Classical Music

• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was an Austrian composer who is widely recognized as one of the greatest composers in the history of Western music.
• Thee classical era, also called "Age of Reason", is the period from 1750-1820.
• The cultural life was dominated by the aristocracy.
• Harmony and texture is homophonic in general.
• The term "classical" denotes conformity with the principles and characteristics of ancient Greece and

  Roman literature and art.
• Sonata is a multi-movement work for solo instrument which came from the word “Sonare”.
• 1st Movement: Allegro - fast movement
• 2nd Movement: Slow tempo: (Andante, Largo, etc.), mostly lyrical and emotional.
• 3rd Movement: Minuet: It is in three-four time and in a moderate or fast tempo.
• Exposition - the first part of a composition in sonata form that introduces the theme.
• Development is the middle part of the sonata- allegro form wherein themes are being developed.
• Recapitulation - repeats the theme as they first emerge in the opening exposition.
• Concerto is a multi-movement work designed for an

  instrumental soloist and orchestra.
• Concerto 1st Movement: Fast - Sonata-allegro form with expositions of the orchestra and then by the soloist.
• Concerto 2nd Movement: Slow - Has more ornamentation than the First movement.
• Concerto 3rd Movement: Fast - Finale: usually in a form of rondo, resembling the last movement of the symphony and usually a short cadenza is used.
• The symphony is a multi-movement work for orchestra that is derived from the word "Sinfonia" which means “a harmonious sounding together".
• Symphonies are composed in four movements: fast, slow, minuet (or scherzo), and finale.
• Symphony

  • 1st Movement: Fast - Sonata-allegro form.

  • 2nd Movement: Slow - gentle, lyrical - typical ABA form or theme and variation.

  • 3rd Movement: Medium/Fast - uses a dance form (Minuet or scherzo).

  • 4th Movement: Fast - typically, Rondo or Sonata form.
• Opera is a drama set to music where singers and musicians perform in a theatrical setting.
• The Opera Seria (serious opera) usually implies heroic

  or tragic drama that employs mythological characters, whichwas inherited from the Baroque period.
• The Opera Buffa (comic opera) from Italy made use of

  everyday characters and situations, and typically employed spoken dialogues, lengthy arias and was spiced with sight gags, naughty humor and social satire.
• Singspiel - An opera based on a serious plot that usually revolves around mythological beings such as gods and goddesses.
• Aria - A separate song, usually for one voice.
• Recitative - Is the style of delivery in which a singer can adopt the rhythms and delivery of the ordinary speech
• Bel Canto - This Italian phrase means "beautiful singing".
• Grand Opera - A spectacular opera.
• Music Drama - A style of opera that is created by a single artist who writes both the text and the music and to advance the drama.
• Alberti Bass - A special type of broken chord accompaniment where the chord is played in this order: lowest note - highest note - middle note - highest note then repeats the pattern.