Haydn's Clock Symphony

Question 1

When and where was he born?

Answer 1

1732 in Rohrau, Austria

Question 2

Facts about his life

Answer 2

• Chorister in Vienna
• Worked for Prince Esterhazy
• Visited England & composed whilst there
• Married with a son

Question 3

What is a symphony?

Answer 3

Orchestral piece usually in 4 movements

Question 4

Typical Symphonies at the time

Answer 4

• Medium sized orchestra with bigger wind and brass than Baroque times
• 1st Movement –> Allegro
• 2nd Movement –> Slow
• 3rd Movement –> Minuet&Trio
• 4th Movement –> in Sonata

Question 5

What else did Haydn compose other than symphonies?

Answer 5

Oratorios
String Quartets
Concertos

Question 6

When was Haydn’s music from?

Answer 6

The Classical Period

Question 7

How had music changed from Baroque style?

Answer 7

• Less contrapuntal or polyphonic
• Melodies less ornamented
• More use of dynamic contrast
• Use of sonata form

Question 8

What was Haydn known as?

Answer 8

Father of the Symphony

Question 9

Why was he known as FoS?

Answer 9

• He established and developed the form
• Composed many
• Seen as a model of symphony writing by composers like Mozart

Question 10

In time of Haydn what were the typical instruments of an orchestra?

Answer 10

STRINGS- violin, viola, cello, double bass
WOODWIND- flute, bassoon, clarinet, oboe
BRASS- horn, trumpet
PERC- kettle drum (timpani)

Question 11

When and where did he begin composing this piece?

Answer 11

1793 in Vienna

Question 12

When and where did he complete the composition?

Answer 12

1794 in London

Question 13

What is the structure of the piece?

Answer 13

Ternary form (aba2)

Question 14

Which are the transposing instruments in this piece?

Answer 14

Clarinet and French horn

Question 15

What is a transposing instrument?

Answer 15

The pitch of the written music differs from the pitch that sounds

Question 16

What is the tempo marking?

Answer 16

Andante (at a walking pace)

Question 17

What key is this piece in?

Answer 17

Gmajor
B section is in Gminor
Gemini is related to the key of the piece because it is the tonic minor of Gmajor

Question 18

Why is it named the clock?

Answer 18

Because of the opening ostinato pattern- played with pizzicato and staccato, using interval of a 3rd

Question 19

What features of the orchestra did Haydn use?

Answer 19

• Typical of a classical orchestra with woodwind, strings, horns and trumpets
• Pizzicato and arco used in the strings

Question 20

Describe the rhythmic features

Answer 20

• Use of dotted and double dotted rhythms
• Repeated staccato quavers
• Balanced phrases, but use of tied notes to add variety

Question 21

What was interesting about dynamics?

Answer 21

• Simple contrasts of p and f
• Some use of variety with ff and sf
• Sf adds drama and emphasises chords

Question 22

What are the interesting features of the melody?

Answer 22

• Mostly balanced phrases
• A lot of stepwise movement
• Some chromatic movement
• Use of sequences

Question 23

What is a balanced phrase?

Answer 23

A musical sentence/period consists of two balanced phrases.
FIRST PHRASE: the antecedent phrase, where the musical idea is stated/announced, it often ends in a non/final cadence.
SECOND PHRASE: the consequent phrase, it follows, completes and answers the first phrase, it ends with a more final cadence.

Question 24

What is meant by staccato?

Answer 24

If something is played short and crisp

Question 25

What are dynamic marks?

Answer 25

They indicate how loud or soft music should be played. They are placed near to the note on the musical staff.

E.G. f –> forte –> loud

Question 26

What is meant by a sequence?

Answer 26

Melodic and rhythmic patterns that are repeated at a higher/ lower pitch.
May be a single repetition or multiple.

Question 27

What are dotted rhythms?

Answer 27

A rhythm in which the beat is unequally subdivided into a long dotted note and a short note. A dotted note adds an extra half to the length of the note.