Classical Music

Transcription

1 Classical Music Key Characteristics. A less complicated than had been evident in Baroque times (less Polyphonic) More use of expression through. Greater Dynamic contrasts were evident A polished précis and character Clear use of Clear use of Changing and emotions within one piece of music changes were slower, less frequent unlike Baroque music which often changed chords 2 or 3 times per bar The replacement of the Harpsichord with the Less use of The use of in Piano music Activity 1 Listen to Mozart s Symphony No Is the piece in a major or minor key? 2. Which family of instruments play the opening theme? 3. What playing technique are the strings using?

2 Composers There were many influential composers in the Classical period. Three of the most important were: The Classical Orchestra The basic structure of the Classical Orchestra took the following form Strings: Violins, Violas, Cellos, Double Basses Woodwind: 1 or 2 Flutes, 2 Oboes, 2 Clarinets, 2 Bassoons Brass: 2 Horns, 2 Trumpets Percussion: 2 Timpani Symphony The Symphony was an emerging style of composition for an Orchestra. The symphony was usually written in four No and no voices. The movements took the following format: Movement 1 Fast Movement 2 Slow Movement 3 and Movement 4 Fast

3 Solo Concerto Written for and 1 instrument and between Orchestra and Soloist Use of between orchestra and soloist The where the soloist gets to show off their skills and can be allowed some degree of Improvisation within this. Movement 1 Fast, Movement 2 Slow, Movement 3 Fast Chamber Music Chamber Music is music written for a group of musicians and intended to be played in a room (chamber) rather than a large Concert Hall. There were various groups of musicians which Chamber music was written for such as a or a Quintet. In the Classical period the most popular group written for was the String Quartet, wrote many of these ensembles. The String Quartet used the following instruments; Scherzo A movement (a joke ) time Usually found as 3rd movement in a, or chamber work.

4 Overture music which a large scale work such as Opera or Oratorio Alberti Bass The was the Keyboard instrument of choice during the Classical period. Played on piano in the hand Alternates the notes of the E.g C E G in the order C G E G Common feature of the and Solo Activity 2 Now work out the alberti bass pattern for the chords of G, D and A G D A Sonata Work for solo or Solo plus piano Both parts are technically demanding

5 Sonata Form As already mentioned Classical composers liked to write their music with precision and order. At their disposal they already had Binary and Ternary Form. Composers of the Classical era extended these to develop Sonata Form which was used as the plan for the first movement of a Sonata. Sonata Form followed the plan below: Exposition Development Recapitulation Coda 1 st Subject (tonic) Moving through new keys, 1 st Subject (tonic) To round off Bridge (Changing Key) discussing, developing, combining and opposing Bridge (now altered) 2 nd Subject (new key) ideas from the exposition 2 nd Subject (tonic). Minuet and Trio The Minuet originated in the Baroque period as part of the. The Minuet and Trio was an extension of this form in the Classical period and involved the addition of the Trio which was basically a Minuet. The Minuet and Trio has the following features: - A graceful French - beats in the bar - Form A Minuet B Trio A Minuet

6 Theme and Variation This was a popular form in the Classical period with composers such as Mozart and Haydn. In Theme and Variation form the composer first presents a tune, called a Theme, in a simple way. He then builds up the theme by repeating it but altering it in a slightly different way each time. Below are some of the ways in which a Theme can be varied: 5 main ways to vary a theme 1. The 2. The 3. The 4. The 5. The - The use of ornaments - Changing the harmony - Changing the rhythm, Time signature or Tempo - Using Inversion, Augmentation, Diminution - Using Modulations - Changing the Instrumentation - Using Imitation Rondo In a rondo, the main theme (A) keeps coming round, with sections (B, C and so on). These contrasting sections are called The main theme (A) begins and ends in the key each time; each episode is in a related key. A plan for a simple rondo with two episodes looks like this: A1 Main Theme B 1 st Episode: a contrast A2 Repetition of Main Theme C 2 nd Episode: another contrast A3 Repetition of Main Theme Things to remember: When the main theme A returns, the composer may shorten or vary it in someway. The sections may be joined by a link To round off the music the composer may add a coda