Listening Guides
EXAM #2 Listening Guides
Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque
Title
Era
Genre
Dies Irae
Medieval
Requiem Mass
Composer
Anon
Musical Form Chant
Elements of Music:
Melody
limited pitch range, smooth, connected melody, male voices
Rhythm
non-metric, text dictates the rhythm
Harmony
none
Texture
monophonic
Title
Era
Genre
Sicut cervus
Renaissance
Sacred Vocal Motet
Composer
Palestrina
Musical Form Sacred Motet
Elements of Music:
Melody
slow moving, smooth connected, overlapping ideas, full vocal range including soprano, alto,
tenor, bass (but upper voices are sung by boys)…no female voices
Rhythm
very slow, long sustained notes…not rhythmic at all.
Harmony
modal because of layering of voices…still not Major/minor
Texture
Very polyphonic
Title
Era
Genre
As Vesta was from Latmos Hill descending
Renaissance
Secular Vocal
Composer
Weelkes
Musical Form Madrigal
Elements of Music:
Melody
more disconnected, wider leaps, all voices, small group, use of word painting
Rhythm
very rhythmic, bouncy
Harmony
modal
Texture
polyphonic
Title
Era
Genre
Toccata & Fugue in d minor
Baroque
Instrumental keyboard
Composer
J. S. Bach
Musical Form Fugue
Elements of Music:
Melody
very rhythmic repeated notes, wide pitch range
Rhythm
same throughout, lots of repetition
Harmony
Minor tonality with some Major tones used
Texture
polyphonic
Title
Era
Genre
“Spring” from the Four Seasons
Baroque
Concerto
Composer
Vivaldi
Musical Form Ritornello
Elements of Music:
Melody
Strings & woodwinds, very repetitious, even melodi phrases, somewhat predictable,
programmatic, (word painting), use of terrace dynamics
Rhythm
same ideas repeated several times, even phrases,
Harmony
Major some use of minor tonalities
Texture
Homophonic
Title
Era
Genre
“Hallelujah” from the Messiah
Baroque
Vocal Oratorio
Composer
Handel
Musical Form Chorus
Elements of Music:
Melody
full chorus, wide pitch range, all voices present…some predictable ideas
Rhythm
same rhythms repeated, also overlapping ideas.
Harmony
Major tonality
Texture
homophonic & polyphonic
Title
Era
Genre
“Every Valley” from the Messiah
Baroque
Vocal Oratorio
Composer
Handel
Musical Form Aria
Elements of Music:
Melody
intro by orchestra, solo tenor, wide pitch range, alternates ideas with orchestra…some
predictable ideas, melismatic vocal technique
Rhythm
same rhythms repeated, new ideas present
Harmony
Major tonality
Texture
homophonic
Title
Composer
Genre
“Zion hears the Watchmen Calling” from Cantata No. 140
J. S. Bach
Era
Baroque
Vocal Cantata
Musical Form full Chorus
Elements of Music:
Melody
full chorus, smooth, connected full choral pitch range, all voices present…hymn like chorus
alternates with orch.
