Early classical period

Question 1

What period style emerged out of the Baroque era in France and Germany?

Answer 1

Rococo period

Question 2

What were key aspects of rococo period music (late baroque / early classical)?

Answer 2

• clearer distinction between the melody and the accompaniment
• reliance on more basic harmonies that emphasised the tonic and the dominant
• textures less dependent on polyphonic textures
  *

Question 3

Empfindsamer Stil

Answer 3

‘tender/sensetive style’

• akin to ‘style gelante’ but with less ornamentation
• recognised by use of appogiaturas
• chromatacism
• sighing figures
• often associated with adagio movements

Question 4

Strum und Drang

Answer 4

‘storm and stress’

• popular in the 1770s
• extreme contrasts in dynamics
• instability of key
• orchestral effects

-considered a precursor for Romanticism

Question 5

Define a symphony

Answer 5

an extended composition for an orchestra

Question 6

What did a sinfonia refer to previously before it developed into the symphony

Answer 6

Pieces of music in opera- either an overture, interlude or postlude

Question 7

How many movements were there originally in a symphony?

Answer 7

3

Question 8

Four movement plan of a symphony and structures

Answer 8

• First movement- sonata form
• Second movement- theme and variation / ternary
• Third movement- minuet and trio
• Fourth movement- rondo or sonata-rondo

Question 9

Ideas of Mannheim- who developed the characteristics?

Answer 9

Johann Stamitz (1717-1757)
4 movements

• strong thematic material
• energised rhythmic drive
• simle tutti textures
• sudden loud and soft accents
• sudden crescendos and diminuendos
• Mannheim crescendos (tutti crescendos)
• Mannheim climax (usually followed by Mannheim crescendo, and the instruments except strings dropping out one by one)
• Mannheim rocket (rising passage based on an arpeggio, together with a crescendo)
• Mannheim roller (loud extended passage with an ascending melody over an ostinato bass)
• Mannheim sigh (a pair of slurred notes with increased emphasis on the first)
• Mannheim birds (instrumental sounds with imitated birds in the solo passage)
• The Grand Pause (sudden rest for everybody before an energetic restart)

Question 10

Instrumentation of early classical period works

Answer 10

Johann Stamitz- Sinfonia a 11 (1750)

1st movement:-
* 2 Trumpets
* 2 horns
* 2 oboes
* Strings
* Timpani

2nd mvt:-
* strings

Question 11

How did the rococo period move away from baroque

Answer 11

• less contrapuntal
• more homophonic
• to be played in large halls

Question 12

Structure of Stamitz 11th sinfonia

Answer 12

Early sonata form

Question 13

How does Stamitz sinfonia 11 show change in the symphony?

Answer 13

1. Opening bars are homophonic tutti chords that draw the attention of the court
2. Features the Mannheim rocket in the transitionary material
3. 2nd subject- thinner texture, more ornamentation