Mozart - Facts Flashcards
When was Mozart born?
27 January 1756
When did Mozart die?
5 December 1791
Where was Mozart born?
Austria
Which period did Mozart compose in?
The Classical Period
Name the characteristics of the classical period
- an emphasis on elegance and balance
- short well-balanced melodies and clear-cut question and answer phrases
- mainly simple diatonic harmony
- mainly homophonic textures (melody and accompaniment) but with some use of counterpoint (where two or more melodic lines are combined)
- use of contrasting moods
What types of music did he compose?
- symphonies
- piano concertos
- piano sonatas
- string quartets
- several operas
- a requiem
What is the first movement of a symphony?
Allegro (fast) in sonata form
Which movement is the minuet?
Third Movement
What is a minuet?
A dance with three beats in a bar
What is the second movement of a symphony?
Slow
What is the fourth movement of a symphony?
Allegro
In sonata form, what key is the first subject?
Tonic key
What are the three main sections in sonata form?
Exposition, development and recapitulation
In sonata form, what key is the second subject in?
Usually the dominant or the relative minor key
How are the first and second subject of a sonata connected?
By a transition or bridge passage
What does modulations mean?
Key changes
What is a motive (motif)
A short distinctive melodic or rhythmic idea and is used as the basis of longer passages of music.
In the development section, how does the material from the exposition change?
The music goes through several modulations (key changes).
What happens in the recapitulation?
The material from the exposition is repeated (recapped) in a slightly different and shorter form. The first and second subject are now both heard in the tonic key.
How may a movement end?
The movement ends with a coda
What is a coda?
A coda is a short section which comes at the end of a movement.
