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Music Terminology Reference
Types of musical compositions
(Source: Classical Music, Phil J. Goulding)
| Type of composition | Definition |
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Concerto Grosso | Literallly means "large concert". This was perhaps the most popular instrumental form of the Baroque era. The typical concerto grosso involved four instruments: two violins, a viola and a cello. There might be another instrument that would be given a solo role, such as a trumpet or harpsichord.
Examples of a concerto grosso: The Brandenburg Concertos by Bach.
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Concerto | The traditional concerto consists of a string ensemble, larger than that of a concerto grosso, and that features a solo instrument. The Classical period began to include other instrumental sections in addition to strings. By the time the Romantic period was in full bloom, entire orchestras were used in conjunction with the solo instrument.
Examples of a concerto: Beethoven: Piano Concerto #5 (Emperor); Mozart: Piano Concerto #21 (Elvira Madigan); Haydn: Trumpet Concerto in E Flat; Brahms: Violin Concerto.
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Sonata | This term usually denotes work for solo instrument (e.g., piano) although you will find pieces for violin and piano that are also called sonata. The sonata form enjoyed tremendous popularity during the Classical period. Sonatas are typically three movements in length, with a fast first and third movements. The second movement is generally slow and in a different key from the other two movements.
Examples of a sonata: Beethoven: Piano Sonata #14 (Moonlight); Mozart: Piano Sonata in C, K. 545.
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Symphony | Although its definition has evolved over the last hundred years, the Classical symphony is a large-scale orchestral work which usually consisted of four distinct and separate movements. The first and last movements would have a relatively fast tempo; the second would be slow and the third would in the form of a minuet or scherzo (both dances). Orchestral demands increased from the Baroque period: indeed, Mozart was the first to prepare a separate score for the woodwinds. By Mahler's time, a symphony might utilize a chorus and a full array of percussion instruments as well as the usual strings, brass and woodwinds.
Examples of Classical period symphonies: Any of Haydn's London Symphonies (Nos. 94-104), Mendelssohn's Third, Fourth and Fifth Symphonies, Mozart's mature symphonies (Nos. 25-41) or Beethoven's First or Second.
Examples of Romantic period symphonies: Beethoven's 6th and 9th, the Symphonie Fantastique by Berlioz or Tchaikovsky's 6th.
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Tone Poem | Also known as a symphonic poem, this is a work for orchestra which attempts to tell some type of story in one movement but with contrasting sections. These types of pieces are almost always based upon some literary work such as Victor Hugo, Goethe, Dante and Shakespeare. Tone poems, as such, did not exist until the Romantic period.
Examples of a tone poem: Smetana's "Ma Vlast", Liszt's "Les Preludes", Tchaikovsky's "Romeo and Juliet"
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