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Weeks 01 & 02 : History of Music

Romantic Period (1820-1900)

Music of the Romantic Period contrasts with the Classical Period especially in mood and form.

The composers of the classical period thought; mostly of the form, technique and perfection of

their compositions. The composers of the Romantic period were more interested in what they said

in music, and how they put their own feelings and thoughts into music. The composer would

express intimate feelings of joy, sorrow, peacefulness or excitement and listeners would feel the

emotions that the composer was expressing.

Another expression of Romantic Period composers was their deep love for their native land.

Chopin (Polish) wrote many polonaises and mazurkas, Liszt (Hungarian) wrote many Hungarian

rhapsodies etc. Several types of music were developed in this period. One was the “Art Song” –

a serious composition for voice, usually with an accompaniment. Second type was “Programme

Music” – a musical composition that tells a story. Therefore, music of the Romantic Period was

written for feelings and emotion. Much larger orchestra sounds, contrasts in dynamics and tempo,

more brass and percussion sound, much rhythmic variety were significant features seen in

Romantic Period compositions.

01. Franz Schubert (Austrian 1797 - 1828)

Schubert was born in 1797, Vienna, Austria, the son of a school master. Even as a child, he had

astounding musical gifts. At 11, Schubert became a choir boy in the court chapel and won a

scholarship to the imperial seminary, where he played the first Violin and occasionally conducted

the orchestra. Shubert so loved music that he once sold his school books to buy a ticket for a

performance of Beethoven’s Opera – “Fidelio”. His love of poetry led him to the art song. Then

he composed his first great song, ‘Gretchen at the spinning wheel’. The next year he composed

143 songs, including “The Erl king’’. When he was 19, he composed 179works including 02

symphonies, an opera and a mass.

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When he was 21, Schubert gave up teaching at school to devote himself entirely to music. He

associated with a group of Viennese poets and artists who admired his compositions. Schubert

often lived with friends because he did not have money to rent a room of his own. Then he spent

his afternoon in cafes, drinking coffee, playing billiards, reading newspapers and talking with

friends. He accompanied the songs and played his delightful waltzes while friends danced. Most

of his works were composed for performances in the homes of Vienna. Unlike Beethoven,

Schubert did not mingle with the aristocracy. Schubert was 31, when he died of Syphilis in 1828.

The career of Schubert, the earliest master of the Romantic art song, was unlike that of any great

composer before him. He never held an official position as music director or organist, and he was

neither a conductor nor a virtuoso.

His well-known works: The Unfinished symphony, The Great C Major symphony, The Trout

Quintet, 7 masses and 600 songs.

02. Frederic Chopin (Polish 1810 – 1849) – “Poet of the Piano”

Frederic Chopin was born in a small town near Warsaw, Poland, in 1810. His father was French

(a teacher) and his mother was Polish. When he was six years old he began studying Piano and he

played a Concerto in public at the age of eight. Chopin developed a passionate love for Poland

even though he lived most of his adult life in Paris, France. When he left Poland, he took with him

a goblet filled with the soil of his beloved native land.

He attended the Warsaw Conservatory of music. In 1829, he began a concert tour to London by

way to Vienna, Munich and Paris. At this time, the Russians invaded Warsaw, making it difficult

for Chopin to return to Poland. Chopin remained in Paris the rest of his life Chopin preferred to

perform for small gatherings of friends and society people in private homes. He was exhausted

when he returned to Paris and died there in 1849. The soil from Poland that he had kept with him

was sprinkled over his grave.

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Chopin helped to make the Piano a successful solo instrument. Most of his delicate, poetic

compositions were written for solo piano. His beautiful melodies sang with his feeling of love,

sadness and longing. His lively, happy Mazurkas and Polonaises (folk dances) expressed his love

for his native land.

His well-known works – 54 Mazurkas, Military Polonaise, Minute Waltz (Waltz in D Flat) ,

Raindrop prelude, Revolution Etude

03. Robert Alexandra Schumann (German 1810 – 1856)

Robert Schumann was born in Germany in 1810, the same year Chopin was born. When he was

6 years old, Robert began piano lessons. After graduating from grammar school, he went to study

law at the university. Schumann was more interested in music than in law and eventually gave up

law completely. At 18, he went to Leipzig to study. At 22, he permanently injured his hand.

