Development of the Symphony - The Orchestra

Question 1

What was the format of instrumentation in the Baroque period?

Answer 1

In the Baroque period there was no standardisation of the orchestra - often music was written for unspecified instruments based on register.

Question 2

How many musicians were in a Baroque orchestra (on average)?

Answer 2

10-30 players

Question 3

How many musicians were in an Early Classical orchestra?

Answer 3

In the Early Classical period the orchestras began with roughly 10-30 players (this is similar to the end of the Baroque Period) but began to grow by the end of Classical 30-60 players. There are specific examples of fairly large ensembles from the time - like the Mannheim orchestra (50 players) but these were slightly larger than the standard.

Question 4

How many players were in a Romantic period orchestra?

Answer 4

By the Late Romantic period, orchestras could be over 100+ players.

Question 5

How many performers were in Haydn’s Symphony No.104, ‘London’ premiere?

Answer 5

Haydn’s Symphony No. 104, whilst predicted to be around 40 players, ended up with around 53 by it’s premiere in 1795.

Question 6

How many musicians were in the Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique premiere?

Answer 6

Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique (1830) had over 90 players, one of the largest orchestras of it’s time.

Question 7

How many performers were in Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, ‘Resurrection’?

Answer 7

By Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 ‘Resurrection’ there were over 100 players in the orchestra.

Question 8

What was instrumentation like in the Baroque period?

Answer 8

In the Baroque period, there was no standardisation of the orchestra – in fact many composers would write for unspecified instruments. The concept of ‘families’ wasn’t fully known in this time.

Question 9

What is the ‘continuo’ instrument?

Answer 9

In the Baroque/Early Classical a continuo instrument was used to enrich the harmonic material. Continuo players were often given a type of figured bass notation, known as the ‘basso continuo’ and they would have to write their own harmonic parts.

Question 10

What is the ‘sinfonia a 8’ format?

Answer 10

In the Early Classical period, the standardisation of the orchestra began with the ‘Sinfonia a 8’ format (2 oboes, 2 hns and 4 strings).

Question 11

What was the ‘double woodwind’ format?

Answer 11

By the end of the Mature Classical period, the double woodwind format had become more standardised (2 Fl., 2 Ob., 2 Cl., 2. Bsn)

Question 12

What happened to the double woodwind format in the Romantic period?

Answer 12

Composers started to break this model and add additional woodwind instruments, when possible.

Question 13

What symphony is an example of the ‘sinfonia a 8’ format?

Answer 13

1760 – Filtz – Sinfonia a 8 ‘Sinfonie Periodique’ uses the sinfonia a 8 format (2 flutes, 2 horns, strings and continuo)

Question 14

What symphony can be used as an example of the ‘double woodwind’ format?

Answer 14

Haydn’s Symphony No. 104, he uses the double woodwind format.

Question 15

What symphony breaks the ‘double woodwind’ format?

Answer 15

In Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, he uses 4 Flutes, 5 Clarinets, and 4 Bassoons breaking the double woodwind format.

Question 16

What instrument was phased out during the Classical period?

Answer 16

From the start of the Early Classical period the continuo instrument began to be phased out.

Question 17

How did the Clarinet develop?

Answer 17

The Clarinet, whilst invented in 1700, didn’t really become a common feature in the symphony due to construction issues. It was adopted in symphonies from around the 1750s, but even then, it wasn’t particularly widely adopted. By around 1780 most orchestras would have clarinettists.

Question 18

When was the piccolo added to the orchestra?

Answer 18

Piccolo started to be added to the symphony from around 1800.

Question 19

When did the trombone become a feature of the orchestra?

Answer 19

The Trombone was added to the symphony in 1807 by Joachim Eggert but it was Beethoven that popularised it’s use.

Question 20

What brass instruments were added in the Late Romantic period?

Answer 20

In the Late Romantic period, brass expanded to include tubas, ophicleides, cornets and some obscure instruments such as the Wagner Tuba.

Question 21

When was the harp added to the orchestra?

Answer 21

The harp was added to the symphony in 1830, by Berlioz.

Question 22

What percussion instruments were present in the Classical period?

Answer 22

Whilst the timpani was present in the Baroque period, the percussion section didn’t really expand until into the Classical period. Triangle, snare, bass drum, tambourine and cymbals were found during this period.

Question 23

What happened to percussion section in the Late Romantic period?

Answer 23

In the Late Romantic period, the percussion further expanded to include the xylophone, glockenspiel and bells.

Question 24

What section, not really present in the Early Classical was added in the Mature Classical, in Beethoven’s 9th (1824)?

