classical
Syncopation, in music, is the displacement of rhythms so the musical emphasis is on the weak beat. In this excerpt from Count Ferdinand Waldstein’s Sinfonie in D, movement one, the first and second violin parts use a syncopated rhythm to emphasize the off-beat of the music while the bass line keeps a steady eighth note pulse. Eighteenth century galant composers commonly used syncopation in their music, giving their compositions musical interest.
Sound recording of a Duke student playing an old Steinway piano with wooden keys in a residence hall common room. It is not an uncommon sound to hear as students walk in and out, heading to classes or settling down for the evening. Sometimes students will gather around to hear others play. The chosen piece requires quick and accurate finger movements. Recorded on a Zoom H4n Recorder. | Grabación del sonido de una estudiante de Duke University tocando un piano Steinway que es de llaves de madera en una sala de residencia. No es un sonido raro como los estudiantes entran y salen, dirigiéndose a las clases o estableciéndose para la noche. A veces los estudiantes se reúnen alrededor para escuchar a otros tocar. La pieza elegida requiere movimientos rápidos y precisos de los dedos. Grabado en un grabador Zoom H4n.
Throughout the eighteenth century and well into the nineteenth it was standard performance practice for the trill to be begun on note above the written note and rapidly move between the two pitches.
This recording provides example of a common format used within eighteenth century oratorio. Duo soloists would commonly introduce text, and the choir would then enter and often restate this same text.
In Galant style music commonly there was only on melodic line present at a time, often accompanied by fast rhythmic harmony. In this example the Flute has the melody while being accompanied by the strings. After several seconds, the two switch roles.
Subito dynamic changes are a common musical effect, where the music suddenly becomes much softer, or louder. This excerpt was taken from the Sinfonia in Bb major by Domenico Cimarosa. Subito dynamic changes arose in popularity in the eighteenth century due to many factors, including increased orchestra coordination, practice, and public appeal.
Violins play tremolo over moving ensemble line. Tremolo is a bowing technique for effect achieved by rapidly switching the direction of the bow while sustaining a specific pitch.
The violins play the complete initial statement of the main theme for this movement of the sinfonia. The main theme is the melodic idea which forms the compositional foundation of the movement; portions of it will be repeated in isolation, transposed, and varied with some repetitions of the complete idea over the course of the movement.
This typical string section of a galant/classical orchestra consists of first and second violins, viola, cello and bass. The string section of the orchestra plays an interlude between episodes of a movement. The first violins and violas play moving line in unison punctuated by second violins, cellos, and basses playing in unison.
The oboe is a woodwind instrument. The sound of the oboe is created when the upper and lower blades of the double reed vibrate against each other. This excerpt of Jan Adamus performing movement II of Joseph Reicha's Concerto for Flute on the oboe demonstrates the sweet sound of the oboe in the middle register. The performer accentuates the simplistic and natural beauty of Reicha's phrase through consistent timbral quality, utilizing air support to drive the phrase forward to completion.