Mus 115

Classical Era Study Guide

Part IV The Classical Period, (pages 145-149)

· Age of Enlightenment

· Industrial Revolution

· Rise of the Middle Class

· Pursuit of Happiness

· Art and Entertainment

The Classical Style (pages 150-153)

· Characteristics of Classical Style

· Classical Orchestra

Composer, Patron, etc. (pages153-156)

Sonata Form (pages 156-161)

· Symphony No. 40 in G minor, K.550, first movement (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart)

· Exposition

· Development

· Recapitulation

Theme and Variations (pages 161-164)

· Symphony No. 94, second movement (Franz Joseph Haydn)

Minuet and Trio (pages 164-166)

· Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, third movement (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart)

Rondo (pages166-167)

· String Quartet in C Minor, Op. 18, No. 4, fourth movement (Ludwig van Beethoven)

The Classical Symphony (page 168)

The Classical Concerto (pages 169-170)

Chamber Music (page 170)

Joseph Haydn (1732-1809), (pages 170-173)

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) (pages 173-182)

· Don Giovanni

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) (pages188-201)

· Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67

Music characteristics

Dynamics

· Many different dynamic levels, (written into the musical score)

Melody

· Short and symmetrical

· Contrasting melodies within same piece (sonata-allegro form)

Rhythm

· Driving rhythms with cadences

· contrasting rhythms within same piece

Harmony

· Major/minor tonal system, mostly diatonic, consonant, occasional use of chromaticism

Texture

· Mostly homophonic

Timbre

· Four orchestral families, strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion,

· Piano

· No continuo

Form

· In general very important,

· Sonata-allegro

· Theme and variations

· Minuet and Trio

· Rondo

Genre

· Symphony

· Sonata

· Opera

· Chamber music, string quartet

· Concerto

Emotion

· Light, beautiful, lyrical, for entertainment purposes

· Music becomes emotional with Beethoven