Question 1: Identify the primary instrument featured in the opening of this classical piece, which is characterized by a clear, balanced melody typical of the Classical period.

Answer: The instrument is likely a piano or a harpsichord, given the typical instrumentation of the era, or possibly a string instrument such as violin or cello, depending on the specific piece.

Question 2: Describe the typical structure of a Classical symphony movement and list its main sections.

Answer: A Classical symphony movement usually follows a sonata form, comprising three main sections: exposition, development, and recapitulation. The exposition introduces themes, the development explores and varies them, and the recapitulation restates the original themes.

Question 3: Listen to the following description: a piece featuring a melody that is balanced and symmetrical, with clear phrases often ending with cadences. What musical element is being described?

Answer: Phrasing or balanced melodic structure.

Question 4: Explain the role of dynamics in Classical music and how they differ from Baroque music.

Answer: In Classical music, dynamics are used more gradually and are marked explicitly with symbols like p (piano) and f (forte). They aim for clarity and contrast, whereas Baroque music often relied on terraced dynamics with abrupt changes rather than gradual crescendos or decrescendos.

Question 5: Sketch a simple outline of a typical Classical melody, indicating the use of balanced phrases and symmetrical structure. Label your sketch to show the phrase boundaries.

Answer: A correct sketch would show two or four balanced phrases of similar length, with the melody ascending and descending in a symmetrical pattern, and clear phrase endings marked at cadences.

Question 6: Identify the musical texture most commonly found in Classical symphonies and explain its characteristics.

Answer: Homophonic texture, characterized by a clear melody supported by accompaniment, creating a straightforward and balanced sound.

Question 7: Describe how the use of tonality in Classical music differs from that in Baroque music.

Answer: Classical music emphasizes a clear tonal center with functional harmony, often moving smoothly between keys. Baroque music, while also tonal, frequently features more complex harmonic progressions and modulations.

Question 8: Identify and describe the function of the 'development' section in sonata form.

Answer: The development section explores and manipulates the themes introduced in the exposition, often through key changes, fragmentation, and variation, creating tension before returning to the original key in the recapitulation.

Question 9: Discuss the significance of the Enlightenment ideals on the music of the Classical period.

Answer: The Enlightenment emphasized reason, clarity, and balance, which influenced Classical music's emphasis on form, symmetry, and expressiveness. Composers aimed for music that was elegant, balanced, and accessible, reflecting Enlightenment values.

Question 10: Explain what is meant by 'terraced dynamics' and how this technique is used in Classical music.

Answer: Terraced dynamics involve abrupt changes in volume, typically switching from loud to soft or vice versa, without gradual transitions, a common feature inherited from Baroque practices but still used for dramatic effect in Classical compositions.