Podcast
Questions and Answers
What does the term 'Classical' mean?
What does the term 'Classical' mean?
- It refers to the Western canon of music.
- It refers to music based on ancient traditions.
- It refers to the musical period from 1750-1820. (correct)
- It describes a style of jazz music.
What did Classical music focus on?
What did Classical music focus on?
Clarity, simplicity, balance.
What was the 'Age of Enlightenment' or 'Age of Reason'?
What was the 'Age of Enlightenment' or 'Age of Reason'?
Philosophies and classical traditions of Ancient Greece and Rome
Name three wars and their dates from the Classical period.
Name three wars and their dates from the Classical period.
What major changes happened during the Classical period?
What major changes happened during the Classical period?
What was the Industrial Revolution?
What was the Industrial Revolution?
Why was there a decline of musical patronage?
Why was there a decline of musical patronage?
How did music publishers put pressure on composers?
How did music publishers put pressure on composers?
Why did the church begin to lose clout with the common people?
Why did the church begin to lose clout with the common people?
What two countries were the centers of musical activity?
What two countries were the centers of musical activity?
What caused the rise of the middle class?
What caused the rise of the middle class?
Why did public concerts grow during the Classical period?
Why did public concerts grow during the Classical period?
What were 'subscription concerts'?
What were 'subscription concerts'?
Name three major inventions during the Classical period.
Name three major inventions during the Classical period.
What was the Rococo style?
What was the Rococo style?
What was the Empfindsamer Stil?
What was the Empfindsamer Stil?
What was the style Galant?
What was the style Galant?
List J.S. Bach's three important sons of the Classical period.
List J.S. Bach's three important sons of the Classical period.
Describe how the international style developed.
Describe how the international style developed.
Which form of music was more important during the Classical period?
Which form of music was more important during the Classical period?
Was Classical music mostly polyphonic or homophonic?
Was Classical music mostly polyphonic or homophonic?
Why did composers stay away from descriptive titles during the Classical period?
Why did composers stay away from descriptive titles during the Classical period?
Why did basso continuo disappear during the Classical period?
Why did basso continuo disappear during the Classical period?
Music was written in phrases, double periods, with cadences, and clearly marked sections. Why?
Music was written in phrases, double periods, with cadences, and clearly marked sections. Why?
Why did composers write out ornaments and improvisations?
Why did composers write out ornaments and improvisations?
Composers began to use more than one emotion in sections and even phrases. Why?
Composers began to use more than one emotion in sections and even phrases. Why?
List characteristics of Classical music: melody, rhythm, harmony, form, texture, timbre, and dynamics.
List characteristics of Classical music: melody, rhythm, harmony, form, texture, timbre, and dynamics.
What is absolute music?
What is absolute music?
Name the three great Viennese Classical composers and their dates.
Name the three great Viennese Classical composers and their dates.
Were all of the Viennese Classical composers born in Vienna?
Were all of the Viennese Classical composers born in Vienna?
Why did musicians and artists flood to Vienna during the Classical Period?
Why did musicians and artists flood to Vienna during the Classical Period?
What were Franz Joseph Haydn's dates and what stands out about his life work?
What were Franz Joseph Haydn's dates and what stands out about his life work?
What were Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's dates and what stands out about his works?
What were Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's dates and what stands out about his works?
What were Ludwig Van Beethoven's dates and what stands out about his works?
What were Ludwig Van Beethoven's dates and what stands out about his works?
What is binary form?
What is binary form?
What is ternary form?
What is ternary form?
What is rounded binary form?
What is rounded binary form?
What is rondo form?
What is rondo form?
What is sonata rondo form?
What is sonata rondo form?
What is sonata allegro form?
What is sonata allegro form?
What is a concerto?
What is a concerto?
What is a symphony?
What is a symphony?
What is variation form?
What is variation form?
What is concerto gross?
What is concerto gross?
What is the difference between sonata form and sonata-allegro form?
What is the difference between sonata form and sonata-allegro form?
How many movements are in a traditional symphony?
How many movements are in a traditional symphony?
What is alberti bass?
What is alberti bass?
Was the harpsichord or piano used during the Classical Period?
Was the harpsichord or piano used during the Classical Period?
Describe what the traditional Classical orchestra looked like.
Describe what the traditional Classical orchestra looked like.
What is chamber music? Why was it so important during the Classical period?
What is chamber music? Why was it so important during the Classical period?
What was the most important chamber music medium during the Classical period?
What was the most important chamber music medium during the Classical period?
What is the difference between recitative 'accompagnato' and recitative 'secco'?
What is the difference between recitative 'accompagnato' and recitative 'secco'?
What is a da capo aria?
What is a da capo aria?
What is a German Lied or Lieder?
What is a German Lied or Lieder?
Why did opera go through significant reform during the Classical period?
Why did opera go through significant reform during the Classical period?
