Classical Period Vocabulary

Question 1

Classical Style Period

Answer 1

Roughy from 1750-1820. This style period in music was marled by clarity, balance, logic, understandability, and organization. In this style period the symphony came to become the major form for orchestral music.

Question 2

Symphony Genre

Answer 2

A multi-movement design for the symphony in the Classical style period. This design traditionally features 4 movements.

• Movement 1: in sonata form. Typically the longest and most complex design in the symphony. Often a moderate to fast tempo, and might have a slow introduction.
• Movement 2: usually slow tempo. Song-like. It is often in binary (A B) form.
• Movement 3: usually a triple meter dance, a minuet. It is moderate to fast in tempo. It has a minuet and trio form (A B A).
• Movement 4: usually very fast, and in rondo form.

Question 3

Sonata Genre

Answer 3

A common instrumental genre in the Classical period. Parallel to the symphony in importance - but this genre is for solo instrument or chamber ensemble. Solo piano sonatas become popular in the Classical period. It is also common for a solo instrument to be paired with a piano in a sonata. For example: a sonata for clarinet an piano, or violin and piano. The typical sonata is in three movements:

• Movement 1: in sonata form. Typically the longest and most complex design in the sonata composition. Often a moderate to fast tempo, and might have a slow introduction.
• Movement 2: usually slow tempo. Song-like. It is often in binary (A B) form.
• Movement 3: usually very fast, and in rondo form.

Question 4

Sonata Form

Answer 4

A lengthy and complex design that became very popular in symphony and sonata genres in the Classical period. The sonata form has three parts, and two optional parts:

• Optional / Introduction: often this section is at a slow tempo, and sometimes a contrasting key to the main part of the structure.
• Exposition: in this first main section there are two main melodies (themes), usually contrasting in character.
• Development: this middle section takes material from the exposition and creates variations and abbreviations
• Recapitulation (Recap): this section returns to the same ideas from the exposition. It is often exactly like the exposition, with some minor pitch and instrumentation changes.
• Optional / Coda: an ending section, bringing the movement to a close.

Question 5

Periodic Phrasing

Answer 5

This is the idea that a melody has a balanced beginning, middle and end. It has a logical start and conclusion. Typically in quadruple meter, a periodic melody would be 4 or 8 bars long. This kind of phrasing sets up predictable expectations from teh listener. It is also a logical organization trait in Classical period music.

Question 6

Symmetry

Answer 6

This is the idea that things are balanced and proportioned equally in two or more diretions. For example - periodic phrasing is usually symmetrical. The large form of a compositon can also be symmetrical. This idea of balance in design is also a Classical period value.

Question 7

String Quartet

Answer 7

A common and popular kind of chamber ensemble that emerged as a popular genre in the Classical period. This instrumentation is: 2 violins, 1 viola, and 1 cello. Franz Jopseph Haydn is considered by many to be the “father of the string quartet.” Typical string quartets are 4 movements, and parallel the structure of a symphony.

• Movement 1: in sonata form. Typically the longest and most complex design in the symphony. Often a moderate to fast tempo, and might have a slow introduction.
• Movement 2: usually slow tempo. Song-like. It is often in binary (A B) form.
• Movement 3: usually a triple meter dance, a minuet. It is moderate to fast in tempo. It has a minuet and trio form (A B A).
• Movement 4: usually very fast, and in rondo form.

Question 8

Diatonic Harmony

Answer 8

The idea that all of the harmonies and pitches used in a composition are related to a common scale. All of the pitch ingredients come from a common eight note scale. The result is often a very consonant and predictable sound, and meldies that can be very tuneful and memorable. This was very common in the Classical period.

Question 9

Chromatic Harmony

Answer 9

The idea that harmonies and pitches for a composition are not all from the same scale or collection of notes. This can result in much more colorful and dissonant harmonies; less tuneful melodies; and sometimes very exotic or strange sounds. This was not very common in the Classical period, but towards the end of this style period - composers were experimenting with chromaticism.

Question 10

Theme

Answer 10

A main melodic idea in a composition. It is a melody that usually get repeated, and is used as main material for a composition.

