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.

Explore the fundamentals of Neoclassical music with these flashcards designed for IGCSE students. Learn about key composers, the defining characteristics of the neoclassical orchestra, and how this style draws from Baroque and Classical traditions while adding modern interpretations.