CLASSICAL MUSIC APPRECIATION
~
I love music but I don’t understand it at all ~
LEVELS OF LISTENING SKILLS
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To listen for the pleasure of the senses only.
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To recognize the expressive power and
meaning of music.
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To listen to what is going on.
WHY DO WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT
IS GOING ON?
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Music has its intellectual and emotional appeal.
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Music involves composer, performer and the listener.
~Great music is born of great effort by great and dedicated
minds and by greatly devoted listeners~
William Schumann
HOW TO BECOME AN INTELLIGENT
MUSIC LISTENER?

Understand the basic musical elements.
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Be aware of how each musical element is used
and what happens to it in the music.

Hear the musical elements not separately but the
combined effect.

Develop an active listening skill – not just listening
but always listening for something.

To acquire through learning and experience, not
just methods.
RHYTHM
~ organizes music as it moves forward, each note
having its own length or duration ~
~ covers everything pertaining to the time aspect of
music ~
Beat – a unit of time (a regular pulse)
Meter – the recurrent pattern of beats at an
interval in groups of 2, 3, 4, etc.
Tempo – the speed of the beats
RHYTHM
The `Elephant’ from Carnival of the Animals by Saint Saëns (in 3)
RHYTHM
The `Toreadors’ from Orchestral Suite No. 1 by Bizet (in 4)
MELODY
~ consists of a succession of notes, varying in pitch, which
have an organized and recognizable shape~
~ is horizontal where the notes are heard consecutively ~
MELODY
The `Habanera’ from Orchestral Suite No.2 by Bizet
MELODY
`Dreaming’ from Scenes From Childhood by Schumann
HARMONY
~ is the study of chords and their relationship among one
another ~
~ is the sounding together of notes (vertical sound) known
as chords ~
MELODY vs HARMONY
HARMONY

~ It adds depth to the music ~
HARMONY
`Wedding March’ from A Mid-Summer Night’s Dream Op.61 by
Mendelssohn
HARMONY
Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini Op.43 by Rachmaninoff
TEXTURE
~
is the combination of the use of horizontal and
vertical elements in music ~
 Monophonic
– a single, unaccompanied melody
 Polyphonic – 2 or more melodies moving
simultaneously
 Homophonic – a melody with a chordal
accompaniment
FORM
~
is the structure and design of a musical work ~
~ builds on repetitions, contrasts, and variations of
musical materials ~

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2-part Form: A B
3-part Form: A B A
Rondo Form: A B A C A D A etc.
Variations: A A’ A’’ A’’’ etc.
Sonata Form: Exposition, Development,
Recapitulation
FORM
Minute Waltz by Chopin (ABA FORM)
TONE COLOR
~ is the tone quality produced by a particular
instrument or medium ~
An orchestra consists of 4 instrumental family groups
creating a magnificent spectrum of tonal colors:



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The
The
The
The
String Family
Woodwind Family
Brass Family
Percussion Family
TONE COLOR
`The Young Persons’ Guide to the Orchestra by Benjamin Britten
BEETHOVEN SYMPHONY NO.5
(FIRST MOVEMENT)
Background

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Born in 1770 – 1827 (Classical Period)
In 1802 learned about his incurable deafness; tempted to take his
life.
His music generated a new power and heroism after his emotional
crisis – victory over despair
Symphony completed & performed in 1808.
Completely deaf in 1819; became a recluse
Preferred to walk in the country where he was inspired by many
musical ideas.
Musical style was revolutionary, a forerunner of the Romantic style
of music
BEETHOVEN SYMPHONY NO.5
Type:
Tempo:
Time:
Theme:
Form:
Texture:
Tone Color:
orchestral work
allegro con brio (quickly & vigorously)
in 2
rhythmic vs melodic
sonata-form
mainly homophonic
ideas transfer from instruments to
instruments in different combinations
AN AUDIO/VISUAL EXAMPLE
Symphony No. 5 in C Minor by Beethoven –
First Movement