Question 11

Basic Values of the Classical Period

Answer 11

• Clarity: Easy to comprehend and understand.
• Cleverness: A wit and craftiness to how music is put together.
• Absolute music: Not intended to tell a specific story, the sounds speak for themselves.
• Reserved expression: Not as flamboyant as some music styles. Classical period music is usually well mannered, even in moments of anger or sorrow. There is a grace and politeness to the sound and structure.
• Balance: There is usually a balance and symmetry to the music design.

Question 12

Rhythm in Classical Period Music

Answer 12

• Tempos tend to be steady and predictable. There is usually a steady beat, and the music is organized by this beat.
• Rhythms tend to center on the beats. There is not tons of syncopation.
• Tempos can be any speed, but the steadiness of the pulse is very constant.

Question 13

Pitch and Melody in Classical Period Music

Answer 13

• Melodies are often conjunct and tuneful.
• Pitches seem appropriately low/high for the instruments playing.
• Periodic phrasing is used a lot to give a predictable start and stop to the main melodies.

Question 14

Harmony in Classical Period Music

Answer 14

• This music tends to lean heavily on consonance. There is a strong value to not linger too long on dissonances, and resolve appropriately to consonances.
• Most of the harmonies are diatonic, and do not venture too far from the assigned scale/key of the composition. All of the pitch ingredients come from a common eight note scale. The result is often a very consonant and predictable sound, and melodies that can be very tuneful and memorable. This was very common in the Classical period.
• Compared to Baroque music, the Classical period has a slower harmonic rhythm. What that means is that there are fewer chords per second. Classical composers will linger on a chord for many beats before moving to a different harmony.

Question 15

Diatonic Harmony

Answer 15

The idea that all of the harmonies and pitches used in a composition are related to a common scale.

Question 16

Texture in Classical Period Music

Answer 16

• Almost always homophonic. There was an emphasis and value on clarity, so the single melody texture of homophonic music was preferred.
• There are times when polyphonic texture is used, but it is rarer than homophonic texture.

Question 17

Development of Instruments

Answer 17

The Classical Period saw a lot of technological and mechanical improvements to traditional instruments - especially woodwinds, and the piano. Even though the strings seem to dominate most orchestra music, you will notice a lot more use of woodwinds. The clarinet was created by the end of the Classical period. The piano also took its more modern form in the Classical period. Some instruments still did not exist: saxophone, tuba, and electronic instruments. Brass instruments were more primitive, and did not have valves, limiting the possible pitches they could play.

Question 18

Ensembles

Answer 18

Orchestras are still very popular, and now use a lot more woodwinds and brass. Even percussion is becoming more standard in a lot of symphonic music. However, the string family still is most prominent in orchestra music.

• Symphonies are a dominant genre in orchestra music
• Solo Concertos are also very popular and common in this period. Violin and Piano concertos are numerous. There are also Classical period concertos for most other instruments.
• For Classical period symphony examples, see the orchestras in the other links on the page.

Question 19

Chamber music

Answer 19

Very popular in this time period. The string quartet becomes a very popular ensemble. There are also numerous works for piano with other instruments - often Sonatas.

Question 20

Choral music

Answer 20

Still popular, but not as prominent as instrumental music. Opera is considered to be the ultimate entertainment/performing art of the day. Most operas followed tradition, and were in Italian, even if composers were not from Italy!

Question 21

Piano

Answer 21

The harpsichord starts to fall out of fashion, and the piano becomes the popular keyboard instrument for this time, and the next 100+ years. Why? The piano had the possibility to play different volumes, and the harpsichord did not. The piano is touch sensitive, the harder you hit the key - the louder the sound. This made expressive possibilities much more possible on the piano. A result is that there is a lot of music for piano from this time. Piano was also convenient, because it was only one musician playing - while ensembles took lot of coordination and money to get many musicians to perform together.

Question 22

Form in Classical Period Music

Answer 22

The Classical period had a high value on organization, balance, and logic. Music is usually very cleanly organized and structured, and often has balanced proportions and symmetry.

Question 23

Symphony Genre

Answer 23

A multi-movement design for the symphony in the Classical style period. This design traditionally features 4 movements.

• Movement 1: in sonata form. Typically the longest and most complex design in the symphony. Often a moderate to fast tempo, and might have a slow introduction.
• Movement 2: usually slow tempo. Song-like. It is often in binary (A B) form.
• Movement 3: usually a triple meter dance, a minuet. It is moderate to fast in tempo. It has a minuet and trio form (A B A).
• Movement 4: usually very fast, and in rondo form.

