Development of the orchestra Flashcards
(23 cards)
What was the typical orchestral texture in the Early Classical period?
String-dominated texture.
How were woodwinds used in Early Classical orchestration? and example Filtz-
Supported by filling in harmonies and occasionally doubling melodies (e.g. Filtz, Symphonie Periodique No.2, flute doubles violin).
What was the common orchestration format ‘Sinfonia a 8’?
2 oboes, 2 horns, strings, bassoon, and basso continuo.
Why was brass limited in Early Classical orchestration?
Brass instruments were crooked to the tonic key, restricting their use mostly to the 1st and 3rd movements.
How did Mozart’s Symphony No. 25 differ in brass use?
Used brass crooked to various keys, allowing a more prominent brass role.
What was the role of basso continuo in Early Classical orchestras?
Used due to lack of standardised orchestra size; helped fill in harmony and texture.
What changes happened to orchestration in the Late Classical period?
Instrument technology improved allowing more virtuosic writing; woodwinds gained independence; clarinet was added but not fully trusted; brass still limited. double woodwind orchestra
How was the clarinet treated in Late Classical orchestras?
Newly added (e.g., Mozart 31 1778), but used sparingly (e.g., Haydn 104 clarinet plays only about 10 bars with no solos).
What orchestra scoring standard is seen in Haydn Symphony No. 104?
Scored for a double wind orchestra; no basso continuo, showing decline of continuo.
Give examples of independent woodwind writing in Haydn 104 (Andante second movement).
Bars 3–6: Bassoon countermelody; Bars 131: Flute cadenza
How did Beethoven develop the orchestra?
Expanded orchestra size; added piccolo, contrabassoon symphony 6, horns; introduced choir and soloists (Symphony No. 9); used instruments virtuously; included programmatic effects.
Name a programmatic example in Beethoven’s work.
Woodwinds imitating bird calls in Symphony No. 6 (2nd movement).
What orchestral expansions did Berlioz make in Symphonie Fantastique (1830)?
Added tuba, harp, large percussion; used programmatic effects.
What was significant about valved brass in the 1830s-40s?
Allowed chromatic brass writing; first known use in mozart K113
What woodwind feature is prominent in Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 3 ‘Scottish’?
Clarinet solo in the slow movement (1842).
What characterizes Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 5 first movement? strings and woodwind wise…
Strings with energetic rhythms (bars 1–16); woodwind dialogue (flute and oboe bars 50–70).
Woodwind solo in Mendelssohn 4, 2nd movement.
Prominent clarinet solo melody (bars 1–20).
What are features of Mendelssohn’s 4th movement in Symphony No. 5, early romantic, that are different uses of instruments to the usual (hint pizz and horn?
Rhythmic pizzicato strings with horn calls (bars 40–60).
late romantic, Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 orchestration?
Massive orchestra, expanded brass, woodwinds, percussion, plus choir and vocal soloists.
What is notable about Mahler’s Symphony No. 8?
Enormous orchestra with multiple choirs, called ‘Symphony of a Thousand.’
How does Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9 expand orchestration?
Expanded percussion and harp; prominent woodwind and brass solos like English horn; blends folk and Romantic styles.
What orchestral features are prominent in Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4?
Brass fanfares, extensive timpani and percussion, expressive woodwind solos.
What characterizes the orchestration of Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6 ‘Pathétique’?
Extensive percussion for atmospheric effects.
