Music: Composers & Compositions Flashcards
If you can't Handel Liszts, this isn't for you.
Antonio Vivaldi
(Appears 17 times and in four “Who Am I?” questions)
1678 - 1741
Baroque
The Four Seasons (/ “The Seasons?”)
Known as “The Red Priest”
Who am I? I was born in 1676 in Venice. I was trained for the priesthood and was
ordained in 1703. I honed my musical skills in a girls’ music school and spent most ofmy
time writing music and traveling. My many .compositions include operas, more than four hundred concerti, and many other works for various instrumental combinations. Perhaps my most famous composition is The Four Seasons.
I was born in Venice in 1678. My father, who was a barber before becoming a musician, taught me to play the violin. Due to my poor health, I withdrew from my priestly duties to compose and perform music. Among my best-known compositions heard today is my series of violin concerti known as The Four Seasons.
Who am I? I was born in Venice, Italy in 1678. I am remembered as a virtuoso violinist, composer, and priest. I composed numerous concerti, sacred choral works, and operas. Perhaps my most famous work is The Four Seasons.
Who am I? I was born on March 4, 1678 in Venice, Italy. I was taught to play the violin by my
father. My most popular composition is a set of concertos for the violin entitled The Four
Seasons. Today I am one of the most celebrated composers of the Baroque Era.
Musical Selections: “Spring” from The Four Seasons
Identify the title, larger work, and composer.
Spring from the Four Seasons by Antonio Vivaldi
Johann Sebastian Bach
Baroque
1685 - 1750
Brandenburg Concertos (No. 1, 2, 5) wdate
The Well-Tempered Clavier
The Passion (inspired by the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) (eg. “St. Matthew Passion)
The Coffee Cantata (1735)
Most closely associated with cantatas
His widow is Anna Magdalena
Associated somehow with Prince Leopold
I was born in Eisenach, the capital of the duchy of Saxe-Eisenachin in 1685 and
became an organist and composer. My career culminated in my appointment as Thomaskantor,
Cantor of the Thomasschule at the Thomaskirche (St. Thomas Church) in Leipzig, which
provided music for four churches in the city. I am remembered as a prolific composer of
hundreds of cantatas, numerous works for chamber and orchestral groups, keyboard music, and
much more. My works include my Christmas Oratorio, St. Matthew Passion, and Brandenburg
Concerti.
“Little Fugue in G Minor”, “Air on a G String, Brandenburg Concerto No2, “Toccata and Fugue in D-Minor”
Identify the composer
(Toccata and Fugue in D-Minor by) Johann Sebastian Bach
Identify the title and composer.
Air on the G-String by Johann Sebastian Bach
Identify the composer
(Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 by) Johann Sebastian Bach
Georg Philipp Telemann
Baroque
1681 - 1767
No works to identify. His only questions are about being part of the Baroque movement.
Georg Frederic Handel
1685 - 1759
Baroque
German-born (halle)
Music for the Royal Fireworks
March of the Grenadiers
The Water Music(?) Suite
Known for his oratorios
Messiah, an oratorio, first performed on the Thames in 1717, based upon various books of the Bible and includes the “Hallelujah Chorus”
Became a British subject in 1727
I was born in 1685 in Halle and spent much of my professional life in England. I
composed operas, oratorios, concerti, and many other works. Some of them played most
frequently today are Water Music, Music for the Royal Fireworks, and Messiah.
Identify: “Hornpipe” from Water Music Suite in F-Major; March of the Grenadiers, Water Music
Franz Joseph Haydn
Classical
1732 - 1809, born in Austria
Surprise Symphony (Symphony No. 94)
The “Clock” Symphony (No. 101)
The “Military” Symphony
The “Farewell Symphony”: the nickname for Haydn’s Symphony No. 45, designed so that one player after the other blew out his candle and left the stage as a reminder to the patron that the orchestra needed a vacation.
