Galant

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.

A binary phrase of a late-eighteenth century Flute Concerto by Josef Reicha. The first four bars possess distinctly different melodic and harmonic characteristics and structural elements than the following four creating an AB form.

Sound recording of a soprano performing free rhythm recitative with basso continuo accompaniment. Secco Recitative is a declamatory style of recitative found commonly throughout the baroque and classical periods of western music.

Piano reduction of an orchestra score and horn.

This is a common feature of the Galant style.

The dense, virtuosic harpsichord part has several quickly repeated phrases that are reminiscent of the Scarlatti solo keyboard sonatas. This passage has a wide variety of rhythmic phrasing techniques over slow-moving, basic harmony. By altering the rhythmic phrasing, composers were able to add interest and a sense of articulation to music that featured the harpsichord, an instrument incapable of expressing different dynamics. In addition, a variety of rhythmic phrases added intrigue to the simple melodies of the classical period.