Reading: Music and the Enlightenment, the Symphony, and the Classical Concerto Flashcards
Where did Classical music develop?
Vienna, Austria.
Joseph II is known as an “___” ruler.
Enlightened.
Who are the two French philosophers associated with the Enlightenment?
Voltaire and Rousseau.
What did Thomas Jefferson write concerning the Enlightenment?
“Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
Rococo
A mid-eighteenth century style that was light and often frothy.
Divertimento
An 18th-century genre of light instrumental music, designed for entertainment.
The Classical era of music focused on…
Music as entertainment.
What became the most progressive operatic form in the latter part of the eighteenth century?
Opera buffa.
The opera of the Classical period can be compared to the ___ of the literary genre.
Novel.
Were concerts the sole source of income for most Classical musicians?
No, they still relied on court patronage, the opera house, and the church.
What are the two concepts needed to understand Classical music?
- Natural.
- Pleasing variety.
True or false? Classical music has a rigid rhythmic quality.
False.
True or false? There was more variation in dynamics in the Classical period.
True.
What led to the increased variety in dynamics in the Classical period?
The pianoforte (piano).
What was the role of the woodwinds in the Classical orchestra as opposed to in the Baroque orchestra?
Were included all the time instead of for just festive occasions. Added pleasing variety, strengthened the strings.
Describe the composition of a Classical orchestra:
Strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion (2 timpani).
What were Classical melodies like?
Simple, more like popular music. Gave you something to hum along to.
What is the primary texture of the classical period?
Homophony.