sonata- allegro form

Sonata Allegro form was a development of the classical era.
It was named "Sonata Allgro" because the final Allegro movement of a Sonata was most often created in this form.
Sonata Allegro form can simplistically be described as an ABA form.
the first A section is called the Exposition, this section is repeated, actually making the overall form AABA.
the B section , or Development forllows the Exposition.
In the A section of Recapitulation, the A material returns relatively intact.

The sonata-allegro form is part of the Sonata Cycle, which is the blueprint of Symphonies, string quartets, and other works like sonatas in the classical period. It is also called the First movement form, as it is always used as the first movement in the sonata Cycle. The sonata-allegro form contains three components sections; Exposition, Development, and Recapitulation.

In the Exposition, theme 1 or theme group 1 is introduced in the tonic key, Haydn, a composer in the Classical period, was one of the unique composers who usually implemented a slow introduction before the actual introduction of theme group 1.
the Exposition is repeated.
In the Development section, themes from the Exposition is fragmented, inverted, and articulated to show the extreme possibilities of this section.
A Coda is Italian for tail.

"Sonata allegro" form would be more propely called sonata form, since a sonata form movement need not be allegro, it could be slower, such as Andante (walking pace).
One of the most famous examples is the first movement of Beethoven's fifth symphony in c minor. the form is in three main parts; exposition, development and recapitulation.
The exposition has a first subject and one or more second subjects.
the recapitulation is a more- or- less repeat of the exposition but with differences.

The Sonata Cycle

the 18th century composers left us with a large scale structure that became known as the ' Sonata Cycle". The typical sonata cycle has three or four movements The sonata cycle became popular in the early 1700s and remained very common through the late 1800s. Beethoven loved the Scherzo and Trio (fast) sonata cycles usually began and ended with fast movement tempos. that's a common and very workable approach to begin and end a composition with a bang. sometimes a sonata cycle would only have three movements, In this case, the third movement structure would usually be omitted, giving a fast-slow-fast pattern. Many of these sonata cycles, while retaining the same dramatic structure, show amazing amounts of variety from piece to piece. The average symphony has four movements. Early ones tended to have two or three. Haydn composed over 100 symphonies in his lifetime. He was Acknowledges as the 'father of the sumphony' In his extremely short lifespan, Mozart compose4d nearly 45 of symphonies, many of them still very popular. One of Beethoven's innovations was to add singers to what had been a purely instrumental form. Other innovators in the 1800s included French composer Hector Berlioz, who in 1830 composed the bizarre and remarkable "Symphonie Fantastique" the name concerto was derived from the word concertare, meaning ' to compete. The concerto is performed by an orchestra with a solo in strument " competing" for the listener's attention. If the solo instrument is a piano, the piece is called a "Piano concerto" If the solo instrument is a violin, it is called a "violin concerto" A concerto grosso is the name given to a concerto with a larger number of soloists, usually four or more. A concerto will usually have three movements, omitting the minuet/scherzo and trio movement. the typical fast-slow-fast structure was the most commonly used. the first movement used a structure similar to, but not quite a sonata form. Very often the third movement was a rondo. J.S.Bach was another Baroque musician who impacted on the concerto. Bach was the first to composed concerti for the kayboard, which for Bach was the harpsichord. When the mechanism of the piano was perfected by Cristofori, piano concerti were written. Another type of Baroque concerto, the concerto grosso was an important development. the concerto grosso differed from the standard concerto in that is had a large number of solo instruments, not just one or two. J'S.Bach composed six concerti grossi to audition for a job. The Margrave of Brandenburg didn't think too much of them and turned down Bach for the job. Modern musicians consider these "Brandenburg concerti", as t hey have been nicknamed, the best concerti grossi ever written. the concerto as a musical format was one of the popular staples of the Classical Era. the new instrument of the era, the piano, quickly became exploited in the concerto format. The cadenza is a section in the concerto where the composer has the orchestra stop playing. the soloist is given a chance to improvise on themes of the movement and display his musical ability. Today musicians very cautiously play a pre-written cadenza, but in those days a musician was expected to really make things up on the spot.

