Classical Period Flashcards

Questions and Answers

When was the Classical Period?

1750-1820

What was an important factor in the rise of the middle class during the Classical Period?

Social mobility

From whom did political and economic power shift during the Classical Period?

Aristocracy and church

Who were the Master Composers of the Classical Period?

Ludwig van Beethoven Signup and view all the answers

What characteristic describes Classical music?

Homophonic Signup and view all the answers

In what manner do Classical melodies typically behave?

Most tuneful and easiest to remember Signup and view all the answers

What was the role of woodwind and brass instruments during the Classical Period?

Paired Signup and view all the answers

Where were trombones primarily used during the Classical Period?

Opera and church music Signup and view all the answers

A symphony is written for what?

Orchestra Signup and view all the answers

What instruments are included in a string quartet?

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

A sonata is written for how many instruments?

One or two instruments Signup and view all the answers

Joseph Haydn spent most of his life serving which type of family?

A wealthy aristocratic family Signup and view all the answers

Why did Mozart break from his court position?

He could not bear being treated as a servant Signup and view all the answers

Who fared better than Mozart?

Ludwig van Beethoven Signup and view all the answers

What did the prospering middle class seek beyond material goods?

Aristocratic luxuries such as theater, literature, and music Signup and view all the answers

What shift did composers make to accommodate middle-class tastes?

Turned from serious to comic opera Signup and view all the answers

What influence did folk and popular music have on serious compositions?

Flavored the music Signup and view all the answers

What type of music did Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven compose for public balls?

Dance music Signup and view all the answers

As the seat of the Holy Roman Empire, Vienna was a center for which countries?

Austria, Germany, Italy, Hungary, and the Czech Republic Signup and view all the answers

What was the typical form for the opening fast movement of a Classical symphony?

Sonata form Signup and view all the answers

What does a sonata form movement consist of?

Exposition, development, and recapitulation Signup and view all the answers

What is a coda?

A concluding section Signup and view all the answers

What are motives in music composition?

Short musical ideas developed within a composition Signup and view all the answers

What is a common pattern for Rondo compositions?

A B A C A Signup and view all the answers

In Rondo, in which key is the main theme usually stated?

Tonic key Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes the finale in Classical music?

Its liveliness, regularity, and buoyancy Signup and view all the answers

What is the structure of a Classical Symphony?

Fast, slow, dancelike, fast movement Signup and view all the answers

What does a concerto typically feature?

An instrument soloist and orchestra Signup and view all the answers

What is the favored solo instrument in concertos?

Piano Signup and view all the answers

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

Fast, slow, fast Signup and view all the answers

What is a fermata?

A sign meaning pause Signup and view all the answers

Chamber music is designed for what type of setting?

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

What is the most important form in classical chamber music?

String quartet Signup and view all the answers

What are the main components of a string quartet?

Fast, slow, minuet or scherzo, fast Signup and view all the answers

Who did Joseph Haydn serve?

Esterhazys Signup and view all the answers

What are the twelfth symphonies composed by Haydn known as?

The London Symphonies Signup and view all the answers

What notable works did Joseph Haydn compose?

The Creation and The Seasons Signup and view all the answers

Where was Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart born?

Salzburg, Austria Signup and view all the answers

What could Mozart do by the age of 6?

Play the harpsichord and violin, improvise fugues, write minuets, and read music perfectly Signup and view all the answers

What trips did Mozart take during his childhood?

Continually on tour in Europe and England Signup and view all the answers

What did Mozart master during his trip to Italy?

The current operatic style Signup and view all the answers

Who visited Mozart carrying an anonymous letter commissioning a requiem?

A stranger Signup and view all the answers

How did Mozart compose extended works?

Completely in his mind Signup and view all the answers

Who created the standard catalog of Mozart's compositions?

Kochel Signup and view all the answers

What is typically found in German operas that differs from Italian operas?

Spoken dialogues Signup and view all the answers

What are Mozart's three masterpieces of Italian comic opera?

The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni, and Cosi fan tutte Signup and view all the answers

What is considered Mozart's finest opera?

