The Classical Period

The classical period is generally said to be from 1750 to 1820. It is a

very musically rich period of time. The classical period includes the lives and works
of four great composers.
Christoph Gluck
~ noted for his operas
(1714 1787)
Franz Joseph Haydn
~ wrote 104 symphonies, and is credited with
(1732 1809)
having established the basis of sonata form.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart ~ equally great in symphony music,
(1756 1791)
chamber music and opera.
Ludwig Van Beethoven
~ who represents the culmination of the classical
(1770 1827)
style and the transition to the Romantic period.
During the Classical period the size of the orchestra grew and the combinations of
instruments into four separate families became the standard.
Strings
violins I and II, violas, cellos and double basses
Woodwinds 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons.
Brasses
2 french horns, 2 trumpets.
Percussion 2 timpani
This new orchestra made use of crescendos and decrescendos and a wider variety of
dynamics rather than the terraced dynamics of the Baroque period. (1600 1750)
Structure and form were very important. New forms became normal, such as First
Movement form, (which is known as sonata form), Minuet and Trio, and Theme and
Variations.
The Classical Period Four Movement Design
With the exception of the suite, most large instrumental works of the Baroque period
contained three movements. During the classical period, composers began using a
four-movement design with movements in different forms, and contrasting keys and
tempos.
First movement
fast and in sonata form
Second movement- slow and lyrical; usually rondo, ternary or theme and variations
form.
Third movement moderate tempo; minuet and trio form
Fourth movement - fast; rondo or sonata form.
SONATA FORM
Sonata form or first movement form has a very specific structure.
1 Exposition
in this section, 2 contrasting themes are presented.
2- Development
where the themes are played around with and
developed into new ideas.
3- Recapitulationa restatement of the themes. This time, normally, all
themes are in the same key.

Did you get all that?

1) Who are the four great composers of this period that are mentioned?
________________________________________________________
2) What is the classical period and when was it?
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
3) What does form mean?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
4) How old was Beethoven when Mozart died? _____________________
5) What were the major developments to the orchestra in the classical
period?
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
6) Describe the usual tempos for each movement in the classical fourmovement design.
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
7) Briefly describe the structure of 1st movement form (sonata form).
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
8) Name 3 other forms mentioned apart from sonata form.
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
9) Take one of your answers to Q8. Have a guess at the structure of that
form.
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
10) Look up the meanings of the following terms. Make sure your answers
are from a musical point of view. Include them in your Glossary page.
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.
vii.
viii.
ix.
x.

Lyrical
Symphony
Chamber music
Crescendo / decrescendo
Terraced dynamics
Minuet
Suite
Rondo form
Ternary
Theme

Listening -

SONATA FORM

refer to pp 24 27 in tune with music book 2

Need to find a recording and an outline to something simply in sonata form

Suggestions;
Haydn Sonata No 48 in C major First movement.
Need recording and
score
Analysis in In tune with music bk 2 p 24-27
Beethoven - Symphony No 5 in C minor

Need it all.

Mozart Symphony No 40 in G min

Analysis in Kamien questions in
Creative approach workbook
Haydn -Symphony no 39 score in meet the music 2 1995

need recording

Haydn- Trumpet Concerto in Eb score and analysis and

Activities in Meet the Music 5 1995

need recording of
1st mvt