What is Classical Music

WHAT IS CLASSICAL MUSIC?Unit 1

Introduction: Much of the music in this course is concerned with the phenomenon of classical music. This exercise is aimed at getting you to think about specific musical elements that distinguish Western classical from popular styles.

Instructions: Listen to three examples of classical music and two examples of popular music from your collection or any online source and fill out the questionnaire below for each of the five examples.

Download this questionnaire, save it on your computer, complete the requested information for each of your five examples, save and upload to the assignment by its due date.

9 points earned for each fully completed questionnaire; 45 total points for the assignment

(Hint: on YouTube, search for any work by Bach, Handel, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Debussy, Stravinsky, or Ravel to find online examples of classical music.)_______________________________________________________________________________EXAMPLE #1:

Name of Music Example or Song: Bach Cello Suite No.1 in G

URL or location or CD Track No: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGQLXRTl3Z0

1. Are acoustic or electronic instruments used? Acoustic instruments 2. Is there more than one playing? If so, what is the size of the instrumental group?

-There is only one instrument playing

3. Are there lyrics, and if so, how important are these to your enjoyment of the music? What are the lyrics about?

-There are no lyrics

4. Is there a definite beat? If so, is it strong (easily heard) or weak (in the background)?-There is a repeating melody but no single beat.

5. Are the musical phrases long and complex, or short and simple?- They are long and complex

6. Does the music seem to have an overall purpose or intent behind the music? If so, what do you think it is?

- The purpose of this piece does not seem apparent without context.

7. If your example has lyrics, do the lyrics speak to issues of contemporary interest, such as love, desire, money, despair, and injustice?

8. How long is your example?- About 19 minutes.

9. Would you label this example as "classical" or "popular"? Why? -Classical, It was composed by Bach

10. Is the music in this example easily understood in one hearing or it seem to require repeated hearings before it makes sense?

- The piece is classical so it will require many listenings to get the full message.

_______________________________________________________________________________EXAMPLE #2:

Name of Music Example or Song: Beethoven Symphony No. 9

URL or location or CD Track No: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3217H8JppI

1. Are acoustic or electronic instruments used? Acoustic 2. Is there more than one instrument playing? If so, what is the size of the instrumental group?

-There is an entire orchestra playing


- There are lyrics and they are in another language

4. Is there a definite beat? If so, is it strong (easily heard) or weak (in the background)?- There is no definite beat

5. Are the musical phrases long and complex, or short and simple? - The phrases are long and complex


-The Purpose cannot be knows without context on the piece


-The lyrics seem to be about joyful experiences

8. How long is your example?-The sample is about an hour long

9. Would you label this example as "classical" or "popular"? Why? -This would be considered classical it was composed by Beethoven

10. Is the music in this example easily understood in one hearing or does it seem to require repeated hearings before it makes sense?

- Since it is classical it will require many listenings _______________________________________________________________________________EXAMPLE #3:

Name of Music Example or Song: Franz Liszt - Liebestraum - Love Dream

URL or location or CD Track No: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpOtuoHL45Y

1. Are acoustic or electronic instruments used? Acoustic 2. Is there more than one instrument playing? If so, what is the size of the instrumental group?

-A single piano is used


- There are no lyrics

4. Is there a definite beat? If so, is it strong (easily heard) or weak (in the background)?-There is repeating melody but no true beat

5. Are the musical phrases long and complex, or short and simple? - The phrases are of medium length and semi-complex


- The song seems to be about a man thinking about past memories with a lover


8. How long is your example? -5:50

9. Would you label this example as "classical" or "popular"? Why? -This would be considered classical because it requires you to pay attention to

understand the meaning of the song


- This song is easier to get the meaning of than other classical music, but may still require a few listenings _______________________________________________________________________________EXAMPLE #4:

Name of Music Example or Song: Vampire Weekend - Oxford Comma

URL or location or CD Track No: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_i1xk07o4g

1. Are acoustic or electronic instruments used?-Electric

2. Is there more than one instrument playing? If so, what is the size of the instrumental group?

-There is a whole band playing


- The lyrics are what make up a lot of the song

4. Is there a definite beat? If so, is it strong (easily heard) or weak (in the background)?- There is a definite beat

5. Are the musical phrases long and complex, or short and simple? - They are short and simple


- I don’t think there is too much of a purpose


- The song talk about relationships

8. How long is your example?-The sample is about 3.5 minutes long.

9. Would you label this example as "classical" or "popular"? Why? -This would be a popular song


_______________________________________________________________________________EXAMPLE #5:

Name of Music Example or Song: alt-J - Breezeblocks

URL or location or CD Track No: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVeMiVU77wo

1. Are acoustic or electronic instruments used?

- Electronic instruments are used 2. Is there more than one instrument playing? If so, what is the size of the instrumental group?

- There are multiple instruments playing, drums piano guitar bass


- Lyrics are what make up most of the song, They are about a girl who wants to leave but he does not want her too for various reasons.

4. Is there a definite beat? If so, is it strong (easily heard) or weak (in the Background)?

- There is a definite beat5. Are the musical phrases long and complex, or short and simple?

-They are short and complex


- There is a purpose and that is to tell stories


-Yes it talks about love

8. How long is your example? The song is about 3 minutes long

9. Would you label this example as "classical" or "popular"? Why? -Popular


-This song would require many listenings because it is very lyrically complex

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What is Classical Music