Chapter 16: Classical Genres: Instrumental Music
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Transcript of Chapter 16: Classical Genres: Instrumental Music
Chapter 16:Classical Genres: Instrumental Music
The Symphony and the Symphony Orchestra
• Symphony: A multimovement composition for orchestra lasting about 25 minutes in the Classical Era (nearly an hour in the Romantic Era)– Origins in the sinfonia – Baroque opera overture
in three sections (fast – slow – fast)– Sections expanded into movements– By mid 1700’s, a fourth movement was added
(Minuet)– Fast – Slow – Minuet – Fast – Increased in popularity as public concerts
became more common– Created the terms symphony hall and symphony
orchestra
The Classical Symphony Orchestra • Increased in size as the symphony orchestra moved
from private court to public auditorium• More wind instruments were added to increase variety
and color• Each section had a specific assignment in the Classical
Era– Strings: Presented the bulk of the musical material– Woodwinds: Added richness and colorful
counterpoint– French horns: Sustained a sonorous background– Trumpets and Percussion: Provided brilliance when
needed Classical Orchestra
Strings: 1st violins, 2nd violins, cellos, double basses (about 27 players total
Woodwinds: 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons
Brasses: 2 French horns, 2 trumpets (for festive pieces)
Percussion: 2 timpani (for festive pieces)
Mozart: Symphony No. 40 in G Minor (1788), K. 550
First Movement (Molto Allegro)• Exposition:
• Development:
• Recapitulation: –Transition theme is extended–Brief coda
Mozart: Symphony No. 40
• Second Movement: Andante– Slow, lyrical– Contrast between woodwind and the string
timbre
• Third Movement: Minuetto: Allegretto– Intense, somber mood
• Fourth Movement: Allegro Assai– Sonata-allegro form– Begins with ascending rocket theme– Lack of transition into the recapitulation adds
a feeling of urgency and acceleration
The String Quartet
• String Quartet: genre of chamber music– Created by Joseph Haydn – Goethe compared it to a conversation among four
intelligent people• Two violin, viola, and cello• One player per part• Follows four movement form: fast – slow – minuet –
fast • Performed by professionals
and amateurs• Haydn and Mozart played
together in a string quartet
Haydn: Opus 76, No. 3, The “Emperor” Quartet (1797) Second movement, Poco adagio cantabile
• Known as the “Emperor” because of its famous theme– Melody composed in response to military and
political events– Honored Emperor Franz II– Tune served as national anthems for Austria and
Germany– Used as a Protestant hymn– The Emperor’s Hymn was Haydn’s favorite
composition• Theme and Variations form
The Sonata
• Genre of chamber music for solo piano or solo instrument accompanied by piano
• More sonatas published in the 18th-century than any other genre
• Three movement: fast – slow – fast • Performed by professionals and amateurs– Often used for piano students
The Concerto• Large scale, multimovement work for
instrumental soloist and orchestra intended for public audience
• Virtuoso performers lured audiences to the concert hall
• Three movements (no minuet)• Mozart: Composed 23 piano concertos– Considered the father of the modern piano
concerto– Often for his own performance
Mozart: Piano Concerto in A major (1786), First movement Allegro
• Piano and orchestra engage in a spirited give-and-take of the thematic material
• Written for his student Barbara Ployer• Sonata-allegro form• Double exposition: The orchestra first
introduces the first, second, and closing themes; Soloist then enters and plays the thematic material– Mozart introduces a new lyrical melody in
the strings when we expect the second exposition to end
• Cadenza
Mozart: Piano Concerto in A major • Second Movement (Andante):– Exquisitely crafted lines and coloristic
harmonies– Daring harmonic changes– At once sublimely beautiful and distantly
remote
• Third Movement (Presto)– Boisterous rondo– Banter back and forth between soloist and
orchestra