Questions tagged [classical-music]
Questions about the music produced or rooted in the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music during a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times.
280
questions
2
votes
1answer
52 views
Are there any beginner violin method books with an emphasis on classical music? [closed]
I started violin a week ago and I'm using Essential Elements 1 for violin.
Skimming through the book, I see a lot of short random songs.
Ultimately, I would like to play standard violin repertoire ...
3
votes
4answers
681 views
Tempo conservation with Time Signature Change, How to notate this for Classical Musicians?
So, I am writing a Scherzo in the key of Eb major for a string quartet. And I was just thinking about what to do for the B section of my Scherzo, both in key and time signature. I was thinking that ...
3
votes
3answers
778 views
What words should be used to describe “mathematically precise” music?
Imagine you are working with a fugue of Bach or any other composers, which is well-written, clever, and perfect. Such music:
Uses the minimal amount of thematic material.
Includes very clever ...
0
votes
5answers
113 views
When to use different type of chords in composition?
I want to know when to use (i.e., situation and feel) different type of chords listed below. Could you please help me to know that?
Major - Bright - Happy Feeling,
Minor - Dull - Sad feeling,
...
0
votes
0answers
6 views
Can someone tell me the name of this piece? [migrated]
I learned this tune a long while back and do not remember it's name or the entire piece. I've recorded what I remembered and was hoping if someone knows it and can tell me it's name.
You can listen to ...
11
votes
8answers
8k views
Why didn't classical music use drums?
I was wondering why doesn't most classical music use drums? For example when I type in "classical music" on youtube, most of the music I hear doesn't have drums. Take Bach, Mozart, Beethoven as an ...
2
votes
3answers
82 views
Diminished seventh cadence, is this an IAC or a PAC?
I have seen a few cadences where the only dominant function chord used cadentially is a diminished seventh, mainly resolving to root position tonic, though I have seen a few resolve to an inverted ...
1
vote
2answers
60 views
Are Mazurkas a folk or classical form of music? I am asking from an ethnomusicological perspective
I am taking a course in ethnomusicology and I am asking this question from an anthropological perspective. I have to make a presentation on a folk music form from Europe and since I have learned a few ...
-2
votes
1answer
45 views
Music theory-Ornaments-TURN [closed]
Which of the given options would be correct for the turn ornament shown in the piece of music.
3
votes
1answer
68 views
How to express in sheet music that pedals and dynamics are “on” the performer
I transcribe music into sheet music. In a piece of music I am working on it is imperative that the performer him/herselves decides how he/she uses piano pedals and dynamics (the music must be '...
1
vote
4answers
71 views
Problems composing transitions and bridge passages
Background: I have been composing orchestral sketches (non-professionally) for some time now. I see the progress and notice, that everything becomes much simpler after practicing multiple hours a day (...
2
votes
4answers
121 views
Did classical composers typically modulate using the circle of fifths?
I read somewhere that classical composers modulate using a fifth. I think they did this because it's the smoothest key change as scales only differ between one note when they do that. So was that the ...
5
votes
1answer
119 views
When does one omit the fifth in V7 chord in classical harmony?
The textbooks on classical harmony that I have read (Leo Semlek, "Klassikalise harmoonia lühiõpik" ["A Short Textbook on Classical Harmony"] and "Klassikalise harmoonia õpik" ["A Textbook on Classical ...
4
votes
3answers
106 views
Music for the British Royal Family
Other than Benjamin Britten's God Save the Queen (and excluding modern pop and rock music) are there any other pieces of classical music (CPP, or 20th/21st Century) which are strongly linked (either ...
-1
votes
3answers
169 views
Any classical music written for dancing?
I thought about it the other day - Virtually all popular music in the 20th century was written for the dance floor.
Is there any classical music written specifically for dances? I think I don't know ...
3
votes
4answers
126 views
Should I keep the piano part “self content” when writing a trio?
I am recently writing a piano trio. At first, I treated every part (piano L, piano R, flute, cello) as independent parts of a little "orchestra" and only consider the harmony as a whole. As a result, ...
29
votes
4answers
8k views
How did composers “test” their music?
