The Sonata and Other Forms of the Classical Period

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The Sonata and Other Forms of the Classical
Period
Please Take Handout
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I. The Public Concert and the Triumph of
Instrumental Music
in 18th c., instrumental increasingly displaces
vocal music in importance/prestige
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I. The Public Concert and the Triumph of
Instrumental Music
in 18th c., instrumental increasingly displaces
vocal music in importance/prestige
A. Instrumental Pieces lack words to give sense
shape
B. Absolute Music vs. Program Music
C. Absolute Music,Pure Instrumental freed from
function
D. Instrumental music lacks function except to
be listened to
E. Instrumental Music as Autonomous
F. Autonomous Music requires new ways of being
intelligible (purely musical logic)
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II. Musical Forms Basic Principles
A. Periodicity (clear-cut, often symmetrical
phrases)

• AdditiveConstruction
• short, periodic units combine to form
  ever larger units. . .

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Antecedent Consequent
b
a
b
a
a'
c
a'
c
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II. Musical Forms Basic Principles
A. Periodicity (clear-cut, often symmetrical
phrases)

• AdditiveConstruction
• short, periodic units combine to form
  ever larger units. . .

C. The Recognition of Return
D. Resolution of Structural Imbalance or
Structural Dissonance
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III. Musical Forms
A. Ternary
A B A()
B. Where?
1. Opera arias da capo aria
2. Slow Movements (usually 2nd)
3. ABA unfolds over long periods
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B. Rounded Binary Form (Modified Ternary)
III. Musical Forms (cont.)
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A B A

A A B A B A
Where? 3rd mvmts. (Minuet and Trio)
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C. Rondo Form(e.g., Mozart Horn Concerto III)
A B A C A
Where?
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IV. Sonata form
(Sonata-Allegro form) or 1st-Movement Sonata
Form
A. Where?
1. First Movement of any Large Classical Pd. Work
2. Overtures
3. Elements in Slow Movements (2) finales
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B. The Structure of Sonata Form
Very Cool Double Return
A B A
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V. The Appeal of Sonata Form
A. Based on Periodic, Hierarchical Structures
B. Uses Recognition of Return (A B A)

• Uses Resolution of Structural Dissonance
• (material in wrong key in expo heard in
• right key in recapitulaion)

D. The Double Return (BC happen simultaneously)
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• Typical Sonata Form of the Classical Era
• Mozart, A Little Night Music
• Eine kleine Nachtmusik
• First Movement

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