (1894) at the climax of movement III he uses the ‘death shriek’ chord which is a Bbm chord with a C pedal.
How were cadences used in the Early Classical period?
At the start of the Early Classical Period, Cadences were used as musical punctuation and would support periodic/sentence based melodies.
How are cadences used in phrases?
Cadences are usually found in the final bar of a phrase, particularly a phrase that is balanced.
How were cadences used in the Late Romantic period?
As chords and harmony expanded, cadential rules lessened with cadences being avoided/diluted toward the end of the period. This allowed music to build tension through lack of resolution.
What kinds of cadences are used in Stamitz’ Symphony in D (1750)
In Stamitz, Symphony in D, Op. 3, No.2 (1750) there is use of a cadential pattern in the opening Mannheim Hammerstrokes (3 chords in D Major, 3 of A Major, creating a I – V – I progression).
What unusual cadential technique does Tchaikovsky use in Symphony No. 6?
In Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6 (1893), (b.153-160) the main theme avoids a cadence in D Major by refusing to go to D and the bass refuses to land on A (V).
What is cadential deferral and how does Mendelssohn use it in his Symphony No. 4 ‘Italian’?
In Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 4 ‘Italian’ (1833) (b.110), he uses cadential deferral. He sets up a period ending on V in the antecedent, but in the consequent rather than end on I, he defers the resolution and abandons the material using the opening material.
How did tonality help with the transition from the Baroque to the Early Classical period?
Tonality has always played a big part in the development of the symphony due to its importance when moving from Baroque polyphony to Early Classical homophony.
How was tonality used in the Early Classical Period?
As a result, melody-driven homophony was used in symphonies as a way to simplify material/harmony/tonality so that it could help to create tonal unity.
How is the concept of ‘tonaly unity’ important in a symphony?
This concept of unity is important because if the music has an overarching tonic composers could start and end their pieces in the same key and visit different ones in the middle
What did modulation look like in the Early Classical period?
In the Early Classical period, composers would modulate to closely related keys. These would usually be keys found either side of them on the circle of fifths.
How was modulation used in the Late Romantic period?
Into the Romantic period, composers began experimenting with more ambitious modulation often moving to distantly related keys. This would often take time to prepare for which is why the proportions of some sections would get longer – to cater to the preparation of the modulation.
What is ‘tonal antagonism’?
Tonal Antagonism is where the composer would modulate quite far away from the initial key, usually in a short space of time.
What is ‘tonal escapism’?
Tonal Escapism was using modulation to distant keys as a way to ‘escape’ the tension and present something lyrical and dreamy.