Question 24

Sonata Genre

Answer 24

A common instrumental genre in the Classical period. Parallel to the symphony in importance - but this genre is for solo instrument or chamber ensemble. Solo piano sonatas become popular in the Classical period. It is also common for a solo instrument to be paired with a piano in a sonata. For example: a sonata for clarinet an piano, or violin and piano. The typical sonata is in three movements:

• Movement 1: in sonata form. Typically the longest and most complex design in the sonata composition. Often a moderate to fast tempo, and might have a slow introduction.
• Movement 2: usually slow tempo. Song-like. It is often in binary (A B) form.
• Movement 3: usually very fast, and in rondo form.

Question 25

Sonata Form

Answer 25

A lengthy and complex design that became very popular in symphony and sonata genres in the Classical period. The sonata form has three parts, and two optional parts:

• Optional / Introduction: often this section is at a slow tempo, and sometimes a contrasting key to the main part of the structure.
• Exposition: in this first main section there are two main melodies (themes), usually contrasting in character.
• Development: this middle section takes material from the exposition and creates variations and abbreviations
• Recapitulation (Recap): this section returns to the same ideas from the exposition. It is often exactly like the exposition, with some minor pitch and instrumentation changes.
• Optional / Coda: an ending section, bringing the movement to a close.

Question 26

Periodic Phrasing

Answer 26

This is the idea that a melody has a balanced beginning, middle and end. It has a logical start and conclusion. Typically in quadruple meter, a periodic melody would be 4 or 8 bars long. This kind of phrasing sets up predictable expectations from the listener. It is also a logical organization trait in Classical period music.

Question 27

Opera

Answer 27

Operas were very popular. In these music-dramas, there was usually the alternating recitative/aria form - very similar to Baroque times. Sometimes recitatives were followed by duets, trios, or other groups of singers. Operas took a variety of plots - historical, tragic, comic, religious.

Question 28

Melody / phrasing in the Classical Period

Answer 28

The music of the Classical period becomes more about rules and order. Melodies are often symmetrical four-bar phrases with cadences at the end. This creates balanced phrases, unlike some of the more winding phrases back in the Baroque period.

I like to tell students to see if a piece sounds like a nursery rhyme, which means it’s probably easy to sing, it might be in the Classical period style.

Question 29

Musical characteristics of the classical period

Answer 29

When thinking of music from this time period, think of symmetry and rules. Logic. Forget the ornate melodies of the baroque period. As the book states, melodies are much more tuneful and easier to grasp in the classical period.

Question 30

Harmony

Answer 30

The classical period is when composers do start to think vertically (harmonically), more than horizontally (melodically).

Question 31

Instrumentation

Answer 31

As far as instrumentation goes, the music from the classical period doesn’t sound terribly different from the other two surrounding time periods (the baroque period before it, and the romantic period after it). This makes it more difficult to tell the difference between this one and those two periods.

The two most obvious differences instrumentally are that when you hear a harpsichord, it will usually be from the earlier baroque period, and if there’s a very large symphony orchestra (maybe over 60 people), that would be LATER, in the romantic period. The classical period orchestras weren’t very large.

Question 32

Symphony and concerto

Answer 32

Were established during the classical period, and they continue to be important today.

Question 33

Dominant composers

Answer 33

There are two dominant composers from the Classical period - Franz Joseph Haydn, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Question 34

Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)

Answer 34

Haydn was a court composers for most of his life. He was the servant to the Esterhazy family in Vienna. It was through this job that Haydn composed much of his music.

Late in Haydn’s life, after leaving the Esterhazy family, he found lots of success in London.

Haydn composed a lot of music! 104 Symphonies, 68 string quartets, 45 piano trios, and numerous other works.

Haydn seemed to have a sense of humor.

Question 35

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

Answer 35

Mozart was considered a child genius. You might compare him to child pop star Michael Jackson. Mozart was a talented performer and composer before the age of 10. He toured the courts of Europe with his father and sister, and entertained many of the most influential people in the world.

Mozart composed over 600 pieces

• His first symphony was written when he was 8 years old
• He composed his first opera at the age of 9
• Mozart composed 41 Symphonies in his lifetime
• Mozart composed 22 operas in his lifetime

Mozart struggled financially, and died a poor man.
Mozart died at the age of 35.