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    Music Handouts Q2

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    Andrea Aguero
    During the Classical period (1750-1820), common musical forms that developed included the sonata, concerto, symphony, string quartet, and classical opera. The sonata was a multi-movement piece for solo instrument or small ensemble. The concerto featured a soloist accompanied by orchestra. The symphony was an elaborate orchestral work typically in four movements. The three most influential composers of the period were Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven, who helped establish classical styles and forms. Orchestras during this time included strings, woodwinds, brass and percussion.

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    Music Handouts Q2

    Uploaded by

    Andrea Aguero
    35 views3 pages
    During the Classical period (1750-1820), common musical forms that developed included the sonata, concerto, symphony, string quartet, and classical opera. The sonata was a multi-movement piece for solo instrument or small ensemble. The concerto featured a soloist accompanied by orchestra. The symphony was an elaborate orchestral work typically in four movements. The three most influential composers of the period were Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven, who helped establish classical styles and forms. Orchestras during this time included strings, woodwinds, brass and percussion.

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    During the Classical period (1750-1820), common musical forms that developed included the sonata, concerto, symphony, string quartet, and classical opera. The sonata was a multi-movement piece for solo instrument or small ensemble. The concerto featured a soloist accompanied by orchestra. The symphony was an elaborate orchestral work typically in four movements. The three most influential composers of the period were Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven, who helped establish classical styles and forms. Orchestras during this time included strings, woodwinds, brass and percussion.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    35 views3 pages

    Music Handouts Q2

    Uploaded by

    Andrea Aguero
    During the Classical period (1750-1820), common musical forms that developed included the sonata, concerto, symphony, string quartet, and classical opera. The sonata was a multi-movement piece for solo instrument or small ensemble. The concerto featured a soloist accompanied by orchestra. The symphony was an elaborate orchestral work typically in four movements. The three most influential composers of the period were Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven, who helped establish classical styles and forms. Orchestras during this time included strings, woodwinds, brass and percussion.

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    MUSIC OF THE CLASSICAL PERIOD

    Sonata

    It came from the word Sonare which means “to make a sound”. Sonata is a musical composition composed of multi-
    movement for solo instrument or a small instrumental ensemble.

    Movements

    1st Movement: Allegro—fast movement


    2nd movement: Andante — slow movement
    3rd Movement: Minuet – It is in three-four time and in moderate or fast tempo

    Sonata Allegro Form


    The most important musical structure that was developed during the classical era consists of three distinct sections: Exposition,
    Development and Recapitulation.
    1. Exposition – the first part of a composition in sonata form that introduces the theme.
    2. Development—the middle part of the sonata-allegro form where themes are being developed. It explores the harmonic and textural
    possibilities of the thematic material.
    3. Recapitulation- repeats the theme as it first emerged in the opening exposition

    Concerto
    It is composed of multi-movement work and it is made for an instrumental soloist and orchestra. A concerto has three
    movements: fast, slow, and fast.
    The three movements in Concerto are:
    1st Movement: Fast: Sonata-allegro form with expositions of the orchestra and then by the soloist.
    2nd Movement: Slow: Has more ornamentation than the first movement.
    3rd Movement: Fast: Finale: usually in a form of rondo, resembling the last movement of the symphony and usually a short cadenza is
    used.

    Symphony

    It is derived from the word sinfonia which literally means “a harmonious sounding together”. It is an elaborate musical composition for
    the whole orchestra with generally four movements.
    The four movements in Symphony are:
    1st Movement: Fast: Sonata-allegro form
    2nd Movement: Slow: gentle, lyrical – typical ABA form or theme and variation
    3rd Movement: Medium/Fast: uses a dance form (Minuet or Scherzo)
    4th Movement: Fast: typically Rondo or Sonata form

    Classical Opera
    Opera is an art form that musicians and singers perform a dramatic theatrical setting. The two distinct styles of Opera are:
    1. The Opera Seria (serious opera). This usually implies heroic or tragic drama that employs mythological characters. This was
    inherited from the Baroque period. “Idomeneo” by Mozart is an example of Opera Seria.
    2. The Opera Buffa (comic opera). This is from Italy. Comic opera made use of everyday characters and situations, and typically
    employed spoken dialogues, lengthy arias and was spiced with sight gags, naughty humor and social satire. “The Marriage of
    Figaro”, “Don Giovanni”, and “The Magic Flute” are examples of popular Opera Buffa by Mozart.
    Basically, the harmony and the texture in the classical music are homophonic in general. The dynamics which pertain to the
    loudness and softness were clearly shown through the extensive use of crescendo and diminuendo. There is also a practice of
    Alberti Bass. This means that there is a style of broken chord accompaniment.

