classical/ early romantic Flashcards
(36 cards)
When was the classical period?
1750-1800
What is the classical period also known as?
The age of enlightenment.
Elements of classical style:
Genuine homophony, no basso continuo, obbligato accompaniment, sonata form, rondo form, slowing harmonic rhythm, irregularity and humor, thought to be a time of strict form.
What is obbligato accompaniment?
secondary voices contribute material essential to a work’s musical fabric.
What is a change is harmonic rhythm?
slowing of changes. In baroque changed almost every beat, in classical only once or twice per measure.
Sonata form:
an expanded binary form that always modulates within the first reprise and usually involves more than one theme. Exposition, development, recapitulation. Sometimes coda.
Exposition:
The first reprise pd SA form. exposes thematic ideas and will be manipulated in the development. Begins in the tonic of the piece, transition to, usually, the dominant.
Development:
First part of the second reprise, develops the thematic ideas of exposition. Unstable and can move to any other key besides the tonic.
Recapitulation:
Second part of the second reprise. Reestablished the tonic and the opening theme of the exposition. Stable and balanced.
Coda:
Italian for tail. Sometimes concluding a sonata form. Range from short to long, always end on the tonic.
What is alberti bass?
provides harmonic support for the melody in the upper voice but is not itself very engaging. Repetitions of a broken triad.
What is a minuet?
Usually the third movement of a four movement instrumental piece. Boisterous and lighter. Always in triple meter with two juxtaposed binary forms called minuet proper and trio.
How do minuet proper and trio function?
Two parts of a minuet. Fist minuet proper then trio, then a return to minuet proper. Trio presents a contesting mood and has a distinct theme, maybe in different key or mode.
What is rondo form?
A movement associated with finales. Involve and alteration of a recurring theme with contorting material. ABACADA. A being the refrain. BCD are episodes or couplets. A is catchy and brief. Second idea, B, is brief.
What is sonata-rondo form?
ABACABA (IVIXIII)When the theme reappears towards the end of the movement it is transposed to the tonic.
What is a half-cadence?
a cadence on the dominant
What was the quintessential domestic genre of instrumental music?
The sonata
What distinguished the string quarter from earlier genres?
Its performance forces: 2 violins, viola, and cello - which gave a homogeneous timbre and lack of basso continuo.
Facts about the string quartet:
Usually between 3-5 movements. Mozart and Haydn most notable composers.
Movements of the symphony:
1: set expressive tone, sonata form. 2 (slow): key other than the tonic, varying forms. 3 (minuter): dance inspired, in minuet form. 4 (finale): light, sonata, rondo, or rondo-sonata form.
Classical Concerto:
For virtuosos, three movements (fast, slow, fast), no minuet., cadenza.
What is double-exposition concerto form?
Part of the concerto’s first movement.
Describe double- exposition concerto form.
1st exposition: for full orchestra remaining in tonic. 2nd exposition: for the soloist, begins in the tonic, modulates to secondary key. Follows conventional development and recapitulation.
Characteristics of Opera Buffa:
Comic opera, humorous subject matter, focused on everyday characters rather than heroes, rulers, or gods. singers included basses, but no castrati, more emphasis on ensemble singing, avoided da capo aria and other vocal improvisations.