Completed 104 symphonies+++
Closely associated with symphonies
I wrote numerous string quartets and more than 100
symphonies, some of which have nicknames such as the “Military,” “Clock,” and, “Surprise.”
I was born in Austria in 1732 to a wheelwright. For .a while I lived in great poverty, but managed to teach myself music. My musical composition career received a great boost when I was hired by Prince Esterhazy. I met Mozart in the 8Os and we held one another in high esteem. Later Beethoven studied with me. I am remembered primarily for my numerous string quartets and more than one hundred symphonies.
At the age of six, I was sent away from home to study music and soon learned to
play the harpsichord and violin. However, it was my singing that impressed the music director at St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna and I served nine years there in the choir. Eventually, I learned to conduct and compose music. My compositions include numerous piano works, string quartets, and more than 100 symphonies. Perhaps my most popular work heard today is the
Surprise Symphony.
was a friend of Mozart and a teacher of Beethoven. I wrote more than 100
symphonies, numerous string quartets, and other compositions. Perhaps my most performed works today are my Surprise and Clock Symphonies.
Surprise Symphony (Symphony No. 94)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
1756 - 1791
Classical, Austrian
Eine Kleine Nachtmusik
Cosi Fan Tutte (opera)
The Marriage of Figaro
Don Giovanni
Lacrimosa from Requiem in D-Minor
Allegretto from Trio in E-Flat Major (Or “Kegelstatt Trio”)
Symphony 36, Linz
Symphony 40 (1788)
Jupiter Symphony
The Magic Flute (opera)
Most closely associated with opera, first opera produced in 1768
Completed 41 symphonies
Allegedly poisoned by Salieri due to his jealousy
Had a demanding father
Symphony 40 First Movement +, “Requiem” Mass in D minor K 626 (Lacrimosa), Eine Kleine Nachtmusik 4th movement, “Allegretto” (third movement) from Trio in E-flat Major K.498 “Kegelstatt”;
Identify the title and composer of the selection.
The Marriage of Figaro by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Identify the title and composer of the selection.
Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (Movement 1: Allegro) by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Identify the symphony title and composer.
Symphony 40 (in G-Minor, First Movement) by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Identify the title, larger work, and composer.
“Lacrimosa” from Requiem in D-Minor (also accepted: “Requiem” or the “Requiem Mass”) by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Ludwig van Beethoven
1770 - 1827
Era: Bridged the gap between Classical and Romantic
Nationality: German
Main Contributions:
Transformed and expanded the scope of almost every musical genre he touched, most notably the symphony, sonata, and quartet.
His music is characterized by its emotional depth, formal innovation, and complex use of motifs.
Key Works:
Symphonies: Eroica (No. 3), Symphony No. 5, Pastoral Symphony (No. 6), Choral Symphony (No. 9).
Piano: Für Elise, Moonlight Sonata, Piano Concerto No. 5 “The Emperor”.
Opera: Fidelio.
Additional Notes:
Beethoven became increasingly deaf over the course of his life, a struggle that profoundly influenced his music, especially evident in his later works.
He dedicated Symphony No. 3 to Napoleon Bonaparte, only to change the dedication upon Napoleon declaring himself emperor, thereafter referring to it as “Eroica”.
Despite his deafness, he continued to compose, conduct, and perform, even premiering his Ninth Symphony without being able to hear it.
His influence is so pervasive that he’s even referenced in popular culture, such as in the song “Roll Over Beethoven” by Chuck Berry.
Bridged the gap: Classical / Romantic
Second Symphony (associated with WW2 and the Big Apple Band?)
Fur Elise
Eroica Symphony
Symphony No 9 (1824)
Fidelio
Moonlight Sonata
Piano Concerto No.5 “The Emperor” (1809)
Symphony Pastorale / Pastoral Symphony
Choral Symphony
Deaf?
