CHAPTER 43 Absolutely Classic: Brahms and the Nineteenth–
Century Symphony
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which of the following are types of absolute music?
a. the concerto, the symphony, the piano trio
b. the program symphony, incidental music, concert overture
c. the piano trio, incidental music
d. the symphonic poem, string quartet, the piano trio
2. The most important organizing element in absolute music is
a. form. c. programmatic images.
b. thematic transformation. d. improvisation.
3. By the Romantic era, concerts had moved from the
a. opera house to the church.
b. aristocratic palace to the church.
c. aristocratic palace to the public concert hall.
d. public concert hall to the aristocratic palace.
4. The first movement of a symphony is usually in ________ form.
a. theme and variations c. minuet or scherzo
b. sonata-allegro d. rondo
5. Which movement of a symphony is traditionally the slowest?
a. first c. third
b. second d. fourth
6. Which movement of a Romantic symphony is MOST likely to be strongly rhythmic and dancelike?
a. sonata-allegro c. scherzo
b. theme and variations d. none of the above
7. How many movements does a typical Romantic symphony contain?
a. one c. three
b. two d. four
8. The standard four-movement structure of a Romantic symphony is
a. slow-fast-slow-dance. c. fast-slow-dance-fast.
b. fast-fast-slow-fast. d. slow-dance-fast-fast.
9. Brahms spent his later years in
a. Vienna. c. Berlin.
b. Paris. d. London.
10. ________ recognized Brahms as a future leader in music.
a. Hector Berlioz c. Joseph Joachim
b. Robert Schumann d. Franz Liszt
11. Brahms composed his German Requiem after the death of
a. Robert Schumann. c. Joseph Joachim.
b. Clara Schumann. d. his mother.
12. Which young composer did Robert and Clara Schumann take into their home?
a. Wagner c. Brahms
b. Liszt d. Mendelssohn
13. Brahms maintained a lifelong, close relationship with
a. Fanny Mendelssohn. c. George Sand.
b. Clara Schumann. d. Amy Beach.
14. Brahms wrote ________ symphonies.
a. 4 c. 9
b. 5 d. 104
15. Which of the following was a major composer of Lieder?
a. Berlioz c. Brahms
b. Chopin d. all of the answers shown here.
16. Brahms is often described as a(n) ________ because of his use of the forms established by the Classical masters.
a. traditionalist c. nationalist
b. Impressionist d. Romanticist
17. Which of the following characterizes Brahms’s Symphony No. 3?
a. classical forms c. cyclic unity
b. shifting moods d. All answers shown here.
18. The structure of the third movement of Brahms’s Symphony No. 3 is
a. binary. c. rondo.
b. ternary. d. theme and variations.
19. Which of the following best describes the style of the third movement of Brahms’s Symphony No. 3?
a. a stately minuet c. a melancholic waltz
b. a fast scherzo d. a funeral dirge
20. The opening theme of the third movement of Brahms’s Symphony No. 3 is first played by the
a. cellos. c. oboes.
b. French horns. d. full orchestra.
21. Which type of musical work did nineteenth-century composers find suitable to their lyrical themes, harmonic experiments, and
individual expression?
a. the concerto c. the sonata
b. the symphony d. the string quartet
22. What attracted nineteenth-century composers to the symphonic genre?
a. It suited their lyrical themes.
b. They could experiment harmonically.
c. It provided a medium for individual expression.
d. All answers shown here.
23. What general changes occurred to music during the Romantic era?
a. an increase in public concerts
b. an increase in the size of the orchestra
c. Symphonic structure grew steadily and more expansive.
d. All answers shown here.
24. Where was Brahms born?
a. Germany c. Italy
b. France d. Austria
25. In addition to his large-scale symphonic works, Brahms also composed
a. Lieder. c. tone poems.
b. three operas. d. two program symphonies.
1. In absolute music, musical ideas are organized without the aid of external images provided by a program.
2. Classical forms were abandoned during the Romantic era.
3. The symphony was a new genre in the Romantic era.
4. The typical Romantic symphony has four movements.
5. The fourth movement of a Romantic symphony has dimension and character designed to balance the first movement.
6. Robert Schumann recognized Brahms as a great innovator who would move music beyond the Classical forms.
7. Brahms married Clara Schumann after the death of her husband, Robert.
8. Brahms wrote his symphonies in a Romantic harmonic idiom but in Classical form.
9. Brahms’s Symphony No. 3 is a program symphony.
10. The third movement of Brahms’s Symphony No. 3 in F major is a rollicking scherzo.
11. Brahms collected folk songs and folk sayings.
12. Brahms dedicated his Four Serious Songs to the memory of his mother.
13. Brahms was a gifted song writer.
14. Music moved from the palace to the concert hall during the Romantic era.
15. Nineteenth-century composers rejected the symphony because of its associations with the Classical style.
ESSAY
1. Discuss how Romantic composers expanded symphonic form, citing specific examples in your response.
2. Discuss the mixture of Classical and Romantic qualities in Brahms’s music. Include examples in your answer.
3. Discuss how Brahms revitalized Classical forms during the Romantic era.