Fractured Classical Music Genres Quiz

Answer: symphony

One of the most recognized classical music genres, the symphony was a product of the short but highly influential Classical era of music that began in 1750 and ended in 1820. Originally containing three movements (fast-slow-fast) and lasting some 15 to 20 minutes, the Symphony grew to contain 4, 5 or even more movements and would last more than one hour. Both Haydn and Mozart composed prolifically in this genre with almost 150 between them.

Other composers who had excellent success with the symphony were Beethoven (nos. 3, 5, and 9 are particularly famous), Schubert (his eighth "unfinished"), Brahms (the "lullaby" from his 2nd), Mahler, Tchaikovsky, and Shostakovitch to name a few,

Answer: opera

Few composers didn't feel the need to attempt to prove themselves in this genre. While composers like Wagner, Verdi, and Puccini limited themselves almost entirely to writing operas, many instrumental composers had success writing opera as well. One notable example is Mozart whose masterpieces are regularly performed across the world. Even Beethoven with his opera "Fidelio" found some success in this highly competitive area.

Answer: string quartet

Another child of the classical era, Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven combined to write over 100 string quartets that are still very much a part of the modern chamber music repertoire. Several 20th composers have made valuable contributions to the string quartet repertory like Bartok, Shostakovitch, and Samuel Barber.

Answer: oratorio

The Oratorio is almost synonymous with George Frederic Handel, and for good reason. His "Messiah" is, by far, the most commonly produced oratorio today. With its roots in opera, the Oratorio tells a story with soloists and chorus but with no interaction between characters, no costumes, and no props.

Answer: overture

The overture was a single-movement symphonic introduction to a play, opera, or other dramatic work. Still used today in music theater, Overtures will sometimes include important themes used in the actual musical or opera, though this was not necessarily always the case. Overtures have evolved into their own genre that are played frequently at concert halls with Beethoven's overture to "Eggmont," and Mozart's overture to his "Le nozze di Figaro" as prime examples.

Answer: tone poem

The tone poem was a uniquely Romantic innovation that can most easily be described as an orchestral work with some kind of extramusical element, usually provided by a story, painting, poem, or mythological tale. Wonderful examples come from Liszt ("Hunnenschlacht" and "Les Préludes"), Debussy ("Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune" and "La Mer"), and Richard Strauss ("Don Quixote" and "Also sprach Zarathustra") just to name a few.

Answer: song cycle

A collection of related songs, often intended to be sung as a program, the idea of the Song Cycle began with Beethoven's "An die ferne Geliebte" in 1816. Since then, many composers have added important cycles to the vocal repertoire including Robert Schumann with "Dichterliebe," Franz Schubert with "Winterreise," and Schoenberg with his "Das Buch der hängenden Gärten."

Answer: concerto grosso

The concerto grosso was a baroque form that pitted a small group of soloists (called the concertino) against a full orchestra (called the ripieno). Notable examples include several of J.S. Bach's "Brandenburg Concertos" as well as several of the concertos written by Handel and Corelli.

Answer: prelude and fugue

The most famous collection of preludes and fugues is a distinction belonging to J.S. Bach's "Das Wohltemperirte Clavier" or "The Well-Tempered Clavier" in English. Composed in 1722, "The Well-Tempered Clavier" contained 24 sets of preludes and fugues, one in each major and minor key.

Answer: requiem mass

The Requiem Mass was a liturgical funeral service that eventually grew into its own musical genre. With a fixed text, the Requiem typically had nine sections or movements. Famous examples include Mozart's Requiem which he failed to finish before his death, Brahms' "Ein Deutsches Requiem", and Verdi's requiem.

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