The Magic Flute Signup and view all the answers

What is the old tale of Don Juan known for?

The legendary Spanish lover Signup and view all the answers

What were Ludwig van Beethoven's skills?

A virtuoso and a brilliant pianist Signup and view all the answers

What disaster struck Beethoven during his life?

He felt his first symptoms of deafness Signup and view all the answers

What landmark composition did Beethoven create in 1803?

The Eroica, a gigantic Third Symphony Signup and view all the answers

What was Beethoven's weakness despite his broad education?

Elementary arithmetic Signup and view all the answers

In Beethoven's music, how is the Coda typically characterized?

Often expanded and serves to develop themes further Signup and view all the answers

Where can Beethoven's greatest spiritual work be found?

Missa Solemnis Signup and view all the answers

What did Beethoven carry with him everywhere?

Sketchbooks Signup and view all the answers

What role did Beethoven play in music history?

Bridged the classical and romantic eras Signup and view all the answers

What did Beethoven expand in sonata form movements?

The development section and coda Signup and view all the answers

What did Beethoven use in the finale of the Ninth Symphony?

A chorus and four vocalists Signup and view all the answers

Who sung the text of Schiller's 'Ode to Joy' in Beethoven's Ninth Symphony?

Vocalists Signup and view all the answers

What was Beethoven's only opera?

Fidelio Signup and view all the answers

What characterized the Missa Solemnis and Ninth Symphony composed by Beethoven?

Out of total deafness, and new realms of sound Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

The Classical Period Overview

Spanned from 1750 to 1820.
Marked by significant social mobility and the rise of the middle class.
Political and economic power transitioned from the aristocracy and church to the middle class.

Master Composers

Prominent figures include Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Ludwig van Beethoven.
Composers reflected middle class tastes, shifting from serious to comic themes in operas.

Characteristics of Classical Music

Fluctuates in mood with a wealth of rhythmic patterns.
Generally homophonic, with melodies being tuneful and memorable.
Woodwind and brass instruments are commonly paired.

Musical Forms and Structures

Symphony typically involves orchestral composition, with the structure including fast, slow, and dancelike movements.
Common forms include sonata, theme and variations, rondo, and minuet and trio.
A sonata is written for one or two instruments, while a string quartet consists of two violins, a viola, and a cello.

Sonata Form

Composed of three main sections: exposition, development, and recapitulation.
Often concludes with a coda, which is a concluding section.
Involves themes that are developed and varied but retain core elements.

Variations and Rondo

Theme and variation forms maintain the length of the theme while altering elements like melody or rhythm.
Rondo patterns typically include themes such as A B A C A.

Beethoven's Impact

Beethoven, a transformative figure, bridged the classical and romantic eras with a focus on dramatic emphases within compositions.
Suffered from deafness yet continued to compose groundbreaking works such as the Eroica Symphony and the Ninth Symphony, which incorporates a chorus.

Haydn and Mozart's Contributions

Haydn is noted for his London Symphonies and chamber works closely associated with the string quartet format.
Mozart, a child prodigy born in Salzburg, excelled in operas, producing masterpieces like The Marriage of Figaro and The Magic Flute.

Cultural Context

Vienna emerged as a cultural hub during this period, fostering relationships among composers like Haydn and Mozart.
The growing middle class sought cultural enrichment through theater, literature, and music.

Unique Works

Beethoven’s only opera is Fidelio, while his Missa Solemnis and Ninth Symphony represent profound achievements in choral and orchestral music.
Each symphonic movement in Classical compositions follows a fast-slow-dancelike-fast format, creating a cohesive musical experience.

Instrumentation

The favored solo instrument in concertos is the piano.
Chamber music is designed for intimate settings, commonly featuring a violin, cello, and piano.

Musical Innovations

Composers utilized unique structures within their works, expanding traditional forms, especially in sonata movements, to convey greater emotional depths and complexities.

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Description

Test your knowledge on the Classical Period from 1750 to 1820 with these flashcards. Explore key concepts like social mobility and the shift in political and economic power to the middle class. Learn about master composers who defined this era.