Rhythm
same rhythms repeated
Harmony
Major tonality
Texture
homophonic
EXAM #3 Listening Guides
Classical
Title
Inst’l Genre
Symphony No. 40, mvt. I
Symphony
Composer
Mozart
Musical Form Sonata Allegro
3rd ed. Ch. 16, pg. 116 CD 1 TR 38-42
2nd ed. Ch. 17, Pg. 130 CD 1 TR 36-40
Elements of Music:
Melody
smooth connected, repetitive ideas developed, even phrases with cadences
Rhythm
similar repeated rhythms throughout, slower ideas at 2nd theme
Harmony
minor tonic@ beginning but contrasts with Major
Texture
homophonic
Title
Inst’l Genre
Trumpet Concerto in Eb Major, III
Concerto
Composer
Haydn
Musical Form Rondo
3rd ed. Ch. 17, pg. 122, CD 1 TR 43-45
2nd ed. Ch. 20, pg. 136, Cd 1 TR 41-43
Elements of Music:
Melody
fast, lively, very rhythmic, repetitive. Melody @ beginning recurs throughout movement
Rhythm
similar repeated rhythms throughout, technically difficult for soloist, fast tempo
Harmony
Major tonality
Texture
very homophonic
Title
Vocal Genre
Don Giovanni, Act II
Opera
Composer
Mozart
Musical Form Aria
3rd ed. Ch. 18, pg. 127, CD 1 TR 46-end
2nd ed. Ch. 21, pg. 142, CD 2 TR 1-4
Elements of Music:
Melody
dark at times, male voices wide pitch range
Rhythm
somewhat rhythmic, some repetition
Harmony
minor tonality
Texture
homophonic
Title
Inst’l Genre
Symphony No. 5 Mvt. I
Symphony
Composer
Beethoven
Musical Form Sonata Allegro
3rd ed. Ch. 21, pg. 146, CD 2 TR 1-5
2nd ed. Ch. 23 pg. 155, CD 2 TR 5-9
Elements of Music:
Melody
aggressive @ beginning, repetitive 4 note motif that Beethoven develops throughout
Rhythm
rhythmic ideas repeated in sequence and developed
Harmony
minor tonic@ beginning but contrasts with Major
Texture
homophonic
EXAM #4 Listening Guides
Romantic
Title
Genre
Der Erlkonig
Art Song
Composer
Schubert
Musical Form Through-Composed
3rd ed. Ch. 22, pg. 162, CD 2 TR 6-8
2nd ed. Ch. 26, pg. 174, CD 2 TR10-12
Elements of Music:
Melody
suspenseful, no parts repeated in text, dynamics used to better tell story
Rhythm
aggressive piano part, some rhythms repeated, very rhythmic
Harmony
minor sets the mood for all characters except the erlkonig whose music is in Major
Texture
homophonic
Title
Genre
La Campanella
Piano work (Etude)
Composer
Franz Liszt
Musical Form Theme & Variations
3rd ed. Ch. 24 pg. 170, CD 2 TR 9-10
2nd ed. Not included in this edition.
Elements of Music:
Melody
simple at beginning them very repetitive w/ the repeated upper note.
Rhythm
somewhat complex with melody and accompaniment, fast runs at times
Harmony
use of chromaticism for dramatic effect, very minor…
Texture
Homophonic
Title
Genre
Symphonie Fantastique, Mvt. V
Symphony
Composer
Berlioz
Musical Form ?
3rd ed. Ch. 25, pg. 175, CD 2 TR 11-15
2nd ed. Ch. 28, pg. 189-190 CD 2 TR13-17
Elements of Music:
Melody
unpredictable, wide pitch range, fuller orchestra with new insts. Instruments used in non
traditional ways
Rhythm r
epetition, some aggressive rhythms, some sections march like, unpredictable
Harmony
minor tonic@ beginning but contrasts with Major
Texture
homophonic, some polyphony used
Title
Genre
Duet from La Boheme, Act I
Opera
Composer
Puccini
Musical Form Aria
3rd ed. Ch. 26, pg. 187, CD 2 TR 16-17
2nd ed. Ch. 30, pg. 200-201, CD 2 TR 18-19
Elements of Music:
Melody
smooth connected, wide vocal range, very dramatic
Rhythm
simple rhythms, delays in resolution and rhythmic ideas add to drama
Harmony
Major with Chromatic embellishments
Texture
homophonic
Title
Genre
Symphony No. 4 in E minor, I
Symphony
Composer
Brahms
Musical Form Sonata form
3rd ed. Ch. 27, pg. 195, CD 2 TR 18-22
2nd ed. Not included in this edition
Elements of Music:
Melody
smooth, connected , very lyrical, theme in upper strings, manipulates theme throughout the
Movement, very romantic…
Rhythm
simple, repetitive, similar to classical era.
