Classical and Romantic Music History Essentials

Classical Symphony Structure and Movements

1. How many movements does the symphony have? Name and explain them.

• A serious movement in a lively tempo, written in sonata form.
• A reflective slow movement.
• A minuet and a trio.
• A jolly and fast finale.

Understanding the Sonata Form

2. Explain the development part of the sonata form.

Themes are altered and used however the composer wishes. It is the freest section of the composition.

Key Elements of Classical Orchestral Music

3. How many symphonies did Haydn write?

Haydn wrote 104 symphonies.

4. What instruments were the most popular in the concerto to play as a soloist?

The piano and violin.

5. What is the second section of the sonata called?

The development.

6. During the Classical period, what was the most popular music form?

The Sonata.

7. What was the main form of orchestral music?

The Symphony.

8. Which movements is the symphony composed of?

Fast-Slow-Fast.

9. What are the sections of the sonata form?

The exposition, the development, and the recapitulation.

Opera and Vocal Music in the Classical Era

10. Which opera genre became the favorite during the Classical period?

The opera buffa.

11. Explain the classical opera seria.

It eliminated the excesses of the Baroque and brought plots and characters closer to the new bourgeois audience. The music is simple and uses plausible storylines.

12. Explain the classical opera buffa.

This was the favorite opera genre of Classicism, featuring normal, relatable characters.

13. Write an example of opera seria and its author, and another of opera buffa and its author.

• Opera Seria: Orpheus and Eurydice by Gluck.
• Opera Buffa: The Marriage of Figaro by Mozart.

14. What type of vocal music was identical to operas? Is it religious or secular?

Oratorios; they are religious.

15. Write the name of a Haydn Oratorio.

The Creation.

Dance and Reformation in Classicism

16. Which dance was the most popular during Classicism? Explain it.

The Minuet: A French step dance with a ternary rhythm and calm movements.

17. Who was the classical opera seria reformation initiated by? What was his most important composition, according to this fact?

It was initiated by Gluck; his most important composition in this regard was Orpheus and Eurydice.

18. What types of religious and secular music can we find in Classicism?

Opera seria and opera buffa.

19. Name two opera compositions written by Mozart.

The Marriage of Figaro and The Magic Flute.

Characteristics of the Romantic Period

20. Name four characteristics of the Romantic period.

• Freedom in form and design.
• Emphasis on lyrical melodies.
• Denser textures.
• Expansion of the orchestra.

21. Name five Romantic composers.

Bellini, Donizetti, Verdi, Puccini, and Schubert.

The Romantic Lied and Wagner

22. What is the Lied?

• Themes: Pastoral and romantic love.
• Arrangement: Written for a single singer and piano.
• Role of Piano: The accompaniment enhances the meaning of the text through harmonic, rhythmic, and melodic material.
• Poetic Structure: Often follows a ternary form (A B A) or strophic form (A A' A'').

23. Who was "The Valkyrie" composed by?

Richard Wagner.