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.
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If the conductor went missing post-rehearsal…?
I know that the Kronos Quartet do not use a conductor, and a lot of "modern classical" music doesn't use one. For example, I don't think I've ever seen a conductor at a performance of a ...
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0answers
43 views
How often intermediate or advanced piano pieces use more than 61 keys? [duplicate]
I am a self learning keyboard player and due to financial restrictions I am thinking about buying a 61-key keyboard. However I am worried by how this range can affect me in the near future as I ...
15
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3answers
3k views
Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 3: Last notes played by piano or not?
I have a (probably pretty amateur) question regarding the Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 3, more precisely the last notes of the third movement. I've listened to different recordings of this piece and ...
2
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4answers
67 views
Single Step Voice Leading on Piano
I'm trying to figure out how to "properly" use voice leading. Specifically, I'm wondering how to progress by a single step (is that the correct way of saying it?).
For example, say I want ...
9
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3answers
1k views
Does Schoenberg or Glenn Gould have a point? Does a great deal of music remain to be written in C major?
There's a great interview online where Glenn Gould talks about Stravinsky and Schoenberg (circa 1960). His comments about Stravinsky certainly haven't aged well but nonetheless, he does make some ...
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1answer
77 views
How to discover what story the song is trying to convey?
Someone said to me that the song Tempest from Beethoven is about someone in a hurry to get into a ship to travel. However, I didn't find anything on the internet about this story or any story. At that ...
3
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1answer
48 views
ornamentation in keyboard music of William Byrd
I'm working through some tunes by Byrd, and am wondering about the ornamentation, the two diagonal slashes through the note stem.
As far as I can tell, we don't actually know what the composers of ...
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1answer
61 views
What are the easiest Chopin Etudes? [closed]
I've been looking, but the results are either too hard or too long. But I'm looking for a list of the easiest Chopin Etudes.
2
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1answer
55 views
What are the audition repertoire requirements for a U.S. undergraduate classical piano performance degree?
What music should one expect to prepare to get an undergraduate degree in classical piano performance at a U.S. school?
I know that U.S. schools generally offer two degrees: a Bachelor of Arts (BA) ...
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1answer
79 views
Schubert G flat impromptu harmony
In my score, during the repetition of the opening theme, bar 5, the G flat major chord changes directly to an E flat minor chord, as is played in this performance.
However, the performances by Kissin ...
3
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1answer
48 views
Haydn Hob. XIV: Have they been meant for piano or for harpischord?
I am currently exploring Haydn's opus and have come across Hob. XIV. I really would like to know whether these works originally have been meant for the piano or for the harpischord.
I have researched ...
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2answers
254 views
“Rubato sufficiently repeated turns into a feature of the rhythm.” Please critique
I was thinking about the very idea of rubato the other day and was wondering if repeated rubato truly defeats its purpose.
Rubato sufficiently repeated turns into a feature of the rhythm.
I don't ...
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1answer
82 views
Do classical-music performers use editions other than urtext to prepare?
Do any performer of classical music use printed editions of classical works (I mean those that published during the composer's lifetime) other than urtext editions for performing. If this is true, can ...
0
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1answer
65 views
Redundant entry of a Fugal Exposition
When analyzing a fugue, I get confused at times about where to put the redundant entry. Is it the 5th or more entry of the subject and/or answer? I’m not sure.
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3answers
106 views
Characteristics of a Coda
I’m doing Level 10 Harmony right now and I’m being asked to identify a Coda in a Rondo. Any specific characteristics that I should look out for to make it easier to identify?
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3answers
123 views
What is considered a proper Cantus Firmus?
I've recently begun on trying to compose a Cantus Firmus (it's an assignment given to me by my teacher).
I know some of the rules but there are some parts I guess I don't understand:
Could it be in ...
13
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2answers
433 views
How bluesy is Ravel's Blues actually?
The second movement of Maurice Ravel's second Violin Sonata (1922-1927) is titled Blues (example performance). Wikipedia claims it is inspired by jazz and blues music, and that Ravel had first-hand ...
2
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1answer
48 views
Piano CPE Bach - Solfegietto - cross-hand playing style?