Ludwig Van Beethoven's Resume

Quote: " Never use the piano while composing" Beethoven told a student, which shouws the ability to listen to music internally was important to Beethoven. Dates: 1770-1827 Born In Bonn, Germany. Beethoven's father pushed his son and his musical abilities, hoping he would be a child prodigy like Mozart, but Ludwig's talents took longer to develop. He had an unhappy childhood, living with his alcoholic father who often woke his son late at night so that he could entertain friends. It is thought that he suffered ear infections as a child and had his ears "boxed" by his father which may have pjlayed a role in his deafness later in life. At the age of 10, Beethoven started taking lessons from Christian Neefe and he did well with his patient teacher. By age 12, Beethoven was allowed to direct an orchestra part of the time and he had begun to compose. Beethoven played the orgen in the court chapel by age 12, then harpsichord and viola in the orchestra at 18. He made a trip to Vienna during this time and played for Mozart, who was impressed by young Ludwig. Beethoven gained many aristocratic admirers and unlike Haydn, he demanded respect and freedom from his patrons. Beethoven also earned money through concerts and publishing. In 1802, after losing his hearing and struggling with this at a retreat in Heiligenstadt, Beethoven decided to continue writing music and make his art his salvation and source of happiness. Beethoven was a difficult man, very intense, but revered throughout Europe. Though Beethoven always professed his desire for true love, many of the women that he admired were contentedly married. He was often unaware of his physical surroundings and preoccupied with his own thoughts. When Beethoven died at age 57, ten thousand people are said to have attended the funeral in Wahring. he had become a public figure, as no composer had done before. Perhaps his unhappy childhood contributed to Beethoven's angry, passionate and darker music. Beethoven's musical development is generally divided into three distinct periods- early, middle, and late: The early period (until 1802) works mostly stayed within the bounds of classical conventions established by Haydn and Mozart. Works include the 'Moonlight" Piano sonata, op. 27. During the middle period (1802-1812), Beethoven began to experment with new forms, expanded conventional forms, and produced works on an enormous scale. Finally, the late period (1813-1827) was when Beethoven's hearing was failing and he was no longer concerned with the audience's preferences or conventions. The two volumes of Beethoven's piano sonatas are considered to be the New Testament for piano performers, the Old Testament being Bach's two volumes of the Well Tempered Clavier. A cadenza is a passage near the end of a movement where a performer improvised and showed off their technical skills. Beethove wrote one opera, Fidelio, as opera was still an important genre for composers to prove themselves and receive royal approval. Fidelio was Beethoven's only opera, but the effort went on for over ten years due to revisions. Beethoven replaced the graceful Minuet and Trio with the more playful and jubilant Scherzo and Trio. Beethoven wrote out the cadenzas, thus placing his stamp of originality in areas that were previously controlled by the performer. Beethoven and Symphony no. 5, op. 67 born in Bonn, Germany, to a musical family father Johann, was a singer and he was a harsh, severe parent who became an alcoholic. received early musical training from father. briefly studied with Haydn, dedicated his first three piano sonatas to him. Beethoven's patrons occasionally experienced his wrath if he took offense to their musical demands. On one occasion, Prince Lichnowsky requested that Beethoven entertain some french officers; he responded by angrily storming off into the driving rain! On another occasion, Beethoven wrote the following words to his patron; "Praince, what you are, you are by accident of birth; what I am, I am of myself. There are and will be thousands of princes, but there is only one Beethoven." Had many romantic infatuations, but remained single. began to lose hearing in his mid-twenties; attempts at treatment failed wrote a letter to his brother (known today as the Heiligenstadt Testament) in which he revealed his inner turmoil and conflict; contemplated suicide bu rose above the crisis. gained custody of nephew Karl after a lengthy legal battle with his sister-in -law. totally deaf in later years; visitors wrote in conversation books. spent final years living in isolation; became increasingly withdrawn and anti-social. Beethoven was apparently an undesirable tenant, he moved thirty- three times in thierty-five years, lived in a complete mess, grew increasingly unconcerned with his personal hygiene and appearance, and was incorrigible to his landlords and landladies. devastated by Karl's suicide attempt. died apparently from pneumonia. highly respected in Vienna; funeral attracted thousands of admirers superb musical architect; planned and meticulously revised works in sketchbooks. explosive accents, extreme dynamic contrasts incorporated new orchestral instruments; piccolo, trombone, and contrabassoon. Before Beethoven was buried, many admirers who viewed the body snipped locks of his hair as keepsakes. One of these locks has survived , and in 1994 several members of the American Beethoven Society purchased it at auction. Scientific tests were conducted on the hair; these tests revealed that Beethoven suffered from lead poisoning, whcih may have affected his personality and contributed to his numerous illnesses. Russell Martin documented the history of this particular lock of hair in his book, Beethoven's Hair.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Resume

Austrian, born in Salzburg (died in Vienna)

Best known for his operas.