Thereafter Schumann devoted himself to composition and literary work. He started a magazine

– “New journal for music”. He became a well-known critic, editor and a great spokesperson for

the Romantic period.

In 1840, Schumann married Clara Wieck, an outstanding Pianist and daughter of his former Piano

teacher, and his wife was a great inspiration. During the early years of his marriage he began to

write songs. Many were touching. Songs expressing his great love for Clara and children. (They

had eight children)

In 1843, he was named teacher of piano, composition and score reading at the new Leipzig

Conservatory. In 1844 Schumann accompanied Clara on a successful concert tour to Russia where

she performed many of his compositions. In 1850 they moved to Dusseldorf where Schumann

became the town musical director.

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By 1854, his mental health had failed and he tried to drown himself in the Rhine River. He was

rescued and taken to a private asylum where he died two years later.

His well-knows works: Album for the young (The happy farmer, Soldiers march, Melody) Scenes

from childhood and The Spring.

04. Giuseppe Verdi (Italian 1813 - 1901)

Italian composer born in 1813. At the age of 10, he went to Busseto to study music. He served as

church organist for nine years. Verdi was an ardent nationalist who got elected to the first Italian

parliament. He composed the Grand march from ‘Aida’ an Opera. Commissioned to

commemorate the opening of the Suez Canal. He wrote many operas and the famous song ‘O my

country so beautiful and lost’- A national liberation hymn sung by all Italian Patriots.

His well-known works: Operas - Othello, Aida, Falstaff, La-traviata and Requiem

05. Franz Liszt (Hungarian 1811 – 1886)

Franz Liszt was born in Hungary in 1811. When he was six years old, Liszt’s father Adam Liszt

wanted his son to learn music and began teaching Franz. He progressed so quickly that he

performed a public concert when he was 9. There after Liszt’s family moved to Vienna, Austria,

so that he could have better teachers. Liszt gave recitals in Vienna too. A story says that Beethoven

went up and kissed the young Liszt forehead and praised him. In Paris, Liszt became friends with

Chopin.

Chopin was so impressed with Liszt’s playing and encouraged Liszt to become a serious

composer. Liszt would eventually composed over 1000 works for the Piano. (From 1839-1848)

Liszt gave concerts in the great Europeans cities and was recognized as the greatest Pianist of his

day. In 1866, the Pope conferred on Liszt the tittle of a lay priest. He is considered one of the

greatest composers of the Romantic Period.

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His well-knows works: Faust Symphony, Dante Symphony, Hungarian Rhapsodies (Piano),

Liebestraum (Piano) and Masses and Psalms.

06. Peter Tchaikovsky (Russian 1840 - 1893)

This Russian Composer outstanding for his orchestral, including Concertos and Ballet scores,

wrote in distinctive Russian style. He was one of the internationally famous and popular

composers, due to the reason that he always wrote tuneful melodies and he used orchestral sounds

in a variety of exciting ways. His first Ballet ‘the Swan Lake’ was acclaimed a great composition.

It was based on a Legend. He composed a few more Ballets.

His well-known works: Swan Lake, Dance of the sugar plum fairy, Sleeping Beauty and 1812

Overture (Programme music).

Answer the following questions.

1. Identify the composer.

(a) Father of Church Music

(b) Father of Symphonies

(c) Infant Prodigy

(d) Shakespeare of Music

(e) Poet of the Piano

(f) Link between classical and romantic periods

(g) Master of Concertos

(h) Song writer

(i) Giant of Oratorios

2. Name the composer.

(a) The Baroque period composer who had twenty children but only 9 survived and 4

became well known composers;

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(b) The Baroque period composer who stayed in Italy for three years writing Italian

Operas;

(c) The Baroque period composer who was buried at West Minister Abbey;

(d) The Baroque period composer who travelled around the world and settled in England

under the patronage of King George one and Queen Anne;

(e) The Classical period composer whose father took him on tours with his sister but died

at a very young age of 35;

