Test Review 2 Flashcards
What years did the classical era span?
1730-1825
What are two major social and political factors that led to the classical era?
Enlightenment and Revolution
The focus of classical music was on what two things?
Art and Nature
Name some major characteristics of classical music.
Simpler textures, Homophonic, Simpler melodies, moving toward the pianoforte
What is a sonata?
A 3-4 movement piece, generally for piano solo, or piano and violin.
What changes happened to the classical symphony?
It was standardized, no longer a broad category for pieces.
What was different about the classical opera?
Less focus on the supernatural and more realism.
What was unique about Beethoven’s gift as a composer?
He was the first to write a symphony with a chorus.
What was Mozart known for?
Completely reinventing the opera
Why is there very little music published by Fanny Mendelssohn?
She was a woman.
What years did the romantic era span?
1800-1910
What is the concept of romanticism?
It sought to be individualistic and emotional.
What was the goal of composers during this time?
They wanted to invoke non-musical ideas, like nature, or art.
Name some major characteristics of the Romantic period.
Greater emphasis on melody, wider dynamic and tonal range.
Name a new style of work that was invented during the Romantic period.
Nocturne
How did harmonic structures change?
It was now based on movement from tonic to subdominant or in alternative keys.
What was interesting about the life and marriage of Robert and Clara Schumann?
They had a 9 year age gap, and Clara’s father strongly opposed the union.
Why was Liszt referred to as a “rock star” of his time?
He was extremely charismatic and popular.
Why were Chopin’s pieces different from other romantic pieces of time?
They were very quiet and emotional, less dramatic, but more moving.
What years are considered a part of the impressionist movement?
Late 19th and early 20th centuries.
What painter largely influenced the beginning of the impressionist movement?
Monet, his piece “Sunrise”
Name some characteristics of the impressionist style
Color or timbre, ambiguous tonality, and tensionless harmony.
What happened to Ravel with the Prix de Rome?
He competed 5 consecutive years, and his last attempt was so controversial that it led to a complete overhaul of the system.
Did Ravel and Debussy like being termed as “impressionists?”
No.
What years does the term “20th century music” encapsulate?
1901-2000
Name some of the major 20th century styles
Minimalism, Serialism, 12 tone technique, and Expressionism.
What are two important influences on music in the 20th century?
Jazz music and ethnic folk music.
Define Minimalism
A form of art or music that employs limited materials.
What are some of the major characteristics of minimalist music?
Silence, concept music, brevity, and phase and pattern music, including repetition.
What is serialism?
Music, but make it math.
Describe the 12 tone matrix
A 12 by 12 matrix filled with numbers representing the 12 musical notes.
What was the purpose of the 12 tone technique?
To ensure all notes are equally important, and to ensure complete atonality.
What is atonality?
A lack of key.
What is expressionism?
Avoiding traditional forms of beauty to convey powerful emotions.
Describe the piece 4’33”
4 minutes and 33 seconds of silence, separated into 3 movements.
What is unique about the music of Philip Glass?
It is very repetitive. It is very minimalistic.
