Classical Music

Characteristics
A less complicated texture than had been
evident in Baroque times (less Polyphonic)
More use of expression through Dynamics.
Greater Dynamic contrast were evident
An elegant character
Clear use of phrasing
Clear use of cadences
Changing themes and emotions within one piece of music
Harmony changes were slower, less frequent unlike Baroque music which often changed chords 2 or 3 times per bar
The replacement of the Harpsichord with the Piano
Less use of Continuo
The use of Alberti Bass in Piano music

Mozart
Symphony No 40
Listen carefully to the opening
movement of this work and
try to answer the following questions.
Is the piece in a major or minor key?
Which family of instruments play the opening theme?
What playing technique are the strings using?

Composers
Mozart: 1756-1791
Haydn: 1732-1809
Beethoven: 1770-1827

Classical Orchestra
Strings:
Violins, Violas, Cellos, Double Basses
Woodwind:
1 or 2 Flutes, 2 Oboes, 2 Clarinets, 2 Bassoons
Brass:
2 Horns, 2 Trumpets
Percussion:
2 Timpani, Piano

Orchestral Music

Symphony
The Symphony was an emerging style of
composition for an Orchestra.
The symphony was usually written in four
movements
No soloist and no voices.
The movements took the following format:
Movement 1 – Fast
Movement 2 – Slow
Movement 3 – Minuet & Trio
Movement 4 – Fast

Haydn
Symphony No 104 – D major
Listen carefully for the
following features
Timpani rolls at beginning
Arco Strings
Question and Answer
Contrasting dynamics
Repetition of theme

Solo Concerto
The main features of the Solo Concerto:
Orchestra
1 Solo Instrument
Question and Answer between orchestra and soloist
Use of Imitation between orchestra and soloist
The Cadenza where the soloist gets to show off their skills and can be allowed some degree of Improvisation within this.
Movement 1 – Fast,
Movement 2 – Slow,
Movement 3 – Fast
The Concerto had emerged in the Baroque
period as the Concerto Grosso written for an
Orchestra with a group of soloists.
In the Classical period the solo Concerto emerged
and was written for an Orchestra and one
important solo instrument.

Mozart
Piano Concerto No 9 - E major
Listen carefully for the
following features
Ascending sequence
Question & answer between piano and orchestra
Trills
Imitation
Time signature?

Chamber Music
Chamber Music is music written for a small
group of musicians and intended to be played
in a room (chamber) rather than a large
Concert Hall.
There were various groups of musicians which Chamber music was written for such as a Quartet or a Quintet.
In the Classical period the most popular group written for was the String Quartet, Haydn wrote many of these ensembles. The String Quartet used the following instruments;
1st Violin
2nd Violin
Viola
Cello

Beethoven
String QRT No 11 – F minor
Listen carefully for the
following features
Tempo is Allegro
Simple Time
Repetition of opening theme
Arco Strings

Minuet and Trio
The Minuet and Trio has the following features:
A graceful French dance
3 beats in the bar
Ternary Form
The Minuet originated in the
Baroque period as part of the Suite.
The Minuet and Trio was an extension of this
form in the Classical period and involved the
addition of the Trio which was basically a 2nd Minuet.
A
B
A

Scherzo
A lively movement (a ‘joke’)
Triple time
Usually found as 3rd movement in a symphony, sonata or chamber work.

Overture
Orchestral music which introduces a large scale work such as Opera or Oratorio
Listen carefully for the concepts as they appear on the screen
Repetition of opening theme on strings
Allegro Tempo
Question and Answer between woodwind instruments
Counter melody on flute

Alberti Bass
As we have already discovered the Piano was the Keyboard instrument of choice during the Classical period. Many composers wrote Piano Sonatas for solo piano as well as using the piano as the solo instrument in a Solo Concerto.
A common feature in both was the use of the Alberti Bass in the left hand of the piano part. This involved alternating between the notes of the chord. For example, if the chord is C the notes which could be used are C, E and G. They would be played in the following order:

Played on piano in the left
hand
Alternates the notes of the chord
E.g C E G in the order C G E G
Common feature of the Sonata and Solo Concerto

Sonata
Work for solo piano
or
Solo instrument plus piano
Both parts are technically demanding
Listen out for the Alberti Bass

Forms
Sonata form
Minuet and trio
Theme and variation
Rondo

Sonata Form
Sonata form has 3 main sections:
Exposition
Development
Recapitulation

Exposition
The main tune (Subjects) are played for the 1st time. There are usually 2 subjects, one in the Tonic key and the 2nd in the Dominant key.
Development
Composer develops or changes the subjects in different ways with the use of frequent modulations.
Recapitulation
The Subjects are played again with the 2nd subject in the Tonic key

Exposition
First subject (tonic)
Bridge (modulating passage)
Second subject (related key eg dominant)
Often the exposition is marked with repeats

Development
Composer ‘develops’ ideas from the exposition
Moves through many keys eventually working back to the tonic in preparation for the …..

Exposition
Repeats or ‘recapitulates’
music from the exposition
First subject (tonic)
Bridge (altered)
Second subject (tonic)
Coda finishes off the movement

Theme and Variation
The ‘theme’ is the main melody
A ‘variation’ of this theme is when the
composer plays the main melody again but has slightly altered it.
The 5 main ways to vary a theme
The melody
The Rhythm
The Time-Signature
The Harmony
The Tonality

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star