Harmony
traditional but with the emotional longing of the Romantics, some parts heroic
Texture
Homophonic
Title
Genre
Farandole, L’Arlesienne
Play
Composer
Bizet
Musical Form March like, Dance
3rd ed. Ch. 3, pg. 22, CD 1 TR 4-6
2nd ed. Ch. 3, pg. 21, CD 1 TR 4-6
Elements of Music:
Melody
orchestra plays theme in minor, aggressive. Varying dynamics
Rhythm
simple rhythms in melody and accompaniment, quicker rhythmic ideas in B section
Harmony
minor tonic, then Major…alternates
Texture
homophonic, some use of counterpoint (canon-like)
EXAM #5 Listening Guides
20th Century
Title
Genre
Clare de Lune
Suite
Composer
Debussy
Musical Form A B A
3rd ed. Ch. 29, pg. 214, CD 2 TR 23-25
2nd ed. Ch. 33, pg. 226, CD 2 TR 20-22
Elements of Music:
Melody
smooth connected, very lyrical, wide pitch range on piano, little dynamics at beg. More in B
section
Rhythm
simple in beginning, more complex, busier in B section, returns to simple ideas at end
Harmony
Major tonality but uses lots of Chromatic ideas to add expression and color
Texture
homophonic
Title
Genre
Concerto for Orchestra, IV
Concerto
Composer
Bela Bartok
Musical Form Rondo Form
3rd ed. Ch. 31, pg. 227, CD 2 TR 26-28
2nd ed. Ch. 35, pg. 239, CD 2 TR 23-25
Elements of Music:
Melody
short introduction with theme being tossed around solo instruments. Oboe, clarinet/flute,
theme then in strings very dark/sad in mood…simple uses Hungarian folk melody
Rhythm
simple but with some change in the grouping of beats,
Harmony
very rich, colorful to express the Hungarian character,
Texture
homophonic
Title
Genre
War Requiem “dies Irae”
Requiem Mass
Composer
Benjamin Britten
Musical Form N/A
3rd ed. Ch. 31, pg. 22, CD 2 TR 29-30
2nd ed. Ch. 35, pg. 21, CD 2 TR 26-27
Elements of Music:
Melody
begins with fanfare calls in brass, then dies irae sung, short accented notes in male
voices…then fanfares again, then women sing higher pitch range same singing style as men
Rhythm
asymmetrical beats (uneven) but does have some repeated patterns
Harmony
minor tonic, sad/dark colors, dissonant at times
Texture
homophonic
Title
Genre
The Rite of Spring also known as
La Sacre du Printemps
Ballet
Composer
Igor Stravinsky
Musical Form
N/A
3rd ed. Ch. 32, pg. 22, CD 2 TR 4-6
2nd ed. Ch. 36, pg. 21, CD 2 TR 28-31
Elements of Music:
Melody
very fragmented, complex with rhythm. not singable, wide pitch range full orchestra
Rhythm
very complex, irregular grouping of beats, use of fast note passages
Harmony
Bitonal (having 2 tonics at same time), very colorful
Texture
homophonic and some polyphonic used
Title
Genre
Poeme Electronique
Electronic Music
Composer
Edgar Varese
Musical Form Chance Music
3rd ed. Ch. 34, pg. 254, CD 2 TR 34
2nd ed. Ch. 39, pg. 265, CD 2 TR 32
Elements of Music:
Melody
all sounds produced electronically, avoids a normal tonic, a collection of odd sounds,
unpredictable, not singable
Rhythm
no set tempo, repetition or organization as we know it.
Harmony
none
Texture
polyphonic if any…seems to present one sound after another so not much layering going on
Title
“Simple Gifts” from Appalachian Spring
Genre Ballet
Composer
Aaron Copland
Musical Form Based on a “shaker melody”
3rd ed. Ch. 36, pg. 272, CD 2 TR 35-37
2nd ed. Not on this edition
Elements of Music:
Melody
smooth, connected, repetitive,
Rhythm
repetitions, simple, some rubato but beat easy to follow
Harmony
major tonic, easy to hear cadences
Texture
very homophonic
Title Concerto Grosso 1985, I
Genre Concerto Grosso
Composer
Zwilich
Musical Form Binary AB AB AB
3rd ed. Ch. 36, pg. 274, CD 2 TR 38-39
2nd ed. Ch. 42, pg. 285, CD 2 TR 38-39
Elements of Music:
Melody
uses a small orchestra (w/harpsichord) repeated phrases, terraced dynamics
Very Baroque sounding, uses a melody from Handel
Rhythm
lots of unision runs in springs
Harmony
very baroque like but does include some whole tone lines
Texture
homophonic
Medieval Era Musical Elements
Era/Dates
MEDIEVAL (MIDDLE AGES)
Melody
Dictated by text, smooth, limited range
(1900-1200) singers began adding a 2nd part to chant-parallel movement
(hence the beginnings of polyphonic music or organum
Rhythm
Non-metric but more movement found in secular wks.
