Melody and the Classical Era: Motion, Forms, and Mozart

Melody and Melodic Concepts

Melody: a succession of sounds, normally with different pitches and durations, that expresses a musical idea. They are structured in phrases (phrases are separated by cadences).

Motif, Phrase, Cadence, Theme

• Motif = word
• Phrase = grammatical sentence
• Cadence = pauses
• Theme = main idea

Ambitus (Range)

Ambitus: the range of pitches a melody covers, from the lowest to the highest note.

Melodic Motion

Melodic motion: the line or direction that the notes follow in a melody.

Interval

An interval is the gap between two notes.

• Melodic (horizontal): when the notes sound successively.
• Ascending: from a low note to a high note.
• Descending: from a high note to a low note.
• Harmonic (vertical): when two notes sound simultaneously.

Edge of hole -             Reed -

Classical Era (1750–1820)

The Classical era of Classicism is the period of time from 1750 to 1820.

During the Classical period, it became increasingly possible for the public to participate in leisure activities. The musical patronage system of the Baroque began to die out and was replaced by the first public concerts.

New concert halls needed more sonority, so the orchestra grew: the number of string and wind instruments increased, and the Baroque basso continuo was eliminated.

Instrumental Forms

• Sonata: instrumental form for one or two solo instruments.
• Trio, quartet, quintet: forms for chamber ensembles formed by three, four, five or more instruments. A string quartet is a musical ensemble of four string players—two violins, a violist, and a cellist.
• Symphony: an instrumental form for a whole orchestra. It typically has four movements.
• Concerto: an instrumental form for orchestra and soloist. It typically has three movements.

Opera in Classicism

Opera underwent a change during Classicism: it eliminated the excesses of the Baroque and brought plots and characters closer to the new audience. Two styles of opera continued to be developed during this period: opera seria and opera buffa. Mythological and overly serious plots of the Baroque era were dropped, and opera buffa became much more popular.

Mozart Works

Mozart works: The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni, and The Magic Flute. Requiem (Mozart).