Classical Music Period Concepts

What are the approximate dates for the Classical Period in Western music history?

• 1600-1750

• 1750-1820

• 1820-1910

• 1400-1600

What does the adjective "classical" imply about the traditional practices of Western music during this period?

• They were experimental and new

• They were highly decorated and complex

• They were traditional and authoritative

• They were focused on emotional extremes

In everyday conversation, what is "classical music" often used as a catch-all term for?

• Music from the Classical Period (1750-1820)

• Music of the Western art tradition

• Music performed in large concert halls

• Music that is not pop, world, or jazz

Which aesthetic quality was a primary focus for composers during the Classical Period, in contrast to the Baroque Period?

• Highly decorated melodies

• Complicated textures

• Formal balance

• Emotional extremes

Which Baroque genre was adapted and evolved into the Classical Four Movement Symphony?

• Trio Sonatas

• Sonatas for Solo Instruments

• French Opera Overture

• Basso Continuo

What is the primary characteristic of the recapitulation section in Sonata Allegro form?

• Themes are manipulated and played with in various keys.

• The A section material returns, harmonically altered to land on the home key.

• It introduces entirely new thematic material.

• It always ends in a different key than the home key.

Which characteristic is typical of the second movement of sonatas, often found in Ternary Form?

• Fast and energetic, featuring complex counterpoint.

• Slow and song-like, often marked "cantabile."

• A lively dance movement with a strong rhythmic pulse.

• A dramatic and virtuosic display of technical skill.

What is the defining feature of Rondo Form?

• A continuous development of a single theme without repetition.

• Alternating between a main theme (ritournello) and contrasting episodes.

• Two distinct sections, each repeated, followed by a coda.

• A three-part structure where the first section is repeated after a contrasting middle section.

Who codified the system of tonality during the Classical Period, introducing terms like tonic, dominant, and subdominant?

• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

• Joseph Haydn

• Jean-Philippe Rameau

• Ludwig van Beethoven

What musical texture became predominant in Classical music, and what impact did this have on public concerts?

• Polyphonic texture, leading to more complex and exclusive performances.

• Homophonic texture, resulting in tuneful melodies that appealed to a wider public.

• Monophonic texture, simplifying music for smaller, private gatherings.

• Heterophonic texture, encouraging improvisation in intimate settings.