Many years ago, my piano teacher taught me a cool variation to this piece whereby I cross my hands over to play for one or two measures. I don't remember exactly which part though. All I remember is ...
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1answer
56 views
Pre-requisite to analyze classical music [closed]
First, I'm sorry for my poor English.
I enjoy listening to classical music.
According to Schiff's analysis of Beethoven's Sonata, It seems that classical music has a certain form, so if any note ...
3
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4answers
75 views
What is it precisely in the music that makes you a 'Neoclassical' Composer?
I'm a little confused by what is meant we when say the 'Neoclassicism ' movement. Particularly this phrase from the official Wiki page.
Neoclassicism was an aesthetic trend rather than an organized ...
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0answers
40 views
Does Bach's lute partita BWV 997 Sarabande also appear as an orchestral piece?
I am practicing the Bach lute suites and I am aware that a few of them also appear as works for other instruments (BWV 1000 is also the fugue from the first violin sonata, for example).
My question is ...
2
votes
1answer
161 views
What does ‘Unis’ mean?
I’m reading through the study score for Tchaikovsky’s Pathétique. There’s an indication I am unsure of. They refer to the Strings section.
(unis.)
After a Google, I discovered
several players in a ...
15
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3answers
864 views
Voicing in the Finale of Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 6 “Pathétique”
In the opening bars of the last movement of Tchaikovsky's 6th, the strings have some four-part writing with a melody "F# E D C# B C#." However, the score reveals that the first and second ...
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2answers
411 views
Is it worthwhile to buy good accessories for a cheap violin
I'm a self-teaching violinist. I bought my violin 3 years ago and have been practicing since than. I'm a highschool student, so I don't have much time to practice, so I'm slow at learning it. (I'm ...
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1answer
143 views
Why is Beethoven said to be the greatest composer of all time? [closed]
I have always found that there is unanimity in establishing that Beethoven has been the most important composer of all time. In the words of the Encyclopædia Britannica, for example, "The German ...
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3answers
240 views
Why did baroque music use percussion abundantly, but classical stopped?
Classical music evolved from baroque music, which in turn evolved from Renaissance music. Both baroque and even more so Renaissance make extensive use of percussion. It is certainly not new to ...
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2answers
78 views
Is it commonplace to add further instrumentation to an already published composers work?
There's a really strange sounding instrument, similar to the one you once heard at school aged about seven in your very first music lesson. The only noise one can compare it to is the sound of horse ...
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4answers
139 views
Piano exercises to memorize “spacing”
I just started learning piano a few months ago and I'm getting along well, but the one issue I'm having is I can't seem to "find" certain notes. For example, on Für Elise, while looking up I ...
11
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2answers
276 views
How is this note playing (Scriabin Op. 42 No. 5)
I have a question about this E double sharp pointed below:
As far as I know, E double sharp equals F sharp, but watching different videos I see this note is played as natural F. Can you please ...
5
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1answer
1k views
Ludwig van Beethoven “complete” 722 works in Chronological Order
It is known that "The compositions of Ludwig van Beethoven consist of 722 works".
However,
only about 138 of these works have Op opus numbers.
about 228 (till WoO 228b) have WoO numbers. (...
2
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3answers
129 views
How to practice this kind of complex tuplet structures appeared in Scriabin's Poem Op.32 and his Etude Op.42 No.2?
Recently, I have put a lot of efforts in practicing Scriabin's Poem Op.32 No.1 and his Etude Op.42 No.2. But I've found it really hard to master the complex rhythm structures.
In bar 16 of his poem ...
2
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2answers
130 views
Number of beats doesn't match time signature - how to play this?
I have a question about sheet music for D. Scarlatti's sonata K56. The time signature of the piece is 12/8, but in the very first measure there are actually 12.5 beats in the upper staff, including ...
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2answers
105 views
Pros and Cons of playing oversimplified classical music pieces?
Most easy classical music pieces simplified for beginners have different key signatures from the original. What are the pros and cons (especially) of playing them before playing the original scores ...
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6answers
865 views
Why is 'Narrative Music' not considered 'complete/absolute'?
