SOUND PATTERNS

Introduction

Putting it together

The next three chapters deal with three compositions from the second half of the Common Practice Period which will allow you to exercise all of the knowledge you have gained so far. The music is unique and it is remarkable. It represents all of the standard elements of tonality, vocabulary, texture, sonority, and time organization, and yet each exhibits extraordinary experimentation as well. The pieces are placed chronologically from the middle of the Classical style (c. 1785) through the beginning of the Romantic style (c. 1835) to the end of Common Practice Period (c. 1895).

Do-it-yourself projects

While all analyses and conclusions are ultimately given in each chapter, it is vital that each student works independently on the pieces before consulting the answers in the text. The process of doing the analysis (active learning) is far more important than just reading the answers (passive learning).