How did composers "test" their music, especially in multi-instrument works
(eg. chamber, orchestra) or in pieces for instruments they didn't know how to play?
Did they really have an orchestra (for ...
1
vote
2answers
40 views
Please can I have examples of classical music vocal pieces for a trio [closed]
I am recently singing in a group consisting of me (a tenor), an alto and a soprano. We are looking for classical pieces to sing. I have searched the internet and cannot seem to find anything! Does ...
4
votes
0answers
60 views
Sources for analysis of Bach fugues?
I've been working on Bach's Sonata #1 for Solo Violin (BWV 1001) and I have concluded that I would benefit from some sort of analysis of the Fugue. In particular, something that shows every point and ...
5
votes
2answers
57 views
Hindemith's Traditional harmony Book 1, Chapter II, rule 1
I recently started working my way through Hindemith's Traditional harmony Book 1 on my own. The instructions are short and simple, but sometimes too much so for a self-learner.
I have reached ...
3
votes
1answer
81 views
Concertos vs Symphonies
I'm writing a paper to compare Vivaldi's Concerto for Two Mandolins with Haydn's "Surprise" in G Major. And I came across something interesting while researching concertos and symphonies.
My question ...
3
votes
1answer
61 views
Technique for Gretchen am Spinnrade - Schubert/Liszt
I'm having a fair crack at learning "Gretchen am Spinnrade" which is the Lizst arrangement of the famous Schubert Lieder work.
I would ask advice of any accomplished pianist that knows either the ...
8
votes
3answers
185 views
Unintentional plagiarism while composing
I have recently started composing using some knowledge that I got after a few months of studying counterpoint and harmony (well it is more like trying to compose). And I have mentioned that quite ...
5
votes
2answers
644 views
How do we know what classical (older) music actually sounded like
This is some kind of a complementary question to Are there any composer instructions on how to play a melody?
How can we (in modern times) know how a piece of classical music was actually intended to ...
2
votes
2answers
85 views
English translation of Brahms' essay: “Octaven und Quinten”?
I am now doing some research on Brahm's essay, Octaven u. Quinten. I cannot read German, so I cannot do anything with the original manuscript. I have read some secondary sources about this essay, but ...
7
votes
2answers
727 views
Why does the leading tone (G#) go to E rather than A in this example?
Why does the leading tone (G#) go to E rather than A in this example?
0
votes
2answers
98 views
Classical Guitar Exercises for Proper Tab Fingering? [closed]
Related: Figuring the Classical Fingering from Sheet Music
Are there any classical guitar exercises, (for classical music), that also include the Tab as well as proper frettting-hand fingering ...
5
votes
4answers
1k views
What are the typical trumpet parts in classical music?
So I'm a pianist looking at one of my favorite concertos ever, the Rachmaninoff 2. I had been listening to some symphonic works prior to it, so for some reason I noticed that in the concerto, there ...
5
votes
2answers
169 views
Penultimate chord in Messiaen's Regard du Pere seems to break the pattern
I have a question about a particular chord in “Regard du Pere,” the first piece in the Vingt Regards Sur L'Enfant Jesus by Messiaen. I am using the 1947 Editions Durand and don’t know of any other ...
1
vote
2answers
61 views
Where should I change bow direction for these notes?
Here is a small extract from Mendelssohn's Piano Trio No. 1, Op. 49, II Andante con moto tranquillo:
Until I can redo the screenshot, these notes should be marked as staccato too
I am a bit confused ...
2
votes
2answers
73 views
How many meanings does the word “classical” have in music?
I know that the word "classical" can mean the period of Mozart, Haydn, and Beethoven. However, "classical" can also mean the whole common practice period (CPP). We can even take a step further -- it ...
2
votes
3answers
239 views
How important was music theory for classical composers?
From my knowledge, there are many composers in the classical and romantic period who are almost obsessed with musical theory and logical reasoning. For example, Brahms wrote a lot of essays on the ...
1
vote
1answer
89 views
How can I identify a tune?
Can anyone steer me to a book or website or smartphone app that will help me find out where a tune is from? I've got an imperfect memory of a tune that I heard years ago and I would love to listen to ...
6
votes
8answers
2k views
Why are subdominants unstable?