Answer 24

A chorus (choir, often with soloist singers)

Question 25

What symphony is an example of a symphony with continuo?

Answer 25

In Stamitz, Symphony in D (Op. 3, No.2) (1750) there is use of the continuo,

Question 26

What symphony is one of the first examples of the use of piccolo?

Answer 26

Beethoven’s Symphony No.5 (1808) was one of the first notable uses of the piccolo.

Question 27

What symphony is one of the first example of the use of trombone?

Answer 27

The first inclusion of the trombone in a major popular work was Beethoven in his Symphony No. 5 (1808).

Question 28

What instrumental innovations were found in Berlioz’ Symphonie Fantastique (1830)?

Answer 28

In Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique (1830) Ophicleides and Cornets were included in the orchestra. Additionally, the harp was included for the first time.

Question 29

What symphony is an example of a symphony with a tuba?

Answer 29

Bruckner’s Symphony No. 4 (1874) includes the use of a Tuba.

Question 30

What symphony is a strong example of the innovations in percussion in the Classical period?

Answer 30

In Haydn’s Symphony No. 100 ‘Military’ symphony (1793-4) the triangle, cymbals and bass drum were used.

Question 31

What Late-Romantic symphony uses an expansion of the percussion section?

Answer 31

In Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 ‘ Resurrection’ (1894), snare, tam tam, untuned bells and glockenspiel were used.

Question 32

What notable symphonies famously used choir/chorus?

Answer 32

In both Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 (1824) and Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 ‘Resurrection’ (1894), a large choir and soloists are required in the final movements.

Question 33

What can be observed about the construction of brass in the Classical period?

Answer 33

In the Early Classical – Early Romantic period, brass instruments didn’t have valves, they used crooks. These were removable parts to the instruments that were required for playing in multiple keys. This provided limitations for brass players as they didn’t have access to all 12 chromatic notes.

Question 34

What year was the most secure/reliable valve invented (that would evolve into the modern day valve)?

Answer 34

In 1838, the modern finalised version of the valves was invented. This meant that more technical parts could be written for brass instruments.

Question 35

What symphony has a custom made crook?

Answer 35

In Haydn’s Symphony No. 45 ‘Farewell’ (1772) he had to get a custom F# crook made (for the key of F# minor).

Question 36

Why was Symphonie Fantastique important in relation to the development of valves?

Answer 36

In Berlioz’s, Symphonie Fantastique (1830) an initial version of the valve was used in the cornets and the ophicleide. This led to further development of more ambitious brass writing.

Question 37

What was the function of string instruments in the Early Classical Period?

Answer 37

In the Early Classical, strings dominated the orchestra. This was due to their flexibility and ability to play melodic lines more accurately.

Question 38

What was the function of woodwind and brass instruments in the Early Classical period?

Answer 38

Woodwind and brass in the Early Classical period, were limited due to construction issues, this meant that they were assigned more harmonic roles than melodic.

Question 39

How did the Mannheim School help to develop the way woodwind instruments were seen?

Answer 39

As part of the innovations with the Mannheim school, Johann Stamitz would write more virtuosic passages for the oboe.

Question 40

How did the function of woodwind instruments develop in the Mature Classical/Early Romantic?

Answer 40

In the Mature Classical/Early Romantic, composers would write more virtuosic passages for woodwinds.

Question 41

What happened to the function of brass instruments moving into the Late Romantic period?

Answer 41

In the Late Romantic period, brass was written for most extensively once the valves were added to the instrument.

Question 42

Why is Stamitz’ Symphony in D (1750) important in the development of instrumental function?

Answer 42

In the second movement of Stamitz’ Symphony in D, Op. 3 No. 2 (1750) in b.14-19 he has an extended melodic passage for the oboes that includes sequential triplets.

Question 43

How does Mendelssohn write for woodwind instruments in his Italian Symphony?

Answer 43

In Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 4 ‘Italian’ in movement 4, the main saltarello theme for flutes (b.6) is very fast and technically challenging.

Question 44

How does Mahler write for brass in his Symphony No.2 ‘Resurrection’ (1894)?

Answer 44

In Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 ‘Resurrection’ (1894), the ‘Urlicht’ movement features a brass chorale at the start (b.3)

Question 45

What does Haydn Symphony No. 104 contribute towards the development of the orchestra?

Answer 45

1. Use of ‘double woodwinds’ (2 fl., 2 cl., 2 ob., 2 bsn.)
2. Use of clarinets (still rather ‘young’ at the time)
3. Transposition instruments (Horns/Tpts. in D and G (movt. 2 only) and clarinets in A.
4. There are more virtuosic woodwind passages including an extended flute cadenza in movement II.