CLASSICAL
The Orchestra –
New Instruments
The Piano replaced the Harpsichord
giving new opportunities for dynamics,
tone and expression.
Beethoven
Piano Sonata ~ Moonlight
Sonata Form
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Sonata form was not just developed for the sonata (a
solo work with piano accompaniment), but was created
as a framework for 1st movements of symphonies,
concertos and overtures. It has 3 sections as follows:
EXPOSITION
1st
Subject
(Tonic key)
Bridge passage
(Transition)
RECAPITULATION
DEVELOPMENT
1st and 2nd Subjects
are developed modulations,
imitation, sequences,
inversion;
1st Subject
(Tonic key)
Bridge passage
(Transition)
2nd Subject
(Related key – dominant,
subdominant, relative
minor/major)
Codetta
motifs taken from
main themes and
developed.
2nd Subject
(Tonic key)
Coda
Minuet & Trio
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The minuet is a graceful French dance with three
beats in a bar. It originated in the Baroque period
and was now lengthened in the Classical period,
becoming a set form of composition.
The trio is a contrasting minuet after which the first
minuet is repeated. MINUET – TRIO – MINUET
In a Classical Symphony, the 3rd Movement is often
in Minuet & Trio form, sounding dance like and
lively.
Scherzo
Scherzo literally means joke and is a lively
movement in triple time.
 As the Classical period developed, the Minuet and
Trio was replaced by a Scherzo as the 3rd
movement in a Symphony.
 Beethoven was the 1st
Composer to use the Scherzo
In his symphonies. This shows
How he was at the heart of
Developing music into the
Romantic period.
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Concerto
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Classical composers
developed the 3 movement
form created by the Baroque
solo concerto.
The movements were mainly
FAST, SLOW, FAST
The final movement included a
section for the soloist to show
off. The orchestra stopped
playing and the soloist would
demonstrate their technical
ability, often ending in a trill,
signalling the orchestra to restart. This is called a
CADENZA
Classical composers wrote for
new instruments like the
clarinet and horn
Symphony
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Classical composers started to shape
instrumental music into 3 sections,
creating a ‘Sonata’ for orchestra.
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Movement 1 (Fast) - usually an allegro
and in what became known as sonata
form.
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Movement 2 (Slow) and often in a
simple form
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Movement 3 (Minuet and trio) - a dance
borrowed from the Baroque period and
in ternary form.
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Movement 4 (Fast) and usually an
allegro - often light-hearted in style and
in a form such as rondo form, theme
and variations or sonata form.
Sonata
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Sonata was the name given
by classical composers to
works in a number of
contrasting movements by
one or two instruments, for
instance for piano alone or
for violin and piano.
The movements were
normally FAST, SLOW,
FAST, with the 1st
movement being in Sonata
form
Listen out for ALBERTI
BASS in the piano sonatas
and accompaniments
Chamber Music
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Other works for larger groups were
generally named after the size of the
group so a trio was for three
instruments, a quartet for four, a
quintet for five and so on.
Chamber music was for
performance in a room and one of
the most popular groups in this style
was the string quartet. By now the
viols of the 17th century were
completely out of favour and were
replaced by the now more familiar
violins, violas and cellos. These
quartets were most often in four
movements:
a fast movement, most often in
sonata form
a slow movement
a minuet and trio
a fast movement, often a rondo, or
theme and variations, or even
another movement in sonata form.
Vocal Music
OPERA
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By the end of the Baroque period, operas were all about the singer rather
than reflecting the story. Mozart was the master of opera and every one he
composed has memorable arias for all types of voice. The Marriage of
Figaro and the Magic Flute are amongst his most famous. Not only is the
music great for the singers but the story line is always pushed along and
reflected in the music.
Opera also became more light-hearted and comical in this period, which
would eventually be overtaken by serious, dramatic opera in the Romantic
period.
Religious Music
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Mozart and Haydn wrote several Masses with an orchestral accompaniment
and in particular the funeral mass, Mozart’s Requiem, stands out as one of
the great choral works of the period.
Main Characteristics
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To a musician, Classical refers to a short period of
musical history from around 1750 to around 1810.
During this period the popular forms of the Baroque
Period began to develop e.g Overture into Symphony
The style was simplified and the ornate Baroque
flourishes were replaced with predictable harmonies and
melodies.
Form was often quite strict, with composers using
Sonata Form and 3 movements for their works.
New instruments were introduced and composers
explored dynamics and tone in a new way
Test on Concepts below…
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Sonata form
Exposition, Development &
Recapitulation
Sonata
Symphony
Concerto
Minuet & Trio
Chamber Music
Scherzo
Cadenza
Variation form
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Cadences – perfect,
imperfect, plagal,
interrupted
Harmony – dominant 7th
chord & Relative
major/minor modulations
Alberti Bass
Sequence
Binary, ternary and Rondo
form