Only one other child survived infancy- his older sister Maria Anna (Nannerl was her nickname).

The brother and sister played for royalty and nobility, admired by all; Mozart was perhaps the most gifted child in the history of music.

Mozart chafed against being treated like a servant after the admiration he received as a child, By age 26, he was married to Constanze Weber and lived in Vienna.

Together they had six children and loved each other during their years together. Constanze brought no dowry to the marriage and Mozart struggled to provide for his family. Though his income as a musician was average, Mozart was a spender and suffered financial difficulties.

the peak of his career came with the opera The Marriage of figaro when he was 30.

His opera The Clemency of Titus failed to impress in Prague.

Mozart still managed wo magnificent works in his final year: The Magic Flute and the unfinished Requiem.

The Order of Freemasons originated from the medieval guilds of the stonemasons. Its present organizational form began in London in 1717. Today, it is the largest worldwide society. It is religious in that a belief in God is the prime requirement for membership, but it is non-sectarian as no religious text is used. The purpose of freemasonry is to enable men to meet in harmony, to promote friendship, and to be charitable. Famous members have included Valtaire, Mozart and Sir John A. Macdonald. Mozart intended there to be representation of Freemasonry in his final opera, The Magic Flute.

Mozart travelled all over Eutope as a child.

Mozart also met Haydn- Mozart's six string quartets are dedicated to Haydn and are a testimony of his influence in Mozart's life. It is not known for certain if Mozart and Beethoven met.

Mozart died from a feverish illness, he was not poisoned, as has been speculated, and was bujried in a mass grave outside Vienna.

There is no folk element in his music, like Haydn, but rather a refined sense to all of his music.

Mozart wrote his music with virtually no corrections.

Mozart's instrumental music includes 41 cymphonies, including the Haffner, the Linz and the Jupiter.

Mozart's operas span three different genres; opera seria; opera buffa; and singspiel.

Opera buffa is the Italian version of comic opera.

The Requiem was commissioned by a music-loving count who though himself a composer- he intended to call the Requiem his own.

Mozart became obsessed that this Mass for the Dead was intended for himself and that he would not live to finish it. His premonition came true, and his student, Sussmayr, completed the work.

Unlike Hydn, Mozart struggled with the constraints of the patronage system throughout his career.

born in Salzburg, Austria

he often performed with his older sister Maria Anna (Nannerl), who was also a gifted musician.

Mozart was a first violonist at 13, and later on, his wife was a court singer.

mother died while on tour with him in Paris.

dissatisfied in Salzburg, requested dismissal from the Archbiship

he tended to live beyound his means.

despite successes, financial wores persisted throughout his career.

became good friends with haydn to whom he dedicated several string quartets

married Constanze Weber, an opera singer, against his father's wishes; only two of their six children survived.

he married the youngest sister, Constanze.

as both were flirtatious and careless with money. After Mozart's death, Constanze lived a long and comfortable life, re-marrying and benefiting from his growing fame. In fact, her second husband, Georg Nikolaus von Nissen, became Mozart's first biographer.

Opera was central to his career.

there's opera seria, opera buffa and singspiel

Don giovanni was an opera buffa

Eine kleine Nachtmusik, k 525 was a serenade for strings, intended to serve as light entertainment for an aristocratic audience.