(f) The Classical period composer who is considered as the lover of nature but was totally

deaf when he composed and composed many of his compositions;

(g) The Romantic period composer who helped to make the piano a successful instrument;

(h) The Romantic Period composer who permanently injured his hand and devoted himself

entirely to composition and literal work only;

(i) The composer who composed Opera Aida which commemorates the opening of the

Suez Canal;

(j) The composer who never held any official position as a director, organist, conductor or

virtuoso;

(k) The composer who was named as the greatest pianist of his day;

(l) The composer who started the magazine “The New Journal Of Music”;

(m) The composer who sold his school books to buy a ticket for a performance of

Beethoven’s Opera Fidelio;

(n) The composer who got elected to the Italian Parliament and also wrote the famous song

“Oh my country so beautiful and lost”;

(o) The composer who was a teacher of piano, composition and score readinh at the new

Leipzig Conservatory;

3. Name the composer, his nationality and year of birth of the following compositions.

(a) Serenade for strings

(b) Six Brandenburg Concertos

(c) Trout Quintet

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(d) Fire works Music

(e) The Creation

(f) Moonlight Sonata

(g) Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy

(h) Hungarian Rhapsodies

(i) The Unfinished Symphony

(j) Album for the Young

(k) Falstaff

(l) Raindrop prelude

(m) Erl King

(n) 1812 Overture

(o) Magic Flute

(p) Eine Kleine Nacht Musik

(q) Othello

(r) Waltz in D flat

(s) Choral Symphony

(t) Opera Almira

(u) Christmas Oratorio

(v) Scenes from Childhood

(w) Sleeping beauty

(x) Dante Symphony

(y) Military Symphony

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Week 03 : Form in Music & Rudiments of Music

Rondo Form

This is another old form where a section keeps re-appearing. This is considered as an extension

of Ternary form and is a form of instrumental music where the principal theme is repeated several

times with contrasting passages appearing in between. These contrasting passages are termed as

“Episodes” and are always in contrast to the principal theme. The main theme is usually lively,

pleasing, and simple to remember and the listener can easily recognize its return.

The plan of the Rondo form is as follows.

Section A1 - Principal theme or melody in the tonic key.

Section B1 - “Episode” – 1 – Usually in a key on the sharp side of the tonic key.

Section A2 - Principal theme or melody in the tonic key exact or varied.

Section B2 - “Episode” – 2 – Usually in a key on the flat side of the tonic key.

Section A3 - Principal theme or melody in the tonic key.

Coda

Examples : Fur elise by L.V.Beethoven

Humouresque by D’vorak

Country Gardens

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1. Answer the following questions.

(a) Name two forms that consists of Episodes.

(b) What is meant by an Episode?

(c) What is meant by a Coda?

(d) How many times the Principal melody does appears in Rondo Form?

(e) Which form is considered as an extension of Ternary Form?

(f) In which key does section A in Binary form ends?

(g) In which keys does section B in Binary form beings and ends respectively?

(h) In Ternary Form and in Rondo form does Section A begin and ends on the Tonic Key?

(i) Give two examples for Ternary Form.

(j) Give two examples for Rondo Form.

2. Write the following scales as required marking semitones with slurs.

(a) Write the ascending and descending major scale which 5 sharps. Use accidentals,

crotchets and G clef.

(b) Write the ascending and descending major scale which has 3 flats. Use key signature,

minims and F clef.

(c) Write the descending major scale which has 2 sharps. Use accidentals, semibreves and

G clef.

(d) Write the ascending major scale which has 4 flats. Use key signature, dotted minims

and F clef.

(e) Write the ascending and descending major scale which is the relative major key of A

minor. Use key signature, quavers and G clef.

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3. Identify the key from the given clues.

(a) Which minor key has 3 flats as its key signature?

(b) Which minor key has 2 sharps as its key signature?

(c) Which minor key has 4 sharps as its key signature?

(d) Which minor key has 5 flats as its key signature?

(e) Which minor key has 1 flat as its key signature?

(f) Which minor key has 5 sharps as its key signature?

(g) Which minor key has 2 flats as its key signature?

(h) Which minor key has 1 sharp as its key signature?

(i) Which minor key has 3 sharps as its key signature?

