Orchestral Landmarks

Orchestral Landmarks Classical period (1750 – 1800) Late Classical (1800 – 1830) Romantic period (1830 – 1900) 20th Century (1900 – 2000)

Classical Orchestra Kettle Drums French Horns Trumpets Flutes Clarinets Oboes Bassoons Second Violins Double Basses Violas First Violins Cellos

Classical Orchestra Strings dominate the sound of classical music. Melody is in the violins. Woodwind fill out the harmony (or if the play the melody they double the string parts).

Classical Features Balanced 2 or 4 bar phrases. Use of sequence, repetition and imitation. Major or minor tonality – very diatonic. Very clear pulse with little variation of tempo.

Classical Structures Overture 1 Orchestra Name Movements Ensemble Notes Overture 1 Orchestra Introduction to ballet or opera Suite N/A Incidental music from ballet or opera Concerto 3 Soloist + Orchestra Piano & violin concertos were most popular. Symphony 4

The Classical Symphony First Movement Second Movement Third Movement Fourth Movement Brisk & purposeful Slower & song-like Fairly fast & dance-like Fast & cheerful First Movement – sonata form Second Movement – ternary or variation form. Third Movement – minuet or scherzo. Fourth Movement – rondo, variation, or sonata form.

The Classical Concerto First Movement Second Movement Third Movement Exposition Development Recapitulation Classical concerto is in sonata form. Cadenza – orchestra drops out and soloist improvises to impress the audience.

Classical Composers Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) Franz Schubert (1791-1828) Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

Classical or non-classical? Recapitulation Cadenza Minimalism Wagner Melody in the strings Balanced phrasing Exposition Schubert Dissonance Tone row Concerto Programme music

Classical or non-classical? Cadenza Balanced phrasing Minimalism Wagner Melody in the strings Schubert Tone row Exposition Dissonance Programme music Concerto Recapitulation