Classical Period Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is the Classical Period?

1750-1820 (1825)

Which of the following is a general characteristic of 'Classical' music? (Select all that apply)

Homogenous style (correct)

Might steal tunes (correct)

More complex and mysterious

Lighter and airy (correct)

What does 'classical' mean in music?

Refers to art music from the 1750s to the early 1830s, including all Western art music from the Medieval era to the 2000s.

What is the age of Enlightenment?

A period where intellectuals believed certain laws of nature and humanity were universal and eternal. Signup and view all the answers

Where did the center of the music world move during the Classical Period?

From the cities of Italy to Vienna. Signup and view all the answers

What city was the musical center of the Classical style?

Vienna Signup and view all the answers

Match the following qualities of music in the Classical Period with their descriptions:

Melodies = Short, tuneful phrases with a light quality Rhythm = Metric with a steady beat Texture = Mostly homophonic Harmony = Tonal with modulations Signup and view all the answers

Classical-era instrumental music primarily comprised which forms? (Select all that apply)

String Quartet Signup and view all the answers

What is a symphony?

A large multi-movement work for orchestra. Signup and view all the answers

How many movements does a typical symphony originally have and what was the tempo of each?

Originally 3 movements expanded to 4: 1st fast, 2nd slow, 3rd dance-like, 4th fast. Signup and view all the answers

What is a concerto?

A multi-movement work consisting of music that contrasts a soloist with an orchestra. Signup and view all the answers

What defines chamber music?

Instrumental music played by a small group of 2-9 players. Signup and view all the answers

What is a string quartet composed of?

2 violins, 1 viola, 1 cello. Signup and view all the answers

What is the sonata (allegro) form?

A form consisting of exposition, development, and recapitulation. Signup and view all the answers

What is the minuet form?

A ternary form typically in 3/4 time, consisting of minuet and trio. Signup and view all the answers

What is the rondo form?

A form in which the theme appears 3 or more times with contrasting sections. Signup and view all the answers

What is theme and variations?

A work consisting of a theme and altered versions of that theme. Signup and view all the answers

How was opera different in the Classical period compared to the Baroque? (Select all that apply)

Stories about everyday life Signup and view all the answers

What is opera buffa?

Comic opera of the 18th and 19th centuries. Signup and view all the answers

What is a coda?

A new imitative passage with repeated cadences. Signup and view all the answers

What is a cadenza?

A section in which the soloist plays a free paraphrase on the themes. Signup and view all the answers

What is a scherzo?

The third movement of some symphonies in a playful style. Signup and view all the answers

What is a motive in music?

A short musical idea or fragment. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Classical Period Overview

Timeframe: 1750-1820 (1825)
Focus on elegance, beauty, and structure in music composition.

Characteristics of Classical Music

Lighter, airy, and elegant style with clear design.
Homogenous style; emphasis on natural and pleasing variety.
Utilization of contrast in mood and melody.
Frequent borrowing of tunes and ideas from other works.

Definition of Classical Music

Broadly encompasses Western art music from the Medieval era to the 2000s.
Specifically refers to the music from the 1750s to early 1830s, characterized by Mozart and Haydn.
Distinction made in the 19th century to differentiate from Romanticism: Classicism emphasized beauty and structure.

Intellectual Background

Coincided with the Age of Enlightenment (or Age of Reason), emphasizing universal laws of nature and humanity.

Vienna as Cultural Hub

Shifted from Italy to Vienna as the center of classical music in the Austrian Empire.
Home to major composers: Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven.

Musical Qualities in the Classical Period

Melodies characterized by short, tuneful phrases with statement-answer patterns.
Rhythm maintained a steady metric quality.
Predominantly homophonic texture.
Tonal harmony with modulations to closely related keys; continuo part was phased out.
Dynamic levels explored with gradual crescendos and decrescendos.
Use of orchestras, chamber music groups, and pianos (as a replacement for harpsichords).

Instrumental Forms

Key forms include Symphony, Concerto, Chamber music, and Sonata.

Symphony

Large multi-movement work for orchestra—marking a significant contribution of the Classical period.
Structure typically expanded from 3 to 4 movements: fast, slow, dance-like, fast.

Concerto

Multi-movement composition contrasting a soloist with an orchestra.

Chamber Music

Small-scale instrumental music, generally featuring one player per part, for 2-9 musicians.
Example groups include string quartets and flute quartets.

String Quartet Composition

Consists of two violins, one viola, and one cello.

Sonata Form

Structure: Exposition (presentation of themes), Development (theme manipulation), Recapitulation (return of themes), may include an introduction and coda.

Dance Forms in Classical Music

Minuet Form: Triple meter, three-part structure (A-B-A).
Rondo Form: Theme repeated three or more times with contrasting sections in between.

Theme and Variations

Composition based on a theme followed by altered versions of that theme.

Opera Developments

Transitioned from Baroque with consistent moods and mythological stories to Classical with more varied moods and everyday life stories.
Incorporation of more vocal ensembles and fluid transitions, resulting in livelier performances.

Opera Buffa

Comic opera genre of the 18th and 19th centuries, often contrasting with the serious opera (opera seria).

Additional Musical Concepts

Coda: New imitative passage leading to repeated cadences.
Cadenza: Soloist improvises or elaborates on themes during performance.
Scherzo: Playful third movement found in some symphonies and other compositions.
Motive: Short musical idea, essential for developing themes in compositions.

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Description

Test your knowledge on the Classical Period of music from 1750 to 1820. These flashcards cover key characteristics and definitions related to this elegant and structured musical era. Challenge yourself and enhance your understanding of classical music.