Music Theory & History Flashcards
Review the most popular classical composers and listen to famous works. And study a little music theory while you're at it! Special thanks to Classic FM, Wikipedia, MusOpen, YouTube, Ultimate Music Theory, and SoundCloud for helping us listen to and comment on these important musical works!
Which 18th-century Austrian composer and multi-instrumentalist is famous for works such as The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni, Eine kleine Nachtmusik, and Die Zauberflöte?
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Mozart was a child prodigy who began composing at a young age and is remembered for composing tirelessly.
In spite of his fame, he had little financial security and died of an illness at the age of 35, famously receiving a modest funeral that resulted in his having an unmarked grave in Vienna.
The audio excerpt is from “Donna Elvira.”
Which 19th-century Polish composer’s famous works include Sonata No. 2, Movement 3 (Funeral March) and Op. 66 (Fantaisie Impromptu)?
Frederic Chopin
A pianist from age five, many of Chopin’s works were written for solo piano.
Which 18th- and 19th-century German composer and pianist is best known for works such as Ode to Joy and Fur Elise?
Ludwig van Beethoven
Beethoven is famed for having continued to conduct, perform, and compose music even after becoming deaf.
He is also known for the piano sonata “Moonlight” and his Symphony No. 5 in C minor, one of the most famous compositions in classical music (playing now!).
What type of music combines a musical score with the text of a play and is usually performed in a theatre accompanied by an orchestra or ensemble?
opera
Opera started near the end of the 16th century and is part of the Western classical music tradition.
Well-known opera singers include Luciano Pavarotti, Andrea Bocelli, and Anna Netrebko. Famous opera composers included Mozart, Rossini, and Bellini.
Which 19th- and 20th-century Italian opera composer is most famous for operas including La Bohème, Tosca, and Madama Butterfly?
Giacomo Puccini
Which musical era took place between 1730–1820 A.D., introducing smaller musical groups such as trios and string quartets, along with lighter, more beautiful compositions?
Classical
Composers of this era include Beethoven and Mozart.
It is interesting to note that any music from the Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, and Classical eras are all referred to as “classical music”. This is not technically correct.
Which Italian composer of opera during the Romantic Period is best known for his operas Aida (specifically the Grand March) and Rigoletto?
Giuseppe Verdi
What style of dance music characterized by a heavy bass line originated in Jamaica in the 1960s?
reggae
Reggae borrows stylistically from jazz, rock and roll, and R&B. Bob Marley is arguably the most famous reggae musician of all time.
Name this popular work of music and its composer:
Canon in D by Johann Pachelbel
Name this popular work of music and its composer:
The Marriage of Figaro by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Which 19th-century German composer of operas is famous for works such as Bridal Chorus and Ride of the Valkyries?
Richard Wagner
What type of music blends traditional African American and European music and often uses a ‘call and response’ pattern among both string and brass instruments?
The call and response pattern is a 5-bar (5 measure) repeating pattern that helps the artists share a common understanding that allows them to riff off each other.
blues
Blues developed during the American Civil War (1861-65) in the southern United States.
The ‘call and response’ pattern has one musician play a musical phrase and a second that then “answers” with a phrase.
Blues heavily influenced rock, jazz, country, and hip hop in the decades after its advent.
Which type of instrument is played by plucking or moving a bow over a series of strings?
string
String instruments include guitar, violin, and cello.
Name this popular work of music and its composer:
Ride of the Valkyries from Die Walküre, Act 3 by Richard Wagner
Which 19th-century Russian composer is famous for writing music for The Nutcracker?
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
A gifted pianist, Tchaikovsky began taking lessons at age five. Another of his famous works is the well-known ballet, Swan Lake.