Classical Music

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Classical Music

• Higher

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Quick Quiz
1) Between which dates (roughly) did the
Classical Period occur?
2) Name 3 famous Classical composers
3) Name 2 instruments found in Classical Music
which did not exist during the time of Baroque
Music
4) Which Baroque instrument was no longer used in
the Classical Period?
5) These Baroque musical styles were also found
in the Classical period, true or
false? OPERA ORATORIO CONCERTO
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One of the most important developments in the
Classical period was the SYMPHONY.
This is a piece for full orchestra, with no
soloists.
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Like a concerto, the symphony is divided into
sections, or movements.
Each movement would have its own style and tempo.
Mvt.1
Mvt.2
Mvt. 3
Mvt. 4
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The 1st movement was usually fast and lively, in
sonata form
Allegro
The 2nd movement was slower and more lyrical
Andante
The 3rd movement was often a Minuet (a type of
dance with 3 beats in a bar) or a scherzo
Minuet
The final movement was sometimes a rondo.
Rondo
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Sonatas
From the Italian word sonare to sound.
A work in several movements for one or two
instruments only.
Usually a piece for piano solo, or piano with
another instrument (e.g. violin piano flute
piano)
Do not confuse with a concerto. In a sonata, both
instruments are equally important.
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More Classical Concepts
Scherzo This is an Italian word, literally
meaning joke. It is used to describe a very
fast and lively movement of a symphony.
Cadenza A section in a concerto where the
orchestra stops playing, and the soloist gets to
really show off with some very difficult and
flashy playing!
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Alberti Bass A style of accompaniment (usually
played on piano), based on notes of a chord.
The pattern of notes is bottom note, top note,
middle note, top note.
Chord of G
Chord of C
G,B,D
C,E,G
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Ornamentation
Trill A type of ornament. Two notes next to each
other are played one after the other, very fast.
Sounds like
Acciaccatura An extra decorative note, which is
very short, played just before the main melody
note.
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Appoggiatura A leaning note. It looks like an
acciaccatura, but is much longer and holds back
the arrival of the main note.
Sounds like
Mordent 3 notes played very quickly (the main
note, the note above, and the main note again.
Sounds like
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Turn Consists of 4 notes (the note above, main
note, note below and main note).
Sounds like
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Vocal Music
You need to remember the following concepts
OPERA
ORATORIO
ARIA
RECITATIVE
MASS
MOTET
The most important new concepts you need to know
are Lied and Song Cycle
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A Lied is a German song, with piano, which tells
a story (plural is Lieder) .
Franz Schubert was the most famous composer of
Lieder from the Classical period.
The piano part is of equal importance to the
voice. Often, the piano part tried to illustrate
some aspect of the words (word-painting)
e.g. Gretchen am Spinnrade the piano part
represents the constant turning of the spinning
wheel.
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A song-cycle is a group of lieder linked by a
common theme. E.g. Wintereisse by Schubert