Neoclassical Music - IGCSE Flashcards

Neoclassical Music Overview

• Neoclassical music emerged in the 20th century, reviving and reinterpreting Baroque and Classical styles with contemporary influences.

Key Composers

• Prominent neoclassical composers include Igor Stravinsky, Francis Poulenc, Paul Hindemith, and Sergei Prokofiev.

Orchestral Structure

• A classical orchestra typically consists of strings, double woodwinds, two horns, trumpets, and timpani.
• Neoclassical orchestras build on classical foundations, incorporating instruments like the harpsichord, tuba, and expanded percussion sections.

Instrumentation and Texture

• The period is noted for its unusual instrumental combinations, focusing on woodwinds and percussion.
• Homorhythmic textures are prevalent, where all parts align rhythmically, creating a cohesive sound.

Harmony and Tonality

• Functional tonality ensures each section maintains key relationships and ends on a shared cadence.
• Common primary chords (I-IV-V) and a variety of cadences (plagal, perfect, imperfect, interrupted) characterize functional harmony.
• Chromatic harmony introduces chords modified by accidentals, enhancing harmonic richness.

Melodic Features

• Melodic construction emphasizes balanced phrases of equal length, often employing question and answer patterns.
• Conjunct motion is frequent, with melodies moving primarily in stepwise fashion, while disjunct motion involves larger leaps.
• Chromatic melodies utilize sharps, naturals, or flats for unexpected variations.

Rhythmic Techniques

• Hemiola is a rhythmic device creating the illusion of alternating time signatures.
• Syncopation emphasizes off-beat notes, adding rhythmic complexity.
• Motor rhythms are established through consistent repetitive patterns.

Time Signatures

• Simple time divides the beat into twos, while compound time divides it into threes.

Modulation and Key Use

• Sudden and unpredictable key changes are a hallmark of neoclassical music.
• Polytonality involves the simultaneous use of multiple keys, adding to the textural complexity.

Compositional Forms and Devices

• Toccata reflects Baroque styles, resembling improvisational pieces for keyboard or lute.
• Passacaglia consists of variations over a repeated bass line in triple meter.
• Concerto grosso features a contrast between a small group of soloists and a larger orchestra.
• Fugue is a polyphonic form built on a single theme, recurring throughout different parts.
• Ostinato involves the repetition of a musical phrase, enriching the overall structure.