Classical Music Quiz Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What years does the stylistic period of Classicism in western music cover?

1750-1820

Which of the following composers is not considered a master of the classical period?

Haydn

Johann Christian Bach (correct)

Beethoven

Mozart

Which of the following statements is not true about composers in the classical period?

They continued to use terraced dynamics. (correct)

They wrote in a homophonic texture.

They composed for large orchestras.

They used terraced dynamics.

Which of the following characteristics is not typical of the music of the classical period?

Use of polyphony Signup and view all the answers

What instruments were typically found in a classical period orchestra?

Strings, woodwinds, horns, trumpets, and timpani Signup and view all the answers

Political and economic power shifted to the middle class from the aristocracy and the _____.

church Signup and view all the answers

What luxuries did the prospering middle class seek during the classical period?

Theater, literature, and music Signup and view all the answers

To which aristocratic family did Joseph Haydn serve most of his life?

Esterházy Signup and view all the answers

In the classical period, comic operas sometimes ridiculed the _____.

aristocracy Signup and view all the answers

In Vienna, who became close friends?

Haydn and Mozart Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is not part of a sonata form movement?

Rondo Signup and view all the answers

Sonata form consists of three main sections: exposition, development, and _____.

recapitulation Signup and view all the answers

What are short musical ideas or fragments of themes that are developed within a composition called?

motives Signup and view all the answers

What is the concluding section often called in a sonata-form movement?

coda Signup and view all the answers

Who is the composer of Symphony No. 40 in G Minor?

Mozart Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following instrument groups is NOT heard in Symphony No. 40 in G Minor?

Percussion Signup and view all the answers

In sonata form, what sections does Symphony No. 40 in G Minor feature?

The recapitulation leading to the coda Signup and view all the answers

Theme-and-variations form may be schematically outlined as _____.

AA'A''A'''A'''' Signup and view all the answers

The _________ movement of the Surprise Symphony is in theme-and-variations form.

second Signup and view all the answers

What is the 'surprise' in the Surprise Symphony?

A loud chord in a very soft passage Signup and view all the answers

Who is the composer of the 'Surprise' Symphony?

Franz Joseph Haydn Signup and view all the answers

The minuet-and-trio movement is in ____________ form.

ABA Signup and view all the answers

The movement of a symphony that is often patterned after a dance is the _____.

third Signup and view all the answers

The minuet is in _______ meter.

triple Signup and view all the answers

In many of Beethoven's works, there is a _______ movement instead of the minuet.

scherzo Signup and view all the answers

The scherzo differs from the minuet in that it ____.

moves more quickly Signup and view all the answers

A _____________ is a musical composition that is usually light in mood, and meant for evening entertainment.

serenade Signup and view all the answers

Who is the composer of Eine Kleine Nachtmusik - 3rd Movement?

Beethoven Signup and view all the answers

How is the accompaniment played in the opening minuet of Eine Kleine Nachtmusik - 3rd Movement?

In an emphatic and staccato manner Signup and view all the answers

How does the melody in the trio section contrast with the minuet in Eine Kleine Nachtmusik - 3rd Movement?

It is more legato and moves in smaller steps Signup and view all the answers

The rondo may be schematically outlined as ____.

ABACABA Signup and view all the answers

In Beethoven's String Quartet in C Minor, which instrument(s) play the melody in the opening section?

The violin plays the melody Signup and view all the answers

Which thematic section does this music represent in Beethoven's String Quartet in C Minor?

B Signup and view all the answers

A symphony may be defined as _____.

an extended, ambitious composition typically lasting between 20 and 45 minutes, exploiting the expanded range of tone color and dynamics of the classical orchestra Signup and view all the answers

What is the usual order of movements in a classical symphony?

fast, slow, dance-related, fast Signup and view all the answers

The first movement of a classical symphony is almost always fast, and in _____ form.

sonata Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is not true of the symphony?

It is a musical composition for solo instrument and orchestra. Signup and view all the answers

The lyrical slow movement of a symphony is most often the ____.

second Signup and view all the answers

A concerto is a large-scale work in several movements for ____.

an instrumental soloist and orchestra Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is not true about classical concertos?

They are generally composed for chamber ensembles. Signup and view all the answers

The favored solo instrument in the classical concerto was the ____.

piano Signup and view all the answers

The essence of a classical concerto is the ____.

interplay between a soloist and the orchestra Signup and view all the answers

What is the typical sequence of movements in a classical concerto?

fast, slow, dance-related, fast Signup and view all the answers

The classical concerto differs from the symphony in that it does not have a ___________ movement.

minuet or scherzo Signup and view all the answers

A brilliant solo section in a concerto designed to display the performer's virtuosity is called a _____.

cadenza Signup and view all the answers

A pause in the score of a concerto, preceding a cadenza, is indicated by a ____.

fermata Signup and view all the answers

Classical chamber music is designed for ____.

the intimate setting of a small room Signup and view all the answers

What is the most important form of classical chamber music?

string quartet Signup and view all the answers

A major factor that distinguishes chamber music from symphony or concerto is that chamber music ____.

is performed by one player per part Signup and view all the answers

The classical string quartet consists of ____.

two violins, viola, and cello Signup and view all the answers

Haydn had a long and fruitful relationship with which noble family?

Esterházy Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following was not one of Haydn's duties while in the service of the Esterházys?

Writing a cantata each week for Sunday services Signup and view all the answers

Haydn's contract of employment shows that he was viewed as a ____.

skilled servant Signup and view all the answers

Although Haydn spent most of his time in Hungary, he often traveled to ________, where his music was performed often and greatly admired.

