Musical Practice and Performance Stack Exchange
Musical Practice and Performance Stack Exchange

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.

Not to be confused with the Classical period, which was from 1750 to 1830.

413 questions
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Why is the key included in classical music titles?

I was always curious why classical composers use names like this Étude in E-flat minor (Frédéric_Chopin) or Missa in G major (Johann Sebastian Bach). Is this from scales of this songs? Weren't they blocked to ever use this scale again? Why didn't…
teodozjan
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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, like Beethoven's Piano Sonata No.6 in F Major…
Tina
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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
las14
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"Winterreise" or "Die Winterreise?"

I've seen two performances of Schubert's Winterreise this year, both at a local music school of some note, and both used the title "Die Winterreise." Apple's new Classical app also calls it "Die Winterreise." My understanding is, while the source…
Thomas Andrews
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Difference between variation and development

The question concerns western classical music. I have tried reading about and understanding the difference between variations and development, and what I understand is that development is more complex: a variation is something which uses a…
user6903
7
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2 answers

Relationship between movements

I'm not sure if this is an absolutely standard Music Appreciation 101 question, but googling hasn't answered it for me. How are movements of (say) a classical symphony related to each other? I know that each movement tends to have a particular form…
Anthony Quas
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dmitri shostakovich vs Dimitri Schostakowitch vs Shostakovitch

I have inherited a lot of... I will be honest I am not sure what to call them. Would they be called classical, symphony? I came across a collection of Dmitri Shostakovich or Dimitri Schostakowitch or just Shostakovitch, A google search will show me…
Anthony Fornito
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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 officially, culturally, or notionally) with the…
gingerbreadboy
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Is understanding classical composition guidelines beneficial to a jazz composer?

I'm a jazz musician, and as such, I tend to shy away from very dogmatic compositional rules. Over the last few weeks, however, I've been wondering if studying things like SATB voice leading or species counterpoint or what have you will prove to be…
plurple
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What factors should be considered when planning a recital program

Question is mentioned in the title, any help would be great! It would be nice if you could also explain why certain pieces are seldom publicly performed in comparison to certain pieces that are almost always played in recitals. Thank you!
Nick123
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What is the difference between Finalist and Winner in music competition? Why sometimes there is no winner at all?

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 quite good.
Trollman Cheung
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Music in religious movies

Whenever I listen to The Tallis Fantasia by Ralph Vaughan Williams I am reminded of music scores from classic religious films or religious scenes from other films. What is it about this music that gives it this distinctive, familiar sound? I also…
Jeff Shall
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What is "listening for GCSE"?

I just started a primephonic subscription and saw that the service has a built-in playlist named "Listening for GCSE" with the following description: The classical component of GCSE music brings a rich listening experience, broad and varied, from…
hmqcnoesy
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Is there guided recording of classical music?

I had the good fortune of taking an Intro to Harmony and some piano lessons in college, which opened my eyes to the fact that music has structure and meaning. "Getting" a piece this way instead of just listening to it is much more satisfying I…
Heisenberg
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How to listen to separate instruments in an orchestral piece

I would like to be able to listen to an orchestral piece of music one instrument at a time, something like what happens in the famous Amadeus scene during the composition of the Requiem. Are there resources that allow to do that? or programs? it…
Johannes Wentu
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