Franz Joseph Haydn

Franz Joseph Haydn's Resume austrian, born in Rohrau Haydn had two brothers , both of whom became musicians. Haydn also had three sisters. Hayden had several patrons in Vienna before becoming employed by the Hungarian Esterhazy family when he was 29. In 1761, he became the Kapellmeister for the family, the most important musical position. Haydn remained with this royal family for almost 30 years. He conducted, trained musicians, composed, taught music to the family and generally co-ordinated the musical life of the palace. After Prince Esterhazy's death in 1791, Haydn spent the rest of his life composing in Vienn\a and made tow trips to London. Haydn's wife died in 1800 and his two brothers passes away within the next six years. during his years at the Esterhazy's country extate he met many viennese composers, including Mozart and Beethoven. Haydn retired to Vienna and died there during the French invasion of the city at the age of 77. Debussy died in Paris in 1918 during the German invasion of the French capital. Haydn's positive attitude and sense of humour made him a favourite among musicians. Mozart looked to 'Papa Haydn" as a mentor a nd the master of the string quartet form. Haydn's sense of humour was often evident during his years with the Prince Esterhazy. One story is that the Prince somtimes fell asleep while listening to Haydn's music. Haydn decided to create a symphony that would get the Prince's attention. The second movement of this particular symphony was designed to be so soothing that the Prince would surely fall asleep, which he did. Then, suddenly, a loud chord leapt out of the music and the Prince awoke with a jump! Haydn's most illustrious pupil, Beethoven, was the direct beneficiary of Haydn's musical imagination, though the two often had a stormy relationship due to differences in age and personality. Being Austrian, Haydn grew up with fold songs and dances of contrasting dynamics and colours as part of his heritage. Haydn combines these melodies with his own stylistic techniques. Haydn's music was not always light; he frequently brought a dramatic style to his compositions. The quartets are central in Haydn's compositions, He is regarded by many as the father of the modern string quartet. After hearing Handel's oratorios, Haydn wrote one of his own ; The Creation, perhaps his greatest and most ambitious work. Haydn was influenced by folk music which is evident in some of his rhythmic and melodic coices. He featured different instruments in different passages in his sympnonies, thus developing the idea of instrumental colour. Haydn used humour in his music by providing the unexpected. Untexpected modulation or pause, syncopation or instrument which suddenly speaks up, the result is usually humorous for the listener.

Musical overview of the Classical era.

