The Classical Era Flashcards
Name a composer from the Classical era.
These are some of the well-known composers from the Classical era:
- Beethoven
- Mozart
- Haydn
- Paganini
- Scarlatti
When was the Classical era?
The Classical era was between 1750-1825.
Describe a typical Classical orchestra; what sorts of instruments would you expect to find?
The orchestra had grew a little more in size in the Classical era. A typical Classical orchestra would have consisted of:
Strings - a few more string players (up to 6) per section (violin, viola, cello, double bass).
Woodwind - there would usually be two flutes, two oboes, two bassoons and towards the end of the period, two clarinets.
Brass - two french horns and two trumpets were also often used in the brass section trumpet (with valves by the end of the period).
Percussion - timpani (kettledrums) and sometimes triangle, hand cymbals and bass drum. If trumpets were in the orchestra, they would usually be accompanied by two timpani.
The piano was developed in the Classical period and became a popular instrument, as a solo instrument in the concerto. The harpsichord was replaced with the piano, the precursor to today’s modern piano.
Describe which textures would typically be found in Classical music?
The textures you might associate with the Classical era include:
Melody and accompaniment - a soloist accompanied by the orchestra.
Homophonic - all parts moving together at the same time.
What sort of ornamentation could be found in Classical music?
Still much of the same ornamentation and decodration as the Baroque era inlcuding:
Appoggiatura - a musical ornament that consists of an added non-chord note in a melody that is resolved to the regular note of the chord.
Acciaccatura - a short grace note.
Turn - a turn creates a musical flourish that expands the initial single note into a series of four notes.
Trills - rapid alternation between two adjacent notes, usually a semitone or tone apart.
Mordents - an ornament indicating that the note is to be played with a single rapid alternation with the note above or below. Like trills, they can be chromatically modified by a small flat, sharp or natural accidental.
Glissandos - a glide from one pitch to another.
Describe the development of dynamics in the Classical era.
Dynamic ranges increased. Crescendos and diminuendos appeared, as well as more extreme and moderate dynamics (e.g. pp, ff, mp, mf).
Where might you go to hear Classical music being performed?
Classical music was performed in Royal courts, at the homes of aristocracy, in churches or in large concert halls.
What does the term ‘tonality’ mean?
A piece of music which is determined by the key in which it is played or the relations between the notes of a scale or key.
Can you name at least one Classical piece of music?
Some well-known Classical pieces are:
Beethoven - Fifth Symphony
Mozart - Eine Kleine Nachtmusik
Haydn - The Creation
What is meant by the term ‘Balanced phrasing’?
Balanced phrasing, is usually melodies or motifs that are in 4 or 8 bars with question and answer phrases. See the example attatched.
