The Sonata

a piece for a small number of instruments or a single one.

  • Opening Movement
    • tempo: fast/moderate
    • form: sonata form
  • Slow Movement
    • tempo: slow/very slow
    • form: no standard form (sometimes sonata form, variation form, rondo)
  • Closing Movement
    • tempo: fast/very fast
    • form: often rondo

The Classical Concerto

  • Opening Movement
    • tempo: fast/moderate
    • form: double-exposition sonata form
    • cadenza: near the end
  • Slow Movement
    • tempo: slow/very slow
    • form: no standard form (sometimes sonata form, variation form, rondo)
  • Closing Movement
    • tempo: fast/very fast
    • form: often rondo (occasionally variation form)

Double exposition form

  1. Orchestra Expositon: [tonic key] first theme and second group (orchestra)
  2. Solo Exposition (solo and orchestra): first theme, [second key] bridge and second group (solo)
  3. Development: various themes developed and retransition
  4. Recapitulation: [tonic key] first theme, bridge and second theme (composite), solo cadenza

Classical Variation Form

In the Baroque era, the theme was usually a bass pattern. In Classical variation form, the them is a tune in the upper register.

Theme Variation 1 Variation 2 Variation n Coda
|:a:||:b:| |:a1:||:b1:| |:a2:||:b2:|   |:an:||:bn:| (free)

The String Quartet

  • Opening Movement
    • tempo: fast/moderate
    • form: sonata form
  • Slow Movement
    • tempo: slow/very slow
    • form: no standard form (sometimes sonata form, variation form, rondo)
  • Minuet (with Trio)
    • tempo: moderate
    • form: minuet form
  • Closing Movement
    • tempo: fast/very fast
    • form: sonata form or rondo form

Opera Bufffa

More funny and more acting. Recitative, arias and ensemble (a number sung by two or more people)