Who was the 'father of Opera Reform'?
Who was the 'father of Opera Reform'?
What is opera seria?
What is opera seria?
What is opera buffa or opera comique?
What is opera buffa or opera comique?
What is an oratorio?
What is an oratorio?
Why was there a decline in religious or liturgical music during the Classical period?
Why was there a decline in religious or liturgical music during the Classical period?
What two instruments were most popular in the New World?
What two instruments were most popular in the New World?
Why did men and women continue to use European music in the New World?
Why did men and women continue to use European music in the New World?
What music is considered the first American music?
What music is considered the first American music?
What are African American spirituals? What were they used for?
What are African American spirituals? What were they used for?
What was the first book printed in the New World?
What was the first book printed in the New World?
Who was William Billings?
Who was William Billings?
Who were the Puritans?
Who were the Puritans?
Who were the Moravians?
Who were the Moravians?
Did women and children sing publicly during the colonial period?
Did women and children sing publicly during the colonial period?
The Puritans and the Moravians came to the New World seeking religious freedom.
The Puritans and the Moravians came to the New World seeking religious freedom.
The church gained substantial influence during the Classical era.
The church gained substantial influence during the Classical era.
Describe the basic elements during the Classical period.
Describe the basic elements during the Classical period.
What is an accompagnada?
What is an accompagnada?
In what way did the rise of the middle class impact music during the Classical period?
In what way did the rise of the middle class impact music during the Classical period?
There was a musical patronage.
There was a musical patronage.
Who was the transitional composer from Classical to romantic?
Who was the transitional composer from Classical to romantic?
Why was it so important for chamber music to be composed for small ensembles?
Why was it so important for chamber music to be composed for small ensembles?
Which chamber music type was most common?
Which chamber music type was most common?
Study Notes
Classical Period Overview
- The Classical period spans from 1750 to 1820, characterized by clarity, simplicity, and balance in music.
- The term "classical" also refers to the Western canon of music.
Age of Enlightenment
- Marked philosophies and classical traditions influenced by Ancient Greece and Rome.
- Saw a rise in democracy, alongside significant historical conflicts such as the Seven Years' War (1756-1763), French and Indian Wars (1754-1763), and the War of 1812 (1812-1815).
Social and Economic Changes
- Population growth in Europe led to improved transportation and urbanization.
- The Industrial Revolution shifted labor from rural areas to cities, fostering the rise of the middle class and altering musical patronage dynamics.
Musical Landscape
- Vienna and Germany became central to musical activity during this period.
- Public concerts emerged as established institutions, making music accessible to a wider audience.
- Subscription concerts introduced prepaid tickets for attendees.
Trends and Characteristics
- Music composition emphasized balance, symmetry, and clarity with phrasing techniques designed for rhythm and melody.
- Instrumental music gained prominence over vocal forms; homophonic textures became more common.
- Composers began using multiple emotions within their works, reflecting the complexity of human feelings.
Notable Composers
- Three influential Viennese Classical composers include Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791), Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809), and Ludwig Van Beethoven (1770-1827).
- Karl Philipp Emanuel Bach and Johann Christian Bach were notable sons of J.S. Bach, making their mark during this era.
Musical Forms and Structures
- Common forms included binary (AB), ternary (ABA), rounded binary (ABA1), and sonata-allegro (exposition, development, recapitulation).
- Concertos featured solo instruments with orchestral support; symphonies served as sonatas for orchestras.
Chamber Music
- Chamber music, especially string quartets, was significant due to the intimate performance settings in homes.
- The traditional orchestra comprised predominantly strings, with pairs of woodwinds, brass, and percussion.
Opera and Vocal Music
- Opera underwent reforms led by composers like Glück, transitioning from opera seria (serious) to opera buffa (comical).
- The oratorio emerged as a major sacred genre, distinct from liturgical practices which declined in popularity.
New World Music
- Violin and flute became popular instruments in the New World, with European music remaining dominant due to its initial introduction.
- African-American spirituals were recognized as the first form of American music, emerging from the experiences of slavery.
Cultural Developments
- Religious groups such as the Puritans and Moravians sought religious freedom in the New World, leading to unique musical developments.
- Women and children had limited opportunities to sing publicly due to societal constraints.
Summary of Musical Elements
- The Classical period was defined by straightforward rhythmic patterns, structured forms, and the prioritization of melody and harmony.
- The shift from patronage systems to markets oriented to the growing middle class significantly influenced musicianship and accessibility to music.
Closing Note
- Beethoven is acknowledged as the transitional figure leading from the Classical to the Romantic period, reflecting broader changes in artistic expression and cultural values.
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Test your knowledge on the Classical Period of music from 1750 to 1820 with these flashcards. Explore key concepts, definitions, and significant aspects such as the Age of Enlightenment and the characteristics of Classical music. Perfect for students or music enthusiasts!
