Forms

Question 1

What’s a concerto?

Answer 1

The concerto is a piece in which the skill of a solo player or a group of solo players is displayed and contrasted with an orchestra.

Question 2

Define ‘the concerto grosso’

Answer 2

Concerto with contrasting sections for :1) A small group of solo players (concertino) and 2) the whole orchestra (ripieno).

Question 3

Define the solo concerto (ritornello principle)

Answer 3

Concerto with contrasting sections for: 1) solo instrument and 2) the whole orchestra.

Question 4

Name 3 baroque composers

Answer 4

Johann Sebastian Bach
George Philipp Telemann
Antonio Vivaldi

Question 5

Name 3 classical period composers

Answer 5

Joseph Haydn
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Ludwig van Beethoven

Question 6

Define virtuoso

Answer 6

Composers pushing the technical limits of the solo instrument to extremes to show off the mastery of the soloist

Question 7

Name 3 romantic period composers

Answer 7

Johannes Brahms
Frederic Chopin
Felix Mendelssohn

Question 8

What’s a cadenza?

Answer 8

The decoration for important cadences often improvised by singers and players in the baroque period

Question 9

What’s an ètude?

Answer 9

A study- a piece written to give a player an opportunity to practice one particular aspect of his/her technique.

Question 10

What’s a lied? (Lieder- songs)

Answer 10

Setting poetry to music in the romantic period. (Usually for one voice and piano)

Question 11

What’s strophic form?

Answer 11

Same music for a number of verses (with different words)

Question 12

Define verse and refrain form

Answer 12

Uses the same music for a number of verses (similar to strophic), but has an unchanging refrain or chorus between each verse

Question 13

What’s word painting?

Answer 13

The evoking of the mood & emotion of the poetry. Helps the listener understand the words of the poem clearly.

Question 14

What’s a mazurka?

Answer 14

It’s a traditional Polish folk dance, named after the Mazur ppl. Usually in 3/4 or 3/8 time.

Question 15

What’s a nocturne?

Answer 15

Aka night music, nocturne is a slow piece (Usually for piano) with an improvisatory, lyrical melody in the RH usually accompanied by broken chords in the left.

Question 16

What were the words nocturne was derived from in the eighteenth century?

Answer 16

Notturno & serenade

Question 17

What’s a prelude?

Answer 17

Prelude is an introduction to a movement but in the Romantic period it became an independent piece in its own right. Tends to explore a mood or emotion.

Question 18

Define a waltz

Answer 18

It’s a popular dance form in triple timing in romantic period

Question 19

Explain ternary form?

Answer 19

Ternary form aka song form is a 3 part form consisting of an opening section, a following section and a repetition of the first section. (ABA)

Question 20

Explain ‘rondo form’

Answer 20

Rondo form is similar to ternary form but it extended to include another section (C) which contrasts with sections A & B in key, melody and mood. (ABACA)

Question 21

Explain ‘sonata and rondo form’

Answer 21

its a rondo form extended further from rondo form with another B section. (tho this time in the tonic key) followed by another section A. (ABACAB)

Question 22

Explain ‘scherzo and trio form’

Answer 22

These movements are in ternary form. similar to the minuet and trio in that they are usually in triple time, but they are often much faster and humorous.

Question 23

What is ‘sonata form’?

Answer 23

Used for the first movement of a sonata. Evolved naturally as an extension of binary form.

Question 24

What is another word for ‘sonata form’?

Answer 24

Extended binary form

Question 25

“The first subject is played in the tonic key. A bridge passage follows. The second subject is played in the tonic key. It ends with a perfect cadence in the tonic key.”

Which section of the sonata form is described above?

Answer 25

Exposition

Question 26

“Musical fragments or themes from the earlier section (or even sometimes new ones) are used to travel through more remote keys, often finishing on the dominant…”

Which section of the sonata form is described above?

Answer 26

Development

Question 27

“The first subject is played in the tonic key. A bridge passage modulates to the dominant key. The second subject is played in the dominant key. It ends with a perfect cadence in the dominant key.”

Which section of the sonata form is described above?

Answer 27

Recapitulation

Question 28

What form was commonly used for the first movement in Classical period sonatas?

Answer 28

Sonata form (sometimes w a slow intro)

Question 29

What forms were commonly used for the second (slow) movement in Classical period sonatas?

Answer 29

Ternary or abridged commonly used, variation and rondo also found.

Question 30

What forms were commonly used for the third (dance) movement in Classical period sonatas?

Answer 30

Minuet and trio, with time even scherzo & trio

Question 31

What forms were commonly used for the final (fast) movement in Classical period sonatas?

Answer 31

Rondo & sonata-rondo forms used regularly, sonata form also found.