(j) What is the relative major of G sharp minor?

(k) What is the relative major of C sharp minor?

(l) What is the relative major of B flat minor?

(m) What is the relative major of E flat minor?

(n) What is the relative major of F minor?

(o) What is the relative major of B minor?

4. Define the following concepts.

(a) Interval

(b) Triad

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(c) Scales

(d) Time signature

(e) Enharmonic Equivalent

(f) Clefs

(g) Accidentals

(h) Stave

(i) Semitone

(j) Bar line

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Week 04 : Types & Styles of Music & Rudiments of Music

Overture

Literally an opening piece. An instrumental movement played at the beginning of an Opera

or Oratorio is known as an overture. Overture could be found in two forms. Italian and

French Overture. The Italian overture was popular among Italian composers like Alexandro

Scarlatti. French Overture was established during the baroque period by a composer called

Lully.

Examples - Hebrides overture also called the Fingal’s cave by F. Mendelssohn

Goldberg variations by J.S. Bach

Leonora overture by L.V.Beethoven

Concerto

A concerto is a composition written for a single instrument accompanied by the orchestra.

A concerto is a work consisting of 3 movements for a solo instrument with orchestral

accompaniment.

First Movement - Allegro

Second Movement - Slow

Third Movement - Finale – Quick

The main feature of a concerto is the “Cadenza” which is played by the soloist without the

orchestra, displaying his technique and skill. The cadenza is not always written out,

sometimes it’s left for the soloist to improvise on the main subjects. The cadenza ends

when the soloist plays a long trill on the dominant of the original key.

W.A. Mozart is known as the “Prince of Concertos” by composing 27 piano concertos.

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Examples - 20 Piano concertos by F.J.Haydn

Violin concerto by L.V.Beethoven

Trumpet concerto by W.A.Mozart

Ballet

A stage entertainment originated in Italy in the 15 century. It consists of a dance and mime, and

is usually accompanied by instruments and acted in costumes. A story may be implied or a mood

evoked.

Examples - Swan Lake, Sleeping beauty, The Nutcracker (a story about a little girl

named Clara who has a dream on Christmas Eve) by P.I.Tchaikovsky.

Petrushka, Rite of Spring, The fire bird by I. Stravinsky

The Suite

A suite is an instrumental composition in several movements usually in dance style. This

was one of the most important forms of instrumental music during the 17th & 18th

centenary. During the baroque period the typical suite consisted of 4 dances. Namely:

1. Allemande - A dance in 4/4 time with a good deal of semiquavers usually begins

with an upbeat (Anacrusis) ; last semiquaver or with the last three semiquavers.

2. Courante - It consists of two types. Namely as Italian and French courante usually

written in triple time.

3. Sarabande - A slow dance in triple time with the stress on the second beat of the

bar.

4. Gigue - A lively dance in 6/8 or 12/8 and written in Binary form.

Examaple - The Nutcracker Suite by Tchaikovsky.

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(a) Answer the following questions.

01. What is the main feature of a concerto?

02. What do you mean by it?

03. What is an Overture?

04. What is a suite?

05. Write two similarities and two differences among Opera and Oratorio.

06. What is Chamber music?

07. What are the 4 main dances found in a Classical Suite?

08. Name the composer who was famous for Ballets.

09. Who was nick named as Prince of Concertos or Master of Concertos?

10. How many concertos did he compose? What is his nationality and name a concerto

composed by him.

(b) Write the following Tonic triads as required using both the clefs.

1. D major with key signature

2. A major with accidentals

3. E flat major with key signature

4. B flat major without key signature

5. B major with key signature

6. E major with accidentals

7. A flat major with key signature

8. F major with accidentals

9. D flat major with key signature

10. G major with key signature

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(c) Write a chromatic semitone above, a chromatic semitone below and its enharmonic

equivalent for the given notes. (You may write the given note at any place on the stave)

1. Use Treble Clef

(a) C sharp

(b) G flat

(c) A

(d) E sharp

(e) G flat

(f) F

2. Use Bass clef

(a) B sharp

(b) D flat

(c) A sharp

(d) E

(e) C

(f) G sharp

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