Concerto
A showpiece written for a single instrument accmompanied by an ensemble (usually an orchestra or band) and has three movements
-Most written for a soloist with a full accompaniment (composers take the accompaniment and arrange it so it can be played on the piano
-Most important feature: contrast between the soloist and the full orchestra
-Most important form of solo instrumental music for the concert hall
Cadenza
-A brief interlude in a concerto in which the soloist plays alone
-Often improvised (can tell whether it is or not by looking at the number of pauses the soloist makes, how many of the same melodies are used, and does the conductor follow the soloist or the other way around)
Virtuoso
Musician that's considered among the finest performersin the world on his or her instrument
Movements
-Complete piece of music in itself, but is usually part of a larger work
-3 in a concerto
-Contrast in tempo in a fast-slow-fast sequence
Thematic Development
Manipulation or variation of a theme used in the developmental section of a sonata form
-Different forms help to create this
Theme
A melody
-Help build a thematic development
Motif
A fragment of a melody or rhythm in which a larger melody or rhythmic structure is built
-Help build a thematic development
Sonata Form
-First movement of a concerto
-Fast work in sonata form
-Characterized by melodic development and contrast versus repetition
-Contains melodies
1) Exposition
2) Development
3) Recapitulation
Exposition
The opening section of a sonata form in which the primary melodies of the work are presented
Recapitulation
The third part of a sonata form in which the primary melodies of the exposition are restated
Development
Used to extend, breakup, recharacterize, and develop the ideas of the exposition and recapitulation
Second movement of a concerto
Could be a number of different forms but is usually a lyrical movementwith song-like melodies
Final movement
Usually written in sonata or rondo form
Rondo
-Form based upon contrast and return to the original material
-No return to the original material like the sonata does (different melodies introduced instead)
-A B A C A D A (original already returns)
-At least one of the movements contains a short unacompanied section of music
-Builds tension
The Baroque Concerto (1600-1750)
-Music alternating between a full orchestra and a small group of players
Concertino
Group of soloists featured in a concerto
Concerto Grosso
-Early form of a concerto in which a group of instruments serve as the featurd performers and are contrasted with a larger group
-Distringuished from solo concerts with just one soloist
-Alternate between the full gruop and the smaller ensemble (exploited terraced dynamics and timbral changes)
-Also emphasized the solo concerto
Terraced dynamics
Sudden changes in volume
Antonio Vivaldi
-Priest that became the leader of music instruction at a school for orphaned kids in Venice and wrote most of his performed music at the school
-Most pieces written for the violin because his father was as violinist
-Also wrote operas, chamber music, cantatas, and an oratorio
-Wrote the Four Seasons (program music with each movement accompanied by a poem that Vivaldi had actually written lines for)
Ritornello
Portion of the melody that recurs throughout the concerto
"Spring" from The Four Seasons, mvt 1
-Antonio Vivaldi
-Program music
-Sounds that evoke images of birds, thunderstorms, running water, and wind
-Alternation between the violin and orchestra
-Baroque era concerto
-Terraced dynamics
-Riotrnello theme
The Classical Concerto
-Most important solo form during the Classical era (1750-1820)
-Alternates between sections that state the main melodic theme and accompaniment music that supports the soloist
-Soloist usually plays a more complicated version of the initial exposition
-Finale=fastest and shortest movement
-Most classical concertos written for the fortepiano (capable of a more nuanced performance)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
-Father taught him to compose and play the violin and harpsichord
-Wrote a symphony at 8 and an oratorio and opera at 12 (child prodigy)
-Father took him and his sister on a tour of the European courts to show them off to the kings and queens of Europe
-Used his ability to compose to improvise a cadenza while performing a concerto to make each of his performances different
-->Similar to jazz performers today who improvise most of what they perform (called solo choruses in jazz instead of cadenzas like in concertos)
-Never able to gain a position so his adult life was much more frustrating than his childhood life
--.>Produced his works in public concerts and opera houses in Vienna
-Last decade of his life was his most succesful in Vienna
-Wrote very versatile music taht influenced many genres of music