    Music in Classical Period


    The classical era is the period from 1750-1820. It is also known as the Age of Reason”. During that day, the cultural life was
    dominated by the aristocracy, as patrons of musicians and artists who have commonly influenced the arts. Significant changes in musical
    forms and styles were made.
    In the middle of the 18th century, Europe has begun new style in architecture, literature, and the arts. This is known as
    Classicism. This pushed changes in the economics, order and in social structure. The instrumental music was patronized primarily
    by the nobility.
    The principles and characteristics of ancient Greece and Roman literature and art which were formal, elegant, simple, freed
    and dignified signify the term “Classical”. There is also a practice of Alberti Bass. This means that there is a style of broken chord
    accompaniment.

    The Great Composers during the Classical Period


    Franz Joseph Haydn (1732—1809)
    - He is from a poor family and his music led him to rise in his social status.
    - Known as the “Father of the Symphony” and "Father of the String Quartet" because of his great contributions to these genres.
    - He has a great contribution in the establishment of the forms and styles for the string quartet and the symphony.
    - His personality and character reflect in his music and these are: calm, balanced, serious but with touches of humor.
    - Most of symphonies that he composed have its nicknames such as the “Surprise Symphony”, “The Clock”, “The Military”.

    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)


    - He is widely recognized as one of the great composers in the history of Western music and considered as the most amazing genius in
    musical history.
    - He had written sonatas, concertos, symphonies, religious works, and operas and operettas in the age of thirteen.
    - He created more than 700 compositions.
    -Due to mismanaged finances, Mozart lived his life in poverty and died young and was buried in an unknown grave.
    - Some of the wonderful compositions (concertos, operas and symphonies) of Mozart are “The Marriage of Figaro” (1786), “Don
    Giovanni (1789), and “The Magic Flute” which became popular.

    Ludwig Van Beethoven (1779-1827)


    - He is the predominant composer who bridged the late Classical era and the early Romantic era. He is brilliant pianist and
    composer.
    - Beethoven started going deaf, when he was around 30 years old (1796). Although he could no longer hear well enough to
    play the piano, this did not become a hindrance and he continued composing with the help of an assistant and hearing
    gadget.
    - He has famous compositions that include: 32 piano sonatas, 21 set of variations, 9 symphonies, 5 concertos for piano, 16
    string quartets and choral music.
    - The “Missa Solemnis” (1818-1823) and opera “Fidelio” (1805) are included to their works.
    - His known symphonies are: Symphony No. 3 (Eroica), No. 5, No. 6 (Pastoral), No. 9 (Choral), which add voices to the
    orchestra.
    Characteristics of Beethoven’s works:
    - His music veered toward larger orchestras.
    - Cellos give his music a darker mood, and sound was centered on the violas and lower registers of the violins
    - All themes in a piece are tied together by one motif.
    - He developed musical themes and motifs extensively by means of modulation. He used more brass instruments and dynamics.

    Classical Period
    - In terms of music, the musicians moved from the heavily decorated style of the Baroque period and accepted the clean,
    uncluttered style of the Greeks and Romans. Instead of using many melodies at the same time like the Baroque period, the
    Classical composers make a clearer music in which one melody sings out while the other parts provide a simple harmonic
    accompaniment.
    - The classical period is called as the “Golden age of the music”. In this period, the musical forms are the Sonata, Concerto,
    Symphony, String quartet and Classical opera.
    - Nobility is usually associated in the music of the Classical Era. During that time, most of the musicians are financially
    supported by the members of the nobility. Music is more familiar to the nobility compared to lower classes because during
    that time, music was performed in the courts.

    The Musical Instruments in Classical Period

    The musical instruments during the Classical period are basically divided into four. The string, percussion, woodwind, and brass instrument.

    The Strings

    In this group of instruments, the violin, viola, cello and the double bass are the common examples. The methods of playing the
    instruments are plucking the strings with fingers or a plectrum and hitting the strings with a light wooden hammer or by rubbing the string
    with the bow.

    The Woodwind

    This family of instruments is composed of tubes that have opening on one end and a mouthpiece at the other. The keys are rows of
    holes covered by metal caps. The sound change happens depending on the air leaving the instrument. The instruments under this in
    descending general tone order are flute, piccolo, oboe, clarinet, bassoon and finally the saxophone.

    The Percussion
    This group of instruments produce sounds in three ways: hitting, shaking or scraping. Percussion instruments can be tuned or
    untuned which affects in generating notes. The tuned instruments produce definite or specific pitches while the untuned instruments deliver
    indefinite sounds or pitch. The instruments that produce particular tune are the marimba, timpani, and xylophone while indefinite pitch
    percussion instruments are the bass drum, cymbals, and snare drum.

    The Brass

    It is composed of long tubes which widen towards the end to form a bell-like shape. The instruments produce sounds through
    blowing the mouthpiece, thereby causing air to vibrate against the inner border of the instrument. The variation in this group of instruments
    are trumpet, trombone, and bass trombone.

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