Name: ________________________________ Date: ____________________ EVEN/ODD Period ___
Classical Notes
Have you heard the Surprise Symphony? Listen as the orchestra begins the second movement with a
quiet, gentle melody, but before long – WHOMP! A loud chord wakes up anyone who happens to be
sleeping. That music was composed by Franz Joesf Haydn, one of the most outstanding composers of
the Classical Era (1750-1830).
Creative people in the this time looked to the principles of balance and order from ancient Greece and
Rome for inspiration. Since there is no written music remaining from ancient Greece and Rome,
composers such as Haydn took their cues from existing ancient visual art that shows balance, simplicity,
and moderation. Classical music can be lively or slow, but it is neat, orderly, and controlled - not too
loud or soft, not too long or short. The surprise in Haydn’s symphony is an exception to those rules.
The symphony became a standard kind of concert piece for orchestras in the Classical Era. Most
symphonies have four movements, or shorter sections, that make up the whole work.
Form of a Symphony
Movement 1: lively, in duple meter, usually in sonata form
Movement 2: slow and quiet, also in duple meter
Movement 3: usually a minuet with a trio in triple meter
Movement 4: fast and energetic, often in sonata or rondo form
VOCABULARY: Use the underlined words above to fill in the blanks below.
__________________________ - The form of the first and sometimes last movement of a symphony or
sonata in the Classical Era. The three main sections include the “exposition”, “development” and
“recapitulation”. Sometimes there is an introduction before these sections, and often there is a coda
following the recapitulation. Form: Introduction AABA Coda
__________________________ - In a minuet movement of a classical work (a lively dance movement in
triple meter) the trio is the 2nd of the two sections, contrasting with the first. The trio is often in a
different key – sometimes the minor version of the major key- and is often quieter and more lyrical
_________________________ - The A section repeats between two or more contrasting sections and
also end the form
Be the Maestro!
As we listen to the third movement of Symphony No. 47, a minuet, by Haydn, we
will conduct to the triple meter of the music. Draw the pattern for conducting in
triple meter below.
Sonata Form – Read the below questions. As you watch the video, answer each question to the best
of your ability.
1. Sonata form is usually the ____ movement of a 3 or 4 movement cycle in a classical piece.
2. TRUE or FALSE: Dominico Scarlatti was not influential in the creation of sonata form.
3. The three sections of sonata form are:
- _______________________________________
- _______________________________________
- _______________________________________
4. The ______________________ introduces the main theme and several subjects.
5. The first subject consists of one or more themes in the _________________ key. Then it will
modulate, usually to the ____________________ key, to introduce the 2nd subject.
6. Most often, the exposition will ______________________.
7. TRUE or FALSE: The development usually starts in the same key as the end of the exposition.
8. The development shows the greatest degree of tonal, harmonic, and rhythmic
________________________ compared to the other sections.
9. Mozart takes us down by ________, expanding on the motifs of the other sections.
10. The __________________________ is the final section.
11. The recap consists of ________ subjects, usually in the tonic key, rather than modulating to the
dominant as done in the 2nd subject of the exposition.
12. By the piece ending with a perfect authentic cadence in the ___________ key, it gives the piece
balance and finality.