London Signup and view all the answers

What are the titles of Haydn's two popular oratorios?

The Seasons and The Creation Signup and view all the answers

Haydn was a prolific composer, with 68 string quartets and ____.

104 symphonies Signup and view all the answers

Along with his symphonies, what other works are considered Haydn's most important contributions?

String quartets Signup and view all the answers

Mozart was born in ____.

Salzburg, Austria Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is not true of Mozart in his later years?

He struggled financially. Signup and view all the answers

Between six and fifteen, Mozart was continually on tour in _____.

England and Europe Signup and view all the answers

At the age of twenty-five, Mozart tried to find fame and fortune by moving to _____.

Vienna Signup and view all the answers

Mozart composed his Requiem on commission from a ____.

stranger Signup and view all the answers

Mozart's Requiem was finished by ____.

one of his pupils Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is not one of Mozart's three masterpieces of Italian opera?

Orfeo Signup and view all the answers

In the opening scene of Don Giovanni, does the music remain the same or does it change?

The music changes significantly as the action unfolds Signup and view all the answers

Does the music in Don Giovanni fit the description of an opera buffa?

No, it sounds dramatic and agitated. Signup and view all the answers

How is the sung text treated in the opening excerpt from Don Giovanni?

Sometimes different singers sing different words at the same time Signup and view all the answers

What helps to distinguish the different characters in the opening scene of Don Giovanni?

Each character has a different vocal range and a distinctive voice Signup and view all the answers

How many characters are singing in the opening scene excerpt of Don Giovanni?

2 Signup and view all the answers

What genre is Don Giovanni?

opera Signup and view all the answers

In Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 23, what does this excerpt feature?

piano and orchestra in alternation Signup and view all the answers

How long does it take for the piano to begin playing in Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 23?

28 seconds Signup and view all the answers

During the cadenza in a concerto, the pianist ____.

plays unaccompanied and with virtuosity Signup and view all the answers

The Third Symphony of Beethoven was originally composed to commemorate the deeds of _____ as the embodiment of heroism and democratic ideals.

Napoleon Bonaparte Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about Beethoven is not true?

He was financially secure throughout his life. Signup and view all the answers

Beethoven's sixteen __________ are generally considered among the greatest music ever composed.

string quartets Signup and view all the answers

Beethoven is often credited as being the ____.

bridge between the classical and romantic periods Signup and view all the answers

What is the title of Beethoven's only opera?

Fidelio Signup and view all the answers

In Beethoven's Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, what happens after the famous four tones?

The same rhythm repeats with different pitches Signup and view all the answers

What new feature is introduced in the recapitulation of Beethoven's Symphony No. 5 - 1st movement?

An oboe solo Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about the coda in Beethoven's symphony is true?

The opening motive is repeated. Signup and view all the answers

What is the structure of the principal theme in Beethoven's Symphony No. 5 - 1st movement?

three short notes and one long note Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Classicism in Music

The Classicism stylistic period in Western music spanned from 1750 to 1820.
Key composers include Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven.
Johann Christian Bach is not recognized as a master of the classical period.

Characteristics of Classical Music

Terraced dynamics, used in earlier music, were not prevalent in classical compositions.
Classical music is primarily homophonic, not polyphonic.
The typical orchestra included strings, woodwinds, horns, trumpets, and timpani.

Socioeconomic Context

The middle class gained political and economic power, supplanting the aristocracy and the church.
The prosperous middle class sought access to luxuries like theater, literature, and music.

Joseph Haydn

Haydn devoted much of his life to the Esterházy family, a wealthy aristocratic family.
He integrated comic elements into his operas, humorously criticizing the aristocracy.
Haydn had a notable relationship with the noble family of Esterházy.

Sonata Form and Structure

Sonata form consists of exposition, development, and recapitulation.
The final section of a sonata-form movement is known as the coda.
Motives are short musical ideas that undergo development within compositions.

Symphony and Concerto

A classical symphony typically has four movements: fast, slow, dance-related, and fast.
The first movement is usually fast and in sonata form, while the lyrical second movement often follows.
A concerto features a soloist accompanied by an orchestra, with the interplay being essential to its structure.
The favored solo instrument in the classical concerto was the piano.

Rondo and Theme-and-Variations

Rondo form is schematically outlined as ABACABA.
Theme-and-variations are structured as AA'A''A'''A''''.

Beethoven's Contributions

Beethoven’s work symbolizes the transition between the classical and romantic periods.
His only opera, "Fidelio," is well-known, along with his 16 string quartets regarded as masterpieces.
The Third Symphony was originally composed to honor Napoleon Bonaparte as a hero.

Mozart's Legacy

Mozart was born in Salzburg, Austria, and was a child prodigy who toured Europe extensively.
He is known for his three Italian operas, with "Don Giovanni" being a significant work that instantaneously shifts in musical style during scenes.
His Requiem was unfinished at his death and completed by a pupil.

Chamber Music

Classical chamber music is performed in small settings, with the string quartet being the most significant form.
In chamber music, typically one player per part performs, differentiating it from symphonies and concertos.

Cadenza and Fermata

A cadenza is a dazzling solo passage in a concerto, showcasing the performer's skill.
A fermata indicates a pause before a cadenza in the score.

Historical Context

The classical period was marked by a shift in power dynamics, with a growing influence of the middle class and new cultural expressions through music, reflecting the societal changes of the era.

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Description

Test your knowledge on the Classical music period from 1750 to 1820 with this quiz. The cards cover important composers, their stylistic characteristics, and common misconceptions about the era. Perfect for students and music enthusiasts alike!