Rococo (1725-1775)

End of Baroque ---> 1750Beginning of Classical - 1750 --->Ornate - enchantment of the sensesAge of Enlightenment - desire to

systematize all knowledge

Composers of the Rococo

François Couperin - keyboard

Jean Philippe Rameau - Treatise on Harmony

C.P.E. Bach - 2nd son of J.S. Bach - Essay on the True Art of Playing Keyboard Music

Christoph Willibald Gluck - opera - dramatic truth and expressiveness

Baroque and Classical Styles

Chart on p. 191 (Machlis, Forney)

Continue your large chart on style– Add new items or categories

• e.g. dynamics

Development of musical ideas

“Thinking, whether in words or tones, demands continuity and sequence.” p. 193 (Machlis, Forney)

Musical Ideas - motive

Beethoven, Symphony #5 in C minor– Opening motive (dah-dah-dah-DAH)

– Repeated immediately (sequence)

– Rising sequences - thematic development

– Listening Example #17, pp. 238-241

Vocabulary

ThemeThematic Development (expansion)

Motive (fragment)

SequenceOstinatoRepetition

Sonata Cycle

Sonata (Italian suonare, to sound)

Absolute (or pure) music– No story line. Form is especially important

Instrumental Genre - 3-4 movements

– Concerto, symphony, string quartet, solo, duo

Sonata

1st movement - Sonata Allegro form - dramatic– Exposition. Development. Recapitulation. Coda (see

chart on p. 199, M & F)– Also known as sonata form

2nd movement - Variations or ABA - lyrical3rd movement - Minuet and Trio or Scherzo and Trio -

dance like– See chart on p. 201, M & F

4th movement - Sonata Allegro or Sonata Rondo, or Theme and Variations - lively