Chapter 16: Classical Genres: Instrumental Music

1. Chapter 16:Classical Genres: Instrumental Music

2. The Symphony and the Symphony Orchestra • Symphony: A multimovement composition for orchestra lasting about 25 minutes in the Classical Era (nearly an hour in the Romantic Era) • Origins in the sinfonia – Baroque opera overture in three sections (fast – slow – fast) • Sections expanded into movements • By mid 1700’s, a fourth movement was added (Minuet) • Fast – Slow – Minuet – Fast • Increased in popularity as public concerts became more common • Created the terms symphony hall and symphony orchestra

3. The Classical Symphony Orchestra • Increased in size as the symphony orchestra moved from private court to public auditorium • More wind instruments were added to increase variety and color • Each section had a specific assignment in the Classical Era • Strings: Presented the bulk of the musical material • Woodwinds: Added richness and colorful counterpoint • French horns: Sustained a sonorous background • Trumpets and Percussion: Provided brilliance when needed

4. Mozart: Symphony No. 40 in G Minor (1788), K. 550First Movement (Molto Allegro) • Exposition: • Development: • Recapitulation: • Transition theme is extended • Brief coda

5. Mozart: Symphony No. 40 • Second Movement: Andante • Slow, lyrical • Contrast between woodwind and the string timbre • Third Movement: Minuetto: Allegretto • Intense, somber mood • Fourth Movement: Allegro Assai • Sonata-allegro form • Begins with ascending rocket theme • Lack of transition into the recapitulation adds a feeling of urgency and acceleration

6. The String Quartet • String Quartet: genre of chamber music • Created by Joseph Haydn • Goethe compared it to a conversation among four intelligent people • Two violin, viola, and cello • One player per part • Follows four movement form: fast – slow – minuet – fast • Performed by professionals and amateurs • Haydn and Mozart played together in a string quartet

7. Haydn: Opus 76, No. 3, The “Emperor” Quartet (1797) Second movement, Poco adagio cantabile • Known as the “Emperor” because of its famous theme • Melody composed in response to military and political events • Honored Emperor Franz II • Tune served as national anthems for Austria and Germany • Used as a Protestant hymn • The Emperor’s Hymn was Haydn’s favorite composition • Theme and Variations form

8. The Sonata • Genre of chamber music for solo piano or solo instrument accompanied by piano • More sonatas published in the 18th-century than any other genre • Three movement: fast – slow – fast • Performed by professionals and amateurs • Often used for piano students

9. The Concerto • Large scale, multimovement work for instrumental soloist and orchestra intended for public audience • Virtuoso performers lured audiences to the concert hall • Three movements (no minuet) • Mozart: Composed 23 piano concertos • Considered the father of the modern piano concerto • Often for his own performance

10. Mozart: Piano Concerto in A major (1786), First movement Allegro • Piano and orchestra engage in a spirited give-and-take of the thematic material • Written for his student Barbara Ployer • Sonata-allegro form • Double exposition: The orchestra first introduces the first, second, and closing themes; Soloist then enters and plays the thematic material • Mozart introduces a new lyrical melody in the strings when we expect the second exposition to end • Cadenza

11. Mozart: Piano Concerto in A major • Second Movement (Andante): • Exquisitely crafted lines and coloristic harmonies • Daring harmonic changes • At once sublimely beautiful and distantly remote • Third Movement (Presto) • Boisterous rondo • Banter back and forth between soloist and orchestra