Classical Era Quiz

Question 1

Classical Era spans years ________ to __________

Answer 1

1750-1825

Question 2

Classicism adheres to what principles

Answer 2

symmetry, balance, proportion

Question 3

Three main sections of the sonata form

Answer 3

Exposition, Development, Recapitulation

Question 4

The composer consisting of the Viennese school

Answer 4

Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven

Question 5

Define absolute music

Answer 5

Music with no extra associations to anything else. Has non-descriptive names that reflect tempo, genre of form but have no other meaning

Question 6

Another term of pure music

Answer 6

absolute music

Question 7

How many movements are in a sonata cycle

Answer 7

4

Question 8

The birth and year of death of Haydn

Answer 8

1732-1809

Question 9

What was Haydn’s first musical occupation

Answer 9

choirboy at St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Vienna

Question 10

When did Haydn get his first proper musical position

Answer 10

In 1759 first full time position as Kapellmeister to Count Ferdinandvon Morzin

Question 11

What is Haydn’s connection to the Esterhazy family

Answer 11

1761 began as assistant Kapellmeister at Eisenstadt with Prince Nikolai Esterhazy’s family
1766 promoted to Kapellmeister and moved to their Esterhaza estate

Worked for the Esterhazies for almost 30 years - moved to Vienna in 1790 when Prince Nikolai died and his successor, Prince Anton was not as great a music lover and did not need a full time Kapellmeister

Question 12

What did Haydn do after he left the Esterhazies

Answer 12

Went to London, composed and performed the first 6 of his “London” Symphonies #93-98 to music acclaim by the London audiences
Received an honorary doctorate from Oxford, where he performed his symphony #92, which became known as the “Oxford” symphony

Question 13

What is the now obsolete instrument that Haydn had to compose music for when he was employed by Prince Nikolai?

Answer 13

Baryton

Question 14

Haydn’s music reflected all three Classical musical trends - what were they, define them

Answer 14

1. Style galant - “elegant style” of 1720s - homophonic texture, delicate ornamentation, pretty melodies resulting in light and airy texture
2. Sturm und Drang - “storm and stress” of 1770s - heightened emotions and dramatic contrasts, foreshadowing the Romantic Era
3. Empfindsamer Stil - “sensitive style” - introspective, expressive style characterized by unexpected phrasing, abrupt rhythms and chromatic harmony, also foreshadowing Romantic Era

Question 15

What developmental contribution did Haydn make to the sonata form

Answer 15

1. slow introduction
2. suspenseful mood
3. chromatic harmony

Question 16

How did Haydn like to approach the exposition of this sonata form

Answer 16

monothematic where themes 1 and 2 are identical or similar but in different keys

Question 17

Why is Haydn’s String Quartet in C major called “emperor quartet”

Answer 17

2nd movement uses the Austrian national anthem “god save emperor francis” as its theme

Question 18

How many variations are in the second movement of the Emperor Quartet?

Answer 18

Four

Question 19

What is the key of the theme of the second movement of Haydn’s Emperor Quartet?

Answer 19

G Major

Question 20

Identify this musical excerpt:

Title (official):
Title Nickname:
Composer:
Variation #:
Movement:
Key:
Theme played by:

Answer 20

Title (official): String Quartet in C Major, op.76, #3
Title Nickname: Emperor’s Quartet
Composer: Franz Joseph Haydn
Variation #: 1
Movement: second
Key: G major
Theme played by: second violin

Question 21

Identify this musical excerpt from Hadyn’s Emperor Quartet second movement

Variation #:
Key:
Theme played by:
Meter:

Answer 21

Variation #: 2
Key: G major
Theme played by: Cello
Meter: Common time

Question 22

Identify the following excerpt:

Key:
Theme played by:
Meter:
Tempo:
Which part of the movement:
Source of theme:

Answer 22

Key: G major
Theme played by: First violins
Meter: Cut Time
Tempo: Poco adagio, cantabile
Which part of the movement: Theme
Source of theme: “Emperor’s Hymn”

Question 23

Where was Mozart born?

Answer 23

Salzburg, Austria

Question 24

Mozart’s sister’s name and nickname

Answer 24

Maria Anna, “Nannerl”

Question 25

Mozart birth and death date

Answer 25

1756-1791

Question 26

Mozart’s favourite genre to compose

Answer 26

opera

Question 27

When did Mozart move to Vienna

Answer 27

1781

Question 28

Who finished Mozart’s Requiem after his death?

Answer 28

his student Franz Xavier Sussmayr

Question 29

Give examples of Mozart’s operas in the following genre

1. opera seria
2. Opera buffa
3. Singspiel

Answer 29

1. opera seria - “Idomeneo”
2. Opera buffa - “The Marriage of Figaro”
3. Singspiel - “The Magic Flute”

Question 30

What instruments did Mozart play

Answer 30

Harpsichord
Violin
Organ
Piano

Question 31

How was Mozart influenced by meeting Johann Christian Bach in London when he was 8?

Answer 31

Mozart began incorporating elements of Italian opera into his instrumental themes, making them more songful or lyrical, and when writing a sonatas and concertos, he employed contrasting themes.

Question 32

When did Mozart make the journey to Italy and what did he do there

Answer 32

1769 - 1773 transcribed “Miserere” by the composer Gregorio Allegri after hearing it once at the Sistine Chapel
- commissioned to write some operas to some success in Milan
- Received academic accolades and was admitted into the Accademia Filarmonica of Bologna and Verona where he was awarded 2 diplomas
- unsuccessful in gaining any employment in Italy, was forced to return to Salzburg