CHAPTER 29 Musical Conversations: Haydn and Classical
Chamber Music
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. In musical compositions, a theme is
a. the composition’s underlying meaning.
b. the composition’s overall mood.
c. a musical idea that is used as a building block.
d. a literary story that is associated with the work.
2. A composer can fragment a theme by dividing it into smaller units called
a. motives. c. sequences.
b. codas. d. modulations.
3. Which of the following is a type of thematic development?
a. breaking up a theme into motives
b. expanding a motive into a long melody
c. treating a motive in sequence
d. All answers shown here.
4. The repetition of a motive at a higher or lower pitch level is called a
a. scale. c. coda.
b. theme. d. sequence.
5. Which of the following descriptions is MOST characteristic of a jazz performance?
a. improvisations on preestablished harmonic patterns
b. emphasis on strict contrapuntal devices
c. meandering improvisations without formal concerns
d. avoidance of extension, contraction, and repetition
6. Which of the following best describes absolute music?
a. music without a story or text c. all instrumental music
b. music without form d. the finest music from the past
7. In absolute music, the lack of a prescribed story or text to hold the music together makes the element of ________ especially
important.
a. melody c. harmony
b. texture d. form
8. Which of the following genres follow(s) the general structure of a multimovement cycle?
a. sonata c. concerto
b. symphony d. All answers shown here.
9. Which movement is the MOST highly organized and MOST characteristic of the multimovement cycle?
a. first c. third
b. second d. fourth
10. Which of the following is a common characteristic of the second movement of a multimovement cycle?
a. a slow introduction c. dance rhythms
b. lyrical, songful melodies d. all of the above
11. In the Classical multimovement cycle, the third movement is usually in ________ form.
a. theme and variations c. rondo
b. sonata d. minuet and trio
12. A rondo is most typically found in the ________ movement of a Classical multimovement cycle.
a. first c. third
b. second d. last
13. Which of the following compositional techniques does rondo form utilize?
a. the use of a refrain c. rhythmic variation
b. harmonic variation d. All of the answers shown here.
14. A string quartet consists of
a. violin, viola, cello, and bass. c. violin, two violas, and cello.
b. three violins and cello. d. two violins, viola, and cello.
15. Which of the following were major composers of string quartets?
a. Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven c. Beethoven and Billings
b. Bach, Haydn, Beethoven d. Mozart, Bach, Beethoven
16. Haydn’s String Quartet, Op. 33, No. 2 was nicknamed the Joke because
a. the main theme during the coda is cut short by a series of pauses leading to a whispered close.
b. critics thought the piece was funny.
c. the audience broke out laughing after the work premiered.
d. the work is often featured in cartoons.
17. The form of the fourth movement of Haydn’s String Quartet, Op. 33, No. 2 is
a. sonata-allegro. c. theme and variations.
b. minuet and trio. d. rondo.
18. Haydn served as a choirboy in
a. Venice. c. Salzburg.
b. Bonn. d. Vienna.
19. Who was Haydn’s principal patron?
a. Emperor Frederick the Great c. Prince Esterházy
b. Emperor Joseph II d. Count Razumovsky
20. Haydn enjoyed phenomenal musical success with two trips to
a. Paris. c. Rome.
b. London. d. New York.
21. Haydn was born in
a. Austria. c. Italy.
b. England. d. France.
22. Which diagram represents a rondo in its simplest form?
a. A-B-A-C-A c. A-B-B-A
b. A-B-A-C-A-B d. A-B-C-A
23. A musical idea that is used as a building block is called
a. a theme. c. harmony.
b. a melody. d. counterpoint.
24. Which form is represented by the diagram A-B-A-C-A?
a. rondo c. opera
b. sonata-allegro d. theme and variations
25. Music without a story or text is called
a. absolute music. c. text-painting.
b. program music. d. opera.
TRUE/FALSE
1. The concept of music as a conversation is best seen in the Classical concerto.
2. In the Classical style, musical “conversations” depended on predictable musical forms.
3. The expansion and reworking of a theme within a composition is called thematic development.
4. Thematic development provides clarity, coherence, and logic to larger musical forms.
5. Thematic development is necessary in smaller musical forms.
6. The term multimovement cycle is applied not only to sonatas and chamber music but also to concertos and symphonies.
7. The slow movement of a multimovement cycle is most frequently the third movement.
8. In the Classical multimovement cycle, the third movement is typically a minuet and trio.
9. The distinguishing formal characteristic of a rondo is the recurrence of a refrain.
10. Rondo form is much like the ritornello procedure in Baroque concertos.
11. A string quartet includes a violin, viola, cello, and bass.
12. Joseph Haydn was one of the most prolific composers of the Classical period.
13. The patronage system failed to support Haydn, and he was forced to live by teaching and performing.
14. A theme divided into small units is called a motive.
15. Absolute music is accompanied by a story or text.
16. The fourth movement of Haydn’s String Quartet, Op. 33, No. 2 is called the Joke because it thwarts the expectations of listeners.
17. Haydn worked under the patronage of Prince Esterházy.
18. Near the end of his career, Haydn made two successful trips to Paris.
19. Haydn played a central role in the development of the string quartet.
ESSAY
1. Discuss the concept of musical development in at least two different styles/genres of music.
2. Describe the overall outline of a multimovement cycle. Be sure to mention the tempo and chronological character of each movement.
Which genres generally involve multimovement cycles?
3. Why is the string quartet considered a “conversation without words?”
4. Discuss the ways a composer expands a musical idea.
5. Why is understanding musical form important for audiences to understand Haydn’s so-called joke in the fourth movement of Op. 33,
No. 2?