the brief period between the Baroque and Classsical eras is known as the Rococco period , The word originates from the French word rocaille, or 'shell'. Rococco style compositions can be found in the works of French composers Francois Couperin and Jean-Philippe Rameau. One German composer has also become associated with the Rococco ideals: Carl Phillip Emmanuel Bach (J.S.Bach's son). the Classical period was from approximately 1750 to 1825. from 1740 to 1825, Austrian capital of Vienna became the musical centre of Europe and works of the period are often referred bo as being in the viennese style. The trio of musical geniuses who formed the heart of the so-called Viennese Classical School were Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven. The town of Mannheim became a great centre of music in Germany, particularly when Johann Stamitz was the conductor. An example of a rocket theme would be the opening of the third movement of Beethoven's Fifth Synphony, or the finale of Mozart's Eine kleine Nachtmusik. Many of our modern performance practices can be traced to the Mannheim orchestra. The orchestra is notable for a number of reasons; its relatively large size, it's virtuoso performers/ and the orchestra's precision, attention to detail and performance innovations. Fewer composers were employed exclusively by the church than during the Baroque era. Empfindsamkeit was an expressive, singing style that developed in Germany in the mid 18th century. It refers to music with elements of surprise, abrupt harmonic changes, modulations, suspenseful pauses, changes of texture, and sudden dynamic shifts. the term also applies to stormy, emotional, minor-keyed symphonies of the Classical period. In contrast, Style Galant refers to a clear, elegant uncomplicated style that arose in contrast to the more complex style of Baroque counterpoint. This style of music rejected the old system of the figured bass and replaced it with the more lively Alberti bass ( a broken chord arrangement) Diatonic harmony refers to music based on the seven tones of a major or minor scale. and to harmonies that are firmly rooted in the key. Symmetrical phrasing is very common in Classical music, with it's clear-cut structurebased on phrases of four or eight measures. Absolute music became extremely popular in the Classical era. the Classical era saw the development of several important genres: the symphony, string quartet, and solo sonata being the most popular. Haydn is known as the father of the symphony as he standardized the four-movement format. He often used monothematicism in his works ( a sonata0allegro movement that is based upon a single theme, rather than a contrast between two different thematic groups). Haydn enjoyed writing monothematic symphonic movements, whereas Mozart and Beethoven more often preferred the contrast made possible between two different themes. One definition of chamber music is music written for a small audience in a smaller room or chamber. Another definition is music written for a small number of players. The word symphony means a sounding together. The Baroque Italian sinfonia is probably the most direct ancestor to the symphony. It was used as an orchestral overture for operas, oratorios, and cantatas. The Italian overture was another Baroque form that pre-dated the Classical symphony. this type of overture evolved during the 17th and 18th centuries. It is also characterized by it's three movement form, once again consisting of fast, slow, and fast tempos. The fully developed Classical symphony had four movements. A typical symphony's movements consisted of ;sonata-allegro form; theme and variations; minuet and trio ( or often a Scherzo and Trio in Beethoven's case), and finally a rondo or sonata-allegro once again. The multi-movement structure found in sonatas, string quartets, symphonies, concertos, and other large-scale works of the Classical era is known as the sonata cycle. the three major sections of the sonata-allegro form are the exposition, development and recapitulation. Exposition (A) First theme and bridge Second theme Codetta. Development (B) this was the section where a composer could show off his creativity, explore foregn keys, (particularly in Beethoven's music) A dominant preparation (usually a repeated dominant chord in the bass) indeed "prepares" the listener for the return of the tonic key. Coda: Meaning 'tail' in Italian, the coda aptly finishes the movement. It is usually fashioned from material previously heard in the codetta to which new matter is sometimes added. The coda rounds off the movement with a final cadence. The primary difference between rounded binary form and ternary form is the type of cadences at the end of each section. A form often used for the second movement of the sonata cycle was the theme and variations. The third movement of the sonata cycle is usually a Minuet and Trio. The Minuet is stately 3/4 time The Minuet is often a clear-cut structure based on phrases of four and eight measures. The trio was originally arranged for only three instruments but even after this practice ended, the name stayed the same. In the 19th century, the Minuet was often replaced by the scherzo, with its faster pace and lively rhythm. It was particularly favoured by Beethoven. The fourth movement was often a rondo. It can be simple rondo style: A-B-A-B, or have three contrasting: A-B-A-C-A, or else there is the ambitious Classical rondo: A-B-A-C-A-B-A Another popular form was sonata-rondo, designed as a combination of sonata and rondo form (such as the finale of Beethoven's 8th symphony). Soonata, meaning 'to sound', describes an instrumental composition in several movements for piano solo or instrumental combinations with piano accompaniment. As the piano became more important, so did the solo keyboard sonata as a genre. Some sonatas had three movements, others four. Musicians often refer to J.S.Bach's 48 preludes and fugues in the well tempered clavier (two volumes) as the 'old testament' of the pianist's repertoire, in other words, indispensable works for any aspiring pianist. Like wise, Beethoven's 32 piano sonatas (usually presented in two voluments) are considered the New Testament. The average solo concerto lasts approximately 30 minutes. Traditionally, the three movements of a concerto are fast-slow-fast. Common elements found in the Classical concerto include the cadenza, which is usually an improvised and ornamented passage, performed by the soloist near the close of a composition or movement. Cadenzas are mostly found in arias or concertos. Originally, soloists improvised the cadenza passage. but composers, particularly Beethoven, began to write down specific notes. Most cadenzas end with a trill- it was the soloist's way of indicating to the orchestra that it was time for them to join in once again. Genres that developed during the Baroque era, such as opera and oratorios, were still popular with Classical composers.Oratorios used the same compoments as operas (arias, recitatives, choruses, etc.) but they used a religious text. Historians often refer to the late 18th century as the Age of Enlightenment. While Italy was the center of musical activity in the Baroque era, the city of Vienna took on this role in the Classical period. Not one of the three great giants of the 'Viennese School' (Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven) was born in Vienna, yet all were drawn to the city by it's vibrant culture and patronage of the arts. Haydn thrived while working for the same family throughout his career; Mozart had difficulty maintaining patronage appointments; and Beethoven , though he had loyal supporters, never worked for a single employer. Of the many musical developments that took place, the emergence of sonata form, with its focus on structural balance, stands out as the defining achievement of the Classical period. Classicism: refers to the cultures of Ancient Rome and Greece as well as the art, architecture, and music of the late 18th century. emphasis on symmetry, balance, and proportion Viennese School refers to the musical style forged by Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven and thier contemporaries. in late 18th century Vienna, Austria flourished as a musical center. Absolute music also known as 'pure music' Sonata cycle emerged in the classical era multi-movement structure demonstrated in the symphony, sonata, or concerto. menuet and trio menuet: a stylized dance of French origin develope4d in the BAroque period. in triple meter. trio: contrasting middle section ternary form (ABA) rondo form (sonata allegro form) consists of Exposition, Development, and Recapitulation sonata-rondo form typical layout; ABACABA ( ABA- functions as an Exposition; C- developmental section - second ABA- functions as a recapitulation Chamber music music for small ensemble (two to ten players) usually performed without a conductor Sturm und Drang German for 'storm and stress' Empfindsamer Still German for the sensitive style re[resemted om ,isoc pf C.P.E. Bach a melancholy, introspective, expressive style that foreshadows Romanticism. the most important musical structure to evolve in the Classical period was sonata form. Also known as first-movement form, or sonata-allegro form, sonata form developed from the rounded-binary principle. codetta generally concludes with repeat sign Sonatinas are miniature versions of sonatas, as the suffix 'ina' indicates.

