Shared Flashcard Set

Details

Music History - Classical Era
Hi I'm Mozart and stuff
48
Music
Undergraduate 2
02/04/2012

Additional Music Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
In what decade did the Rococo musical style primarily reside?
Definition
1730s
Term
When does the Classic era start and end?
Definition
1750-1800
Term
Who was Immanuel Kant?
Definition
A German philosopher from the Age of Enlightenment
Term
Which philosopher of the enlightenment said something along these lines? (1690)

o “A contract exists between the government and the governed”
o “If government violates this contract, the governed can rebel”
Definition
John Locke
Term
Who was the leader of French thinkers during the Enlightenment?
Definition
Voltaire
Term
Who were the Freemasons?
Definition
Fraternal organization that promoted the idea that “all men are brothers”
Term
Name three distinct members of the Freemasons.
Definition
o Emperor Joseph II of Austria
o Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
o George Washington
Term
Who established the University of Virginia?
Definition
Thomas Jefferson
Term
Which two wars sent France into bankruptcy?
Definition
The Seven Years' War and the French and Indian War
Term
Who were Europe's enlightened rulers, and which countries did they rule?
Definition
- Frederick the Great – Prussia
- Catharine the Great – Russia
- Joseph II – Austria
Term
How did Emperor Joseph II reduce the power of the clergy?
Definition
o Made clergy lose civil legal power
o Marriage became a civil legal arrangement
o Required clergy to attend seminaries and swear allegiance to the Emperor
Term
Where was the musical center of Europe in the 1780s and 90s?
Definition
Vienna, Austria
Term
By 1800, what were the primary musical forum in all major European cities?
Definition
Public concerts
Term
What family did Haydn work for most of his life?
Definition
The Esterhazys
Term
What were some general characteristics of the Classic era?
Definition
- Balance and proportion
- Clarity and accessibility
- “Easy on the ear”
- Beautiful, moving and profound
- Appeal to experienced listeners and amateurs alike
- Melody and accompaniment
- Light and simple
Term
What were some SPECIFIC characteristics of the music of the Classic era?
Definition
- Rhythm – highly flexible
- Dynamics – Wide variety, composers specify p, mp, mf, f
- Idea of crescendo and decrescendo come into general use
- Fortepiano and Pianoforte supplant the Harpsichord as the keyboard of choice, due to said instruments having a wider range
- Melody – takes on great importance
o Melodies have a pleasing quality to them
o Audiences can now “hum the tunes”
- Phrases – balanced, usually 2 or 4 bars long
- Harmony – generally simple, logical and clear
o Straightforward harmonic accompaniment
o Little counterpoint
o Simple Bass line provides the foundation for the chord
o Baroque basso continuo is gone
Term
Describe the basic instrumentation of the Classical orchestra.
Definition
- Strings (violin 1 and 2, viola, cello, double bass)
- Woodwinds (flute, oboe, bassoon) and French Horns in pairs
Term
harmonic rhythm
Definition
how quickly chords change
Term
Name one of Mozart's opera serias.
Definition
La Clemenza di Tito
Term
While instrumental music was theorized to appeal to the heart, vocal music was said to appeal to the:
Definition
heart and mind
Term
In what ways did Gluck work for change in opera?
Definition
- No da capo arias
- Little/no vocal improvisation
- No long melismas
- Syllabic text settings
- Blurring recitative and aria
o Accompanied recitative
- Simpler melodies
- Overture linked by theme/mood to the ensuing action
- More prominence of the chorus
Term
What was the name of Mozart's librettist?
Definition
Lorenzo da Ponte
Term
How many movements did the standard Classical concerto have?
Definition
Three
Term
Describe the movements of the standard classical concerto.
Definition
1st Fast Sonata Tonic
2nd Slow Theme and Variations or Aria Dominant, Subdominant, relative minor
3rd Very fast Minuet and Trio
Term
What was Mozart's first official job?
Definition
Junior composer under the Prince-Archbishop of Salzburg
Term
What was the name of Mozart's wife?
Definition
Constanze Weber
Term
philosophes
Definition
social critics
Term
“enlightened” absolutism
Definition
in which a powerful ruler exercises restraint and works constantly for the good of the whole
Term
What three revolutions were occurring around the time of the Classical era?
Definition
American, French, and Industrial
Term
fantasia
Definition
a search for themes, often opening with rhapsodic, quasi-improvisatory flourishes on the triad
Term
Minuet
Definition
rollicking and boisterous; always in triple meter and almost always consists of two juxtaposed binary forms
Term
In what forms are finales most common?
Definition
Sonata and rondo
Term
rondo
Definition
a type of movement associated largely with finales and found in many different instrumental genres; derived from a Baroque dance form (ABACADA)
- opening theme is typically brief and catchy
- closed, self-contained unit consisting of an antecedent and consequent phrase with a cadence in the tonic
Term
refrain
Definition
open, reoccurring idea
Term
Episodes/couplets
Definition
contrasting ideas in rondo form
Term
Sonata-rondo form
Definition
A(I) B(V) A(I) C(X) A(I) B(I) A(I)
Term
half-cadence
Definition
cadence on the tonic
Term
What kind of sonata form did Haydn employ?
Definition
Sonata form with varied reprise – exposition is not repeated note for note, but is instead changed in subtle ways
Term
Italian overture
Definition
three movement symphony
Term
Describe the movements of the standard Classical symphony.
Definition
- 1st movement: weightiest of the four and sets tone; sonata form w/ slow intro sometimes
- 2nd movement: slow; sonata form, sonata form w/o development, theme and variations, aria; usually in a key other than the tonic, most commonly the subdominant
- 3rd movement: Minuet; “dance inspired”
- 4th movement: finale, relatively light; sonata, rondo, sonata-rondo
Term
Describe the double-exposition concerto form.
Definition
- Tutti exposition (tonic)
- Solo exposition (tonicsecondary)
- Development (unstable)
- Recapitulation (tonic)
- Cadenza & coda (tonic)
Term
Mozart’s music in general is renowned for its abundance of thematic ideas, while Haydn tends to develop a smaller number of ideas more thoroughly.
Definition
cool story
Term
intermezzo
Definition
a work intended for performance between the acts of a larger (serious) opera
Term
What form does the first movement of a symphony employ the most?
Definition
sonata form
Term
cadenza
Definition
a big formal pause for the soloist to improvise and display their virtuosity becomes formalized. It occurs shortly before the end of the first movement.
Term
Chamber music was written with ________ musicians in mind.
Definition
amateur
Term
Describe Nature vs Art
Definition
Nature: Art:
Genius Technique
Inspiration Craft
Unconscious Conscious
Effortlessness Hard work
Divine Human
Not teachable Teachable
Term
What kind of musical form was the sonata?
Definition
Ternary
Supporting users have an ad free experience!