First works published in 1783
In 1804 Beethoven
composed a work and dedicated it to a famous military leader. He later changed the
dedication when this leader declared himself emperor. (Symphony No 3, Napoleon, now referred to as ‘Eroica’)
Symphony No 9 in C Minor (The Choral Symphony)
Completed 9 symphonies
In the song “Roll Over Beethoven”, Chuck Berry says “Roll over Beethoven
Tell Tchaikovsky the news”
I was born in Bonn in 1770 and spent much of my musical career as a pianist and
composer in Vienna. Among my works frequently performed today are my numerous piano
sonatas and nine symphonies. Although I did not hear my final symphony, I gleaned from the
audience’s reaction that it was a huge success.
Fifth Symphony; Fourth movement from symphony no 9; Moonlight Sonata; Trio in D Major No. 1 Opus 70
Identify the title and composer.
Symphony No. 5 (in C-Minor) by Ludwig van Beethoven
Identify the title and composer.
Fur Elise by Ludwig van Beethoven
Gioachino Rossini
1792 - 1868
Romantic
The Barber of Seville (1813) depicts a thunderstorm (opera): Count Almaviva was helped by the character Figaro in this opera; Dr. Bartolo was Rosina’s guardian in this comic opera
known for operas
William Tell (1829) Overture tells the story of the Swiss folk hero and marksman
William Tell Overture; Overture from The Barber of Seville
Identify the title and the composer of this musical selection.
William Tell Overture (1829) by Gioachino Rossini
Identify the title of the work and its composer.
The Barber of Seville Overture by Gioachino Rossini
(This is the second part of two.)
Identify the title of the work and its composer.
Barber of Seville Overture by Gioachino Rossini
(This is the first part of two.)
Franz Schubert
- Time Period: 1797 - 1828
- Era: Romantic
- Nationality: Austrian
-
Main Contributions:
* A key figure in the early Romantic era, renowned for his Lieder (over 600 songs, sets poetry to music).
* Made significant contributions to chamber music and symphonies.
* Wrote hundreds of compositions, both secular and sacred. -
Key Works:
- Symphony No. 8 in B Minor, “The Unfinished Symphony” (did not complete beyond two movements).
- Trout Quintet (chamber music).
Additional Notes:
- Born and lived in Vienna, producing a vast array of compositions despite his short life.
- Died tragically young at the age of 31
(A Lied, or plural Lieder is German poetry set to music.)
Identify the audio: Unfinished Symphony (Symphony No. 8)
Franz Liszt
- Era: Romantic
- Nationality: Hungarian
-
Main Contributions
- Pioneered the concept of the symphonic poem.
- Composed notable concertos and a vast array of piano pieces.
-
Key Works:
- Hungarian Rhapsody
- Les Préludes (Symphonic Poem)
-
Additional Notes:
- His works and performance style contributed significantly to the evolution of piano music in the 19th century.
Identify: Hungarian Rhapsody (no2?)
Felix Mendelssohn
1809 - 1847
Romantic
Hebrides Overture
Violin Concerto (1844)
Wedding March from A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1842 production)
Symphony #4 in A Major: The “Italian Symphony”
Symphony #1 (1824)
Who am I? I was born in Hamburg in 1809 and made my debut as a pianist in Berlin in 1818. Seven years later the success of my A Midsummer Night’s Dream Overture established me as a major composer. I later established myself as a conductor and traveled as far as the British Isles where I was inspired to compose my Scottish Symphony and Hebrides Overture.
Who am I? I was born in Hamburg in 1809. My father was a Jewish banker, but I later conve1ted to Christianity. At age nine, I made my debut as a pianist and I also studied the
violin. One of my early compositions, the Midsummer Night’s Dream Overture, established me as major composer in the view of many. As my career evolved, I became a successful conductor and am credited with rediscovering the music of J.S. Bach.
composer and conductor who revived interest in J. S. Bach’s music in the 19th century
Audio: Violin Concerto
