Selection – Tonight Ensemble from West Side Story

Composer – Leonard Bernstein

Stylistic Period – 20th century

Form –Excerpt from a musical

Timbre –I think the musical version is strings and brass

Melody –low pitch range, frequent wide leaps

Harmony – simple and pleasing

Dynamics – gradual changes, build up of urgency

Texture -homophonic

Rhythm/Tempo –changing tempo with affectionate tone

Two Key Characteristic’s of Stylistic Period

1. plays on romantic emotions

2. adapted from Romeo and Juliet

Selection – Rhapsody in Blue

Composer – George Gershwin

Stylistic Period – 20th century

Form –Piano and Orchestra

Timbre –Piano and Jazz Band

Melody –Reminds me of home (the Windy City) because United Airlines uses a portion of this piece in its old theme music.  Simple, low pitch range for the most part with exception of a few crescendo's

Harmony – Simple and pleasing

Dynamics – gradual changes, flows without interruption

Texture -polyphonic, many layers of sound

Rhythm/Tempo –slow, with some gradual moderate tempo change. 

Two Key Characteristic’s of Stylistic Period

1. heavy jazz influence (unusual grouping of instruments)

2.faster paced and more pleasurable

Selection – The Rite of Spring, Part I: Ritual of Abduction

Composer – Igor Stravinsky

Stylistic Period – Twentieth Century

Form –Symphonic Ballet Scene

Timbre –Piano

Melody –succinct pitch range, variation in themes

Harmony – simple and dissonant, multiple sounds

Dynamics – sudden changes, from pianissimo to forte

Texture -homophonic

Rhythm/Tempo –strong beat, fluctuates in pace/tempo

Two Key Characteristic’s of Stylistic Period

1. frequent and wide leaps in melody

2. multiple meter

Selection – Symphonie Fantasique, Movement 4, "March to the Scaffold"

Composer – Hector Berlioz

Stylistic Period – Romantic

Form –Orchestral Movement

Timbre –full orchestra

Melody –simple, cadence increased, climactic ending

Harmony – pleasing and consonant

Dynamics – gradual changes, crescendo

Texture -polyphonic

Rhythm/Tempo –moderato to allegro (moderate to moderately fast)

Two Key Characteristic’s of Stylistic Period

1. emotional

2. miniature

Selection – Nocturne in E Flat Major, OP. 9, No.2

Composer – Frederick Chopin

Stylistic Period – Romantic Period

Form –Short Piano Piece

Timbre –Piano Solo

Melody –Simple, minimal pitch range

Harmony – Simple and pleasing

Dynamics – pianissimo

Texture -monopphonic

Rhythm/Tempo –not complicated, smooth, slow

Two Key Characteristic’s of Stylistic Period

1.  Imagination

2.  Exploration

Selection – The Erlking

Composer –Franz Schubert

Stylistic Period – Romantic

Form – art song

Timbre –one voice (portrays multiple parts) and piano

Melody –simple, low pitch (piannissimo)

Harmony –not so pleasing, sort of intense

Dynamics –German accent (obviously), one voice, three parts, sudden but distinct changes

Texture -homophonic, voice and piano

Rhythm/Tempo – strong beat, fast pace, urgent presence

Two Key Characteristic’s of Stylistic Period

1.  stressed emotion for death of child

2.  expanded range of pitch and tempo

Tu se morta, from Orfeo-Claudio Monteverdi

Selection – Tu se morta

Composer – L'Orfeo-Claudio Monteverdi

Stylistic Period – Baroque

Form – Opera

Timbre – voices, strings, basso continuo

Melody – one voice, text about woman that dies from poisonous snake bite

Harmony – simple, mourning

Dynamics – no gradual changes, low key, very passionate

Texture - polyphonic, with closing from the choir

Rhythm/Tempo – simple and slow, minor increase in tempo

 

Two Key Characteristic’s of Stylistic Period

1. emotianal and theatrical qualities  

2. feeling of continuity