Wider Symphonies: Stamitz no. 2

Question 1

When was this symphony written?

Answer 1

1750s

Question 2

What key is this symphony in?

Answer 2

D major

Question 3

List the instruments in this symphony.

Answer 3

-strings
-continuo
-2 oboes
-2 horns
-2 trumpets
-timps

Question 4

How can the style of this symphony be described and what musical era does it belong to?

Answer 4

Style galant - early classical music

Question 5

What was this symphony composed for?

Answer 5

the Mannheim orchestra at the Mannheim court.

Question 6

What ‘musical special effects’ are used in this symphony and explain what they are?

Answer 6

-steamroller = crescendo
-hammerstroke = 3 tonic chords at the beginning of the piece played in rhythmic unison.

Question 7

What is unusual about the structure of the first movement?

Answer 7

It is in Sonata form but the themes are reversed in the recapitulation (2nd then 1st)

Question 8

Make three points about the music of the first movement

Answer 8

-clear phrases
-diatonic
-functional harmony

Question 9

Where are the musical ‘special effects’ used in the first movement?

Answer 9

Hammerstroke at the beginning, soon followed by steamroller

Question 10

What is the structure of the second movement?

Answer 10

loose rounded binary form

Question 11

What is the key of the second movement?

Answer 11

G major (subdominant)

Question 12

What is the texture of the second movement?

Answer 12

mel dom hom

Question 13

What is the tempo of the second movement?

Answer 13

Andante

Question 14

Which instrument takes a leading role in the B section of the second movement?

Answer 14

Oboes

Question 15

What are the ‘Mannheim birdies’ that can be heard in the second movement?

Answer 15

The high, fragmented, dotted, melodic violin part

Question 16

Give an example of the third movement being old fashioned

Answer 16

The first and second violins play the same thing

Question 17

What is the structure of the third movement?

Answer 17

Minuet, Trio, Minuet

Question 18

How can the dynamics be described in the third movement?

Answer 18

Terraced dynamics are suggested in the second half of the minuet.

Question 19

In what way is the third movement innovative?

Answer 19

There is an independent use of the woodwind in the Trio

Question 20

How is the texture made thinner in the trio (this is normal) in the third movement?

Answer 20

No trumpets

Question 21

How can the harmony be described in the trio within the third movement?

Answer 21

There is diminished harmony in the second half of the trio

Question 22

What is the time signature of the fourth movement?

Answer 22

3/8

Question 23

Why is the fourth movement virtuosic?

Answer 23

It has fast rhythms

Question 24

What is a third ‘musical special effect’ used in the fourth movement?

Answer 24

Mannheim sigh - putting more weight on the first of two descending slurred chords

Question 25

Give three words to describe the music of the fourth movement

Answer 25

-sequences
-dissonance
-ornamentation

Question 26

Does this symphony (mainly) match the Classical Symphony structure and features?

Answer 26

Yes

Question 27

What is the main instrument in this symphony?

Answer 27

Strings (but emerging use of woodwind)