Harmony
None…later modal (church modes…a different system w/o leading
tones…)
Texture
450-1450
Monophonic….later polyphony (see melody)
Inst’l Genres
None til late inera when traveling musicians would play dance like
music
Vocal Genres
Sacred: Chant, Mass, later - Gothic Motet
Secular: Gothic Motet
Form
Dynamics
N/A
Same medium volume throughout
Composers
Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179)
Guillaume de Machaut (1300-1377)
John Dunstable (1385-1453)
Guillaume Dufay (1400-1474)
Leonin, Perotin
For Your
Information
World Events
******************************************************************
Fall of Roman Empire, 100 yrs war begins 1337,
Cathedral in Notre Dame-1163, Johann Gutenberg (1400-1468) German inventor
movable type
Political Leaders
Emperor Charlemagne, Eleanor of Aquitane, Genghis Khan (1162-1227) Mongol
leader, Joan of Arc (1412-1453) French patriot
Cultural Events
Dante’s Divine Comedy *1307), Chaucer Canterbury Tales (1386)
Renaissance Musical Elements
Era/Dates
Melody
RENAISSANCE 1450-1600
Rhythmic, flowing, use of word painting
Rhythm
Non-metric, but a little more organized patterns
Harmony
Modal (church modes) still not organized to today’s harmonies
Texture
Imitative Polyphony
Inst’l
Genres
Derived from vocal forms: dance music (instruments not specified)
Vocal
Genres
Sacred: Mass, Motet
Secular: Madrigal, Chanson
Form
No organized use
Dynamics
Same medium volume throughout
Composers
Josquin Desprez (1450-1521) Giovanni da Palestrina (1525-1594)
Thomas Weelkes (1576-1623) Giovanni Gabrieli (1557-1612)
William Byrd (1543-1623)
Giulio Caccini (1546-1613)
FYI *******
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World Events
Christopher Columbus discovers America 1492,
Council of Trent 1545-1563
Spanish Armada defeated 1588
Political
Leaders
Henry VIII King of England 1509
Elizabeth I Queen of England 1558
Martin Luther (1483-1546) German church leader
Cultural
Gutenberg Bible 1456
Events
Michelangelo (1475-1564) Italian Artist
Artists/Writers Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) Italian Artist
William Shakespeare (1564-1616) British playwright & poet
Baroque Musical Elements
Era/Dates
BAROQUE
Melody
One mood, continuous, wide leaps, chromatic tones for emotional effects,
Emotional exuberance
Rhythm
Single rhythm predominant, steady, energetic pulse, freer in vocal music
Harmony
Major minor Tonal System Established. W/ brief excursions to other keys);
chromatic harmony for expressive effect
Texture
Polyphonic & Homophonic texture (usu. 1 or the other) except with Handel
1600-1750
Instrumental Sonata, concerto, concerto grosso, sinfonia, suite,
Genres
instruments specified for the 1st time
Vocal
Genres
Sacred: Oratorio, Lutheran Cantata
Secular: Opera, Cantata
Form
Binary, Ternary…
Dynamics
Terraced – abrupt use of dynamics
Composers
J. S. Bach (1685-1750)
Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)
FYI
**************************************************************
World Events
Jamestown Settled 1607, Salem witch trials 1692,
Mayflower Compact 1620
Political
Leaders
Louis XIV King of England 1643
Reign of Peter the Great 1682
George F. Handel (1685-1759)
Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
Louis XV reign begins 1715
Cultural
John Milton (1608-1674) British poet Paradise Lost
Events
Isaac Newton (1642-1727)British scientist… Principles of Math 1687
Artists/Writers John Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels 1726
Classical Musical Elements
Era/Dates
CLASSICAL
1750-1820
Melody
Pleasant, Singable, Balanced, Clarity, Contrasting moods, Emotional balance & restraint
Rhythm
Regular recurring, use of dance rhythms favored, steady
Harmony
Major-minor tonic relationship
Texture
Very homophonic
Inst’l Genres Symphony, Concerto, String Quartet, Sonata
Vocal
Genres
Form
Opera, Mass, Solo songs, Oratorio
Dynamics
Use of crescendo & decrescendo (gradual changes in volume)
Composers
Ludvig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Sonata Allegro, Theme & Variations, Minuet Trio, Rondo, Ternary
Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)
Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
FYI********* ***************************************************************
World Events Franklin discovers electricity (1752), Industrial Revolution (1770), French Revolution
(1789), Bill of Rights (1791), Declaration of Independence (1776)
Political
Leaders
Frederick the Great, George Washington Thomas Jefferson, Napoleon Bonaparte
Cultural
Events
Artists/Writers
Pompeii rediscovered (1748), Voltaire’s Çandide(1759)
Romantic Musical Elements
Era/Dates
ROMANTIC 1820-1900
Melody
Expansive, Singable, Wide pitch range, Expressive
Rhythm
Diverse/Elasticity, some use of Rubato
Harmony
Still Major/Minor Tonality but increasing use of Chromaticism (for
more expression), more delays in resolution
Texture
Homophonic, some use of polyphonic later.