I have recently become obsessed with HECTOR BERLIOZ. His Symphonie Fantastique is tremendous. This made me research him further when I was disturbed to find out the following:
...
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4answers
179 views
Why do some people not recognise Gilbert & Sullivan as part of classical music? [closed]
Though G&S have influenced and helped start musical theatre, I'd still consider them part of classical, they reflect romanticism in their work and have everything an opera from the other composers ...
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2answers
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Is there a definitive list of forms for classical music?
I am creating a classical Music song scraper, that takes disparate file names, ascertains its properties, and rewrites their titles in a uniform way and identifiable way.
Some examples of the ...
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1answer
81 views
Why does Rachmaninoff Symphony 2 mvmt. 3 sound so similar to Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet love theme?
I get that they were both meant to convey love, but to me it sounds too similar to be a coincidence that Rach and Tchaik both hear love as the same (especially that rising line in the violins). Why is ...
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4answers
77 views
Word for the list of compositions of a Classical composer?
Either I'm being stupid or my brain is not working properly...
Is there a word for the list of compositions of a Classical composer? I can only think of 'discography' for a performer but that's not ...
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1answer
103 views
Strange piano fingering
In a piano piece I am studying (Bourlesq in G Major, bar 10), I encountered a counterintuitive fingering (two notes separated by a tone have to be played with fingers 1 and 4).
Is it a mistake from ...
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1answer
54 views
What does “Bourlesq” mean?
I found an anonymous piano piece entitled "Bourlesq in G Major".
http://www.sheetmusic2print.com/Notebook-Wolfgang-Mozart/Bourlesq.aspx
What is a Bourlesq? What English term would be an equivalent?
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2answers
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What is the word to describe the aspect of a chord being either minor or major?
I am looking for the noun that is the thing that is either major or minor in respect to a chord such as a triad. I suppose it could also be an adjective. It would be 'x' in the following question: "...
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4answers
87 views
What is sufficient information to identify a classical music piece?
I am a software engineer, and I am downloading Public Domain Classical Music. The original filenames are an inconsistent mess, and I would like to correct that. I have some metadata at my disposal, ...
3
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1answer
100 views
Serialism and the the twelve-tone period
I'm really confused about 'Serial composers'. While studying Igor Stravinsky, in his later life, he was regarded as a 'Serial composer'. I would love to know if composers despised this categorisation ...
2
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1answer
67 views
Why are keys changed away from the original in some orchestral pieces
I have noticed recently, take this piece for example, The Thieving Magpie Overture by Rossini. There seems to be several versions in different keys. Why are versions made that are different to the ...
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1answer
135 views
how to read quarter notes and half notes in 3/4 time?
I have a question about reading sheet music for pieces in 3/4 time signature. Attached is a bar in the bass clef from Waltz No. 2, Shostakovitch which has one dotted half note (D) and two quarter ...
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8answers
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In what language-level in Chomsky's hierarchy would the chord-progressions of classical music be categorized?
Formal languages
In language-theory and grammar-theory, a language is the output generated by a grammar.
Let's say "the grammar" is the rules and "the language" is the sentences and words that may ...
2
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1answer
113 views
What is the difference between Finalist and Winner in music competition? Why sometimes there is no winner at all? [duplicate]
Take Clara Haskil Piano Competition (link) for example, there is no winner in some year. Is that because the finalisst didn't play well? I watch their performances on YouTube and they are actually ...
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6answers
1k views
Rules for key changes
On reading my new theory book I have come across a very interesting passage on Keys Change.
Here are the rules:
When the music changes keys, it changes to a closely related key
Closest related key is ...
4
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4answers
131 views
How do I progress without a cello teacher during COVID lockdowns?
I’ve been playing cello for four years now and I want to get better, but I don’t know how. I started playing when I was placed in the wrong course at school and I ended up in the experienced class ...
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0answers
35 views
Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 28 vs. Cold Mountain- Ada Plays
I am intrigued and puzzled by these two pieces of music and their similarities:
Beethoven - Piano Sonata No. 28 1st movement in A major, Op. 101
This one is in A ...