George Frederic Handel's resume

Dates: 1685-1759

Nationality: German , born in Halle

Best known for his oratorios.

Handel's father, George, was a respectable barber-surgeon who was not interested in Handel pursuing music.

Handel later spent one year at the University of Halle stufying law.

At the age of 12, Handel became the assistant organist at the cathedral of Halle.

Handel spent three years in Italy and it was here that he absorbed many Italian traditions that would influence his operatic style. He also met the famous harpsichordist,Domenico Scarlatti. In 1710, Handel was appointed conductor for the Elector of Hanover.

The Academy was launched to promote Italian opera, a genre which Handel enjoyed composing and to which he contributed over 40 operas.

The Academy lasted eight years before going bankrup due to mismanagement, fighting and extravagance, plus the English public did not enjoy operas in the Italian style.

Like Bach, he went blind near the end of his life and dictated his music.Handel also continued to appear in public, conducting and playing the organ.

He collapsed just after his 74th birthday. Handel was given the honour of being buried in Wetminster Abbey in London, with a funeral attended by thousands.

Unlike opera, oratorios are performed in concert without costumes, scenery, or staging and are consequently less expensive to produce.

recitatives do not repeat text but move the story forward.Arias are emotional high points with orchestral accompaniment.

Handel's most important contribution to music history undoubtedly lies in his oratorios. He was considered one of the greatest organists of his time, along with J.S. Bach.

The Messiah, 1742

genre: Oratorio

Librettist: Charles Jennens

Origins of text Mainly Biblical

Messiah was so popular at its premiere that the ladies were asked to wear skirts without hoops and the gentlement to leave their sword behind to ensure the maximum number of people could attend each performance.

Messiah premiered in the city of Dublin, Ireland, having been written to raise funds for charity.

Handel continued to direct Messiah to raise money for some years to come.

He apparently wrote this masterpiece in only 24 days, using chorus, soloists, and simple orchestration.

the work is written in English prose, (non-rhyming) unusual for a Handel oratorio.

Unlike Bach, Handel was not born into a musical family, but his talents were quickly realized by his father.

Bach had no interest in opera but wrote instead many religious works such as Cantatas, Passions, and Masses.

Both men would be afflicted with cataracts in their old age and undergo surgery at the hand of the same oculist, John Taylor.

Oratorio is a large-scale work for soloists, chorus, and orchestra

serious subject, generally based on biblical texts

developed in the baroque era.

French overture is a baroque orchestral genre, generally in two parts

recitative is a speech-like style of singing used in operas, oratorios, cantatasusually used to advance the plot or storyline, moves through text quickly.

recitativo secco is italian for dry recitative

supported only by continuo

recitativo accompagnato is italian for accompanied recitative.

supported by instrumental ensemble or orchestra

da capo aria is the big deal.

the most common song type in Baroque opera and oratorio

melisma is a group of notes sung on a single syllable/vowel

libretto is the text of an opera, oratorio, or cantata

homorhythmic texture is all voices sing the same rhythm

results in a blocked chordal texture