Instr’l Genres
Symphony, (expanded to 5 mvts.), Concerto, String Quartet, Solo
Piano Sonata
Vocal Genres
Opera, Art Songs, Ballet
Form
Expansion of forms, Programmatic Works
Dynamics
Wide range of dynamics for greater expression, some abrupt use as
well
Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
Giocomo Puccini (1813-1901)
Hector Berlioz (1803-1869)
Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)
Claude Debussy (1862-1918)
Franz Liszt (1811-1886)
Frederik Chopin ( 1810-1849)
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Richard Wagner (1813-1883)
Peter Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)
Composers
FYI********
World Events
*******************************************************
Political Leaders
Queen Victoria-1837. Lincoln Assass-1865, Wilhelm II, last Kaiser of Germ.
crowned-1888, Nicholas II, last czar of Russia, crowned-1894
Cultural Events
Artists/Writers
Edgar Allen Poe-1809/1849, Herman Melville 1818/1891, Monet 1840/1926,
Vincent van Gogh-1853/1890, Leo Tolstoy War & Peace-1865, Pablo Picasso1881/1973, Eiffel tower completd-1889, Mark Twain 1835/1910
Monroe Doctrine-1823, invention of telegraph-1832, CA gold rush-1848, Am
Civil War-1861,Telephone invented & internal combustion engine-1876,
Spanish/American War-1898
20th Century Musical Elements
Era/Dates
20th Century 1900-2000
Melody
Expanded far beyond traditional M/m scales flowing qualities, different
scales used, musical phrases irregular
Rhythm
Much more important than in previous eras. Complex, Irregular, frequent
changes, unpredictable, polyrhythms, polymeters
Harmony
Included, polychords, polytonality. Chords sometimes built on 4ths, and
other intervals, Highly dissonant at times, some music with no Tonal center
Texture
More use of counterpoint, often dissonant, expanded through non traditional
use of sound production, THE EXTREME EXIST
All forms exist: symphony, concerto, solos works, SQ
Inst’l
Genres
Vocal
Genres
Form
Songs, opera, ballet
All forms exist, but a renewed interest in older forms developed, esp. those
used in Baroque era
Dynamics
Levels ranged from extreme soft to extreme loud
Composers
Benjamin Britten
Arnold Schoenberg
Philip Glass
Charles Ives
Bela Bartok
Steve Reich
Igor Stravinsky
Anton Webern
John Adams
Edgar Varese
Aaron Copland
Samuel Barber
Sergei Prokofiev
Eric Satie
John Cage
Ellen Zwilich
**************************************************************
FYI*******
World Events
Wright Bros. Flight-1903, Ford invents Model T car- 1908, WWI –1914-18, Panama
Canal opens-1914, Linbergh flight across Atlantic-1927, Stock Market crashes-1929,
Spanish Civil War-1936, WWI 1939-45, Korean War-50-53 United Nations found-1945,
Berlin Wall falls-1989, Persian Gulf War- 90-91
Political
Queen Victoria dies-1901, Edward VII crowned, Lenin dies-1924, Hiutler assumes
Leaders
power-1933, Kennedy assassinated-1963, Nixon resigns-1974, Reagan prez-1980, Mao
Tse tung dies-1976, Brezhnev dies-1982, Gorbachev premier of USSR-1985
Nelson Mandela South African Political leader/Prez, Martin Luther King-US Civil Rights
Leader
Cultural
Frank Llyod Wright (1869-1959) US Architect, Albert Einstein (1879-1955) German
Events
Scientist, Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Spanish Artist, Georgia O’Keefe (1887-1986) US
Artists/Writers Artist