Listening Flashcards
Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor
Beethoven
slow introduction
Symphony No. 5 in C Minor (movement 1)
Beethoven
“Fate is knocking on the door” motive
This motive is extensively developed throughout the movement and rest of the symphony.
Missa Solemnis (Solemn Mass)
Beethoven
Emotional music to take to heart
Ends in a massive double fugue
Der Erlkönig (The Elfking)
Schubert
Through-composed ballad.
Music matches the three characters (the son, father, and elfking).
Yosemite Sam
Die Forelle (The Trout)
Schubert
Flowing accompaniment (flowing like a river)
September: An dem Mond
Fanny Mendelssohn
Sorrowful piano piece
Overture to a Midsummer’s Night Dream
Felix Mendelsohn
Plot involves a love square
Elijah: “Lord God of Abraham”
Felix Mendelssohn
Oratorio with Elijah singing a recitative BEFORE the overture
Ascending triad is associated with Elijah
Symphonie Fantastique, 5th mvt: Dreams of a Witches’ Sabbath
Berlioz
This symphony has a large orchestra that mixes up musical norms
The main theme comes back, but in a twisted way
Piano Trio in G Minor
Clara Schumann
Her first (and highly successful) attempt at writing chamber music.
Mournful, minor sound
Piano Quintet in E flat major
Robert Schumann
Nocturnes No. 8 in D flat
Frederic Chopin
Caprice 24
Niccolò Paganini
Extremely difficult violin piece
Hungarian Rapsody No. 2
Liszt
Inspired by Hungarian and Gypsy music
Virtuosic, ex. fast repeated notes now possible with the new piano
Carmen “votre toast”
Georges Bizet
Carmen was considered inappropriate and controversial
Aria in French
Barber of Seville Act 1, no. 1
Gioachino Rossini
Based on the first in a trilogy about Figaro
Rigoletto Act III, Quartet
Viva Verdi
Revolving around the dynamic between the Count and 3 others.
Der Freischultz Act II Finale (Wolf’s Glen Scene)
Carl Maria von Weber
Max and Samiel cast magic bullets
Lots of sinister diminished 7th chords
Prelude to Das Rheingold
Richard Wagner
Low pedal Eb opening
Symphony No. 4, 4th movement
Johannes Brahms
Entire movement is in 8 measure sections.
German Requiem
Johannes Brahms
Text taken from Scripture and the apocrypha
Symphony No. 9, 2nd movement
Dvorak
Inspired by Czech, German, and American music.
Scheherazade
Rimsky-Korsakov
Program music: Scheherazade escapes danger by telling stories and leaving cliffhangers.
Arabian elements like augmented 2nds
Symphony No. 6 “Pathetique” (emotional) 3rd movement
Tchaikovsky
There was a program, but it was private.
Extremely triumphant, unusual for a non-final movement
Symphony No. 6 “Pathetique” (emotional) 4th movement
Tchaikovsky
There was a program, but it was private.
Lugubrious, unusual for a final movement.
