Transcript Baroque and Classical Chamber Music * AOS2

BAROQUE AND
CLASSICAL CHAMBER
MUSIC – AOS2
This lesson…
• All of you will be able to name some features of Baroque
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and Classical Chamber music.
All of you will be able to explain what chamber music is.
Most of you will be able to recognise how certain musical
elements are used in Baroque and Classical Chamber
music.
Most of you will be able to hear those musical elements in
a piece of Chamber music.
Most of you will be able to explain the roles of the
instruments within each chamber ensemble.
Some of you will be able to identify, describe and compare
the musical differences between Baroque and Classical
Chamber music.
Complete PLC
PLC
I can explain the meaning of the term ‘chamber music’
I can name and describe two types of ensemble common in baroque
chamber music
I can name and describe two types of ensemble common in classical
chamber music
I can describe the roles of the instruments within each ensemble
I can describe the origins and musical characteristics of baroque and
classical chamber music
I can identify and differentiate between the two types of chamber music
I can compare the structures of baroque and classical chamber music
I can describe the structure of classical chamber music
I can identify and differentiate between the two types of chamber music
I can compare the use of dynamics in baroque and classical chamber
music
I can justify the likely tonalities used in baroque and classical chamber
music
I can compare the use of ornamentation in baroque and classical music
I can explain and identify the likely textures used in baroque and classical
chamber music
I can explain three ways in which instruments might interact with one
another in order to achieve an intended effect
I can explain how each instrument or instrumental family might be played
(i.e. playing or vocal techniques, melodic or harmonic patterns, harmony
parts, rhythmic features)
I can name a composer of baroque music and a composer of classical
music
I can explain how the music is lead/conducted
I can describe where baroque and classical chamber music is performed
and explain how it is learned
Test 1
Score/
date
Test 2
Score/
date
What is Chamber Music?
• Music that was originally performed in a chamber or small room.
• Instrumental music written for a small group of players (2 – 8)
• Groups are labelled according to number of performers – trio for 3,
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quartet for 4 etc.
Originally performed in front of private audiences in royal
households/rich people. Now it’s performed in concert rooms/halls.
Intimate musical conversation.
Chance for performers to work together with precision.
No conductor – a close relationship between the players is vital.
Learned from sheet music
• Sit in a circle when rehearsing so visual signals are easy to see.
• Will perform in a semi-circle when performing to an audience.
Common ensembles…
• Baroque = The trio sonata was very popular during the Baroque period
(roughly 1600–1750).
• Many Baroque trio sonatas were written for two violins (or recorders, flute or
oboe) plus continuo.
• The continuo part was played by harpsichord (filling in the harmonies)
sometimes with the cello playing the bassline - so there were often four players,
not three. The harpsichord is a keyboard instrument where the strings are
plucked rather than hammered.
• String orchestras were also common during the Baroque period.
• Classical = During the Classical period (roughly 1750-1810) the harpsichord
largely gave way to the piano. Many composers wrote sonatas for a solo
instrument plus piano. Violin, cello, and flute sonatas were all popular.
• The string quartet is the most familiar and most popular type of composition for a
Classical chamber group. It has two violins, a viola and a cello – all the parts are
equally important. The two violins have the highest parts, the viola plays in the
middle and the cello has the lowest part.
Instruments and their roles
Baroque – many combinations
of instruments used
Classical – became more fixed
in terms of which instruments
were used
Melody:
Violin, Viola, Recorders and
traverse flute (wooden), Trumpet
Classical Sonatas:
Melody (solo): Violin, Cello or
Flute.
String family – Violin, Viola, Cello
Accompaniment:
and Double Bass
Harpsichord – bound the orchestra Accompaniment:
together by playing chords to fit in Woodwind – Flute, Clarinet, Oboe
with the harmony.
and Bassoon
Cello/Viols and Double Bass
String family – Violin, Viola, Cello
(known as the contrabass then)
and Double Bass
Percussion – timpanis
Brass – trumpets and French
horns
String Quartet – all equally
important.
Common Structures
Baroque
• Vocal music
Classical
• Clear with simple
• Ground Bass
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melodies.
Ternary form – ABA
Rondo form – ABACA
Symphony – an orchestral
piece in 4 movements
Concerto – solo instrument
plus orchestra in 3
movements.
Dynamics
Baroque
 Changes are sudden rather
than gradual.
 For example, loud phrases
are often immediately
echoed by quiet ones.
 Use of harpsichord limited
Baroque composers in how
they could use dynamics in
their music.
 The blocks of loud and quiet
sound they created are
known as terraced
dynamics.
Classical
• The invention of the piano
(with it’s touch sensitive
keys) and developments in
other instruments meant
that it became easier for
composers to include more
subtle dynamic changes.
• More crescendos and
diminuendos in Classical
music than in Baroque
music.
Ornaments (trills, mordents, grace notes,
turns)
Baroque
• A characteristic feature of
Baroque music, especially
in any repeated sections of
a piece.
• Even though you may not
see many ornaments
written out in the music
itself, they are usually
added in by performers to
decorate the melody.
Classical
• Used less in Classical music
• (Need to revise ornaments
and other melodic features
that could come up in the
exam? Click on the link….
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schoo
ls/gcsebitesize/music/elem
ents_of_music/melody1.sht
ml ornaments is on page 6,
but the other pages are
very useful!)
Texture
Baroque
• Contrapuntal - each line in the
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music is independent from the
others.
E.g. In a quartet, 4 separate line of
music, 4 different melodies made up
of different notes and rhythms.
Imitation - At other times each line
will have the same or similar
melody, but heard slightly apart
from each other.
All notes heard at the same time
have to create good harmony. This
technique of composing is called
counterpoint.
Homophonic texture – all parts
(melody and accompaniment) move
with a similar/the same rhythm
creating a chordal effect.
Classical
• Melody with accompaniment –
one part has a clear melody and
the others provide an
accompaniment. Accompanying
parts are made up of broken or
block chords, rather than
independent melodies.
• Question and answer phrasing –
a pair of phrases performed by
different instruments where the
2nd phrase is heard as a reply to
the 1st phrase.
PLC – extension (A-A* answers)
• “ I can explain how each instrument or instrumental family
might be played (i.e. playing or vocal techniques, melodic
or harmonic patterns, harmony parts, rhythmic features)”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/music/elements_of_
music/
• “I can explain three ways in which instruments might
interact with one another in order to achieve an intended
effect” (think about the different roles in texture and the
different forms/structures Baroque and Classical music
would have used to achieve an intended effect)
More information….
Further listening tests – Question 1 and 2 on AOS2 Shared
Music/Practice Papers – MyHighcliffe.
http://pond.highcliffe.dorset.sch.uk/index.phtml?d=213436