In music theory, the subdominant is unstable and need to be resolved to the mediant. Similar resolution happens to the leading note and other notes that are not in the tonic triad. (Of course, I am ...
5
votes
2answers
198 views
Has Bela Bartok influenced Jazz tremendously?
Bela Bartok rediscovered Modal scales from eastern Europe. Lydian, Phrygian, etc...
What I was wondering was.... was it the first time that these scales were rediscovered and went into mainstream ...
1
vote
1answer
40 views
Classical guitar 5th string buzzing
This is to ask that I have a classical guitar Yamaha C70. Whenever I play the A note on any of the frets the 5 string I.e. the A string starts to resonate and it's quite irritating. It takes around 7-...
2
votes
1answer
301 views
What makes a piece a bagatelle?
Now I know length is part of the answer. Nobody wouldn't consider a 10 minute long rondo to be a bagatelle. Bagatelles tend to be around 3-5 minutes in length. Also, from my experience(though this is ...
12
votes
2answers
1k views
Why does the same classical piece sound like it's in a different key in different recordings?
I've noticed that sometimes a different recording of the same piece will sound like it's being played in a different key. For example, I listened to Concerto No. 6 in B-Flat Major, BWV 1051: III. ...
9
votes
1answer
631 views
What is this particular type of chord progression, common in classical music, called?
I don't know anything about music theory but I am a fanatic when it comes to listening to classical music. For a while I have been curious about a type of chord progression which is very common in ...
1
vote
1answer
53 views
Suggestion/Identifying Style of Music [closed]
I'm not entirely sure if this is the right place for this question but I've been searching far and wide to find pieces similar in sound and have had no luck googling.
In Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto ...
3
votes
2answers
117 views
Composition by Hand: Workflow, habit, and handwriting [closed]
I have been composing using the computer for over two decades. However, I think this is not a very productive approach and I now wish to compose more often. To my understanding, very little is known ...
6
votes
1answer
70 views
Renaissance or Baroque pieces with no instrumentation
I found out today that Michael Praetorius's Terpsichore is written with no indication about what instruments to use. I knew that the Art of the Fugue doesn't have instrumentation either, but I'd ...
2
votes
1answer
56 views
How to play clef changes in Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity? (F Horn)
I've played horn for 8 years as a student through middle and high school and rarely come across the bass clef, except maybe twice when playing Sonata op. 10. When it comes to this piece (Jupiter, ...
3
votes
1answer
83 views
Nylon guitar: How to mute open strings
So from most videos I am seeing, it seems that classical guitar technique requires you to hold your hand away from the strings.
If I pluck an e on the 2nd fret of the D string, and then stop that e, ...
3
votes
3answers
80 views
Can you arrange choral music from a classical string section? [closed]
For instance, can I take classical sheet music and assign the first violins to choral soprano, second violins to choral alto, violas to choral tenor, cellos to choral baritone, and double basses to ...
8
votes
2answers
214 views
How to read a classical music title as a host in a classical music concert?
So, I was invited to host a mini piano and orchestra concert at my school despite having a little knowledge of classical music. I have some problems with the naming conventions of some musical pieces, ...
5
votes
1answer
345 views
Turn above an X symbol in Chopin’s prelude in E minor
I am a self-taught pianist and thought I would pick this piece up relatively easily and quickly, but being self-taught I often run into unknown signs, symbols, and other things like that, that give me ...
7
votes
1answer
85 views
Duration of lexical directives like “dolce,” “espress.,” and “marcato?”
What is the duration of lexical directives like "dolce," "espress.," (espressivo) and "marcato" when they appear in a written score beneath a bar?
Is it until the end of the bar, for the remainder of ...
2
votes
1answer
92 views
Are there texts that describe why composers sound like themselves? [closed]
I'm interested in understanding what makes a particular composer sound like themselves. I'm asking for references to text books or videos that will dig into this.
Here are some examples of the kind ...
9
votes
1answer
160 views
What is meant by “large scale tonal organization?”
I found this in a CD liner note. "the work shows the influence of Beethoven in its dramatic contrasts and its feeling for large scale tonal organization."
What does this mean?
TIA
