Easy Piano Classics - Selected and Edited by James Bastien

161 Pages·1978·43.322 MB·English

by  James Bastien, Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Various

easd' piano classics
Selected and Edited
by James Bastien
7£e :73ashen Older :73eginner ?iano Bibrar_y
1978 Kjos West, San Diego, California
io
Any reproduction, adaptation or arrangement of this work in whole or in part
without the consent of the copyright owner constitutes an infringement of
copyright.
All Rights Reserved. International Copyright Secured. Printed in U.S.A.
Published by Kjos West.
4382 Jutland Dr., San Diego, CA 92117
ISBN 0-8497-5042-3
Preface
EASY PIANO CLASSICS is designed to supplement THE OLDER BEGINNER PIANO
COURSE, LEVEL 2. However, this volume may be used for study and enjoyment with another
piano course, or as an independent literature book. This volume contains representative
four-period literature appropriate for collegiate study (secondary piano students) or for pri
vate study.
The selections in the first part of the book (Baroque through Contemporary periods) are in
original form and are set in approximate order of difficulty within each period. The arranged
selections in the last part of the book provide a wide spectrum of famous music from various
mediums.
Constant exposure to the literature of the four great eras of music represented in EASY
PIANO CLASSICS will enable the student to acquire the necessary feeling for imaginative
interpretations of the various musical styles that span nearly three centuries. The timeless
appeal of this music will provide hours of enjoyme11t for the pianist and listener.
Suggested Use of Materials with THE OLDER BEGINNER PIANO COURSE, LEVEL 2
When the student reaches page 5, he is ready to begin ...... . . Musicianship, Level 2 (WP35)
· d be • Favorite Melodies the World Over,
Whe n t h e stud ent reaches page 21, h e 1s rea y to gm ......... .......... .. Level 2 (WP38)
When the student reaches page 33, he is ready to begin .... ....E asy Piano Classics (WP42)
When the student reaches page 37,he is ready to begin . .P op, Rock 'N Blues, Book 2 (GP38)
When the student reaches page 45, he is ready to begin ..... .S cott Joplin Favorites (GP90)
CONTENTS
Title Index
THE BAROQUE PERIOD (1600-1750) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
THE CLASSICAL PERIOD (1750-1820) ........................................... 38
THE ROMANTIC PERIOD (1820-1900) ............................................ 68
THE CONTEMPORARY PERIOD (1900-Present) ................................. 100
ARRANGEMENTS ............................................................... 124
-A-
Air-Purcell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Allegro in Bb Major-Mozart. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Arabesque (from "25 Progressive Pieces," Op. 100)-Burgmuller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Ave Maria-Gounod/Bastien ... .... .... .. .... .. ... .. ..... ... .......... .. ... .. ...... ...... ... . 134
-B-
Bagatelle-Diabelli . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Ballade (from "25 Progressive Pieces," Op. 100)-Burgmuller ............................ ..... .. 88
-C-
The Clown (from "24 Little Pieces for Children," Op. 39)-Kabalevsky .. ............. ... ..... ... 104
-D-
The Doll's Funeral (from "Children's Album")-Tchaikovsky . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
-E-
Ecossaise in G-Beethoven . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Emperor Waltz-J. Strauss/Bastien ........ ........................ .......................... 138
-F-
Fantaisie Impromptu (Op. 66)- Chopin/Bastien ...... ........... ......... .. ............. ..... 152
First Loss (from "Album for the Young," Op. 68)-Schumann .............................. ..... 80
Folk Dance (from "For Children")-Barti>k ........ .. ...... ....... .... ..................... ... 116
Follow the Leader (from "For Children")-Barti>k .... .......... .. ....... .... ....... ........... 114
Follow the Leader (from "24 Little Pieces for Children," Op. 39)-Kabalevsky ..... ... ........... 103
Fur Elise-Beethoven . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
-G-
Gavotte-Telemann . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
German Dance-Haydn .......... ................. ........... ............................. .. 41
-H-
Hungarian Dance No. 5-Brahms/Bastien ........................ ........ ........ .... .... ... 131
Hungarian Folk Song (from "For Children")-Barti>k ............................. ............ 113
Hunting Song (from "Album for the Young," Op. 68)-Schumann ...... ......... ................ 82
-I-
I Love Thee (Ich Liebe Dich)-Grieg/Bastien ... ............ ................ ..... ............ 156
Italian Folk Song (from "Children's Album")-Tchaikovsky . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Ivan Sings (from "Children's Pieces")-Khatchaturian .... .................. ................ ... 110
-L-
Le Petit Rien (from "Pieces de Clavecin")-Couperin ........ ............. ................... ... 14
Liebestraum-Liszt/Bastien .. .................. ......... ......... .......... ... .............. 144
Little Dance (from "24 Little Pieces for Children," Op. 39)-Kabalevsky .............. ........... 102
Little Song (from "Album for the Young," Op. 68)-Schumann ......... ......................... 78
-M-
March (from "Six Children's Pieces")-Shostakovich ........... ................. ........... .... 120
March in D Major (from "Notebook for Anna Magdalena")-J. S. Bach ... ....................... 30
The Merry Farmer, Returning from Work (from "Album for the
Young," Op. 68)-Schumann ............... ................. ....... ....................... .. 76
Minuet-Pleyel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Minuet and Trio (K. 1)-Mozart ........................ ... .... .... .... ............... ....... 48
Minuet in C (K. 6)-Mozart ............... ........ ........ ......... .............. ............ 46
Minuet in D Minor (from "Notebook for Anna Magdalena")-J. S. Bach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Minuet in F (K. 2)-Mozart ................................. ......... ........ ................ 47
Minuet in F Major-Handel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Minuet in F Major-Haydn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Minuet in G-Haydn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..... ..... .. ...... ..... .. ........... .. ..... ... ......... 40
Minuet in G Minor !from "Notebook for Anna Magdalena"l-J. S. Bach .............. ...... .... . 26
Minuet in G Major (No. 11 !from "Notebook for Anna Magdalena"l-J. S. Bach ....... ........... 24
Minuet in G Major (No. 21 !from ··Notebook for Anna Magdalena"1-J. S. Bach ... ............... 34
Minuet in Rondo Form-Rameau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Minuetto in C-D. Scarlatti .................................................. ... ............ 22
Morning Song-Gurlitt .... ...... .... .......... ... ... .. ..................................... 91
Musette (from "English Suite No. 3 in G Minor")-J. S. Bach ............................. ...... 37
Musette in D Major (from "Notebook for Anna Magdalena")-J. S. Bach ...... ........ ........ .. 28
My Heart At Thy Sweet Voice (from "Samson and Delilah")-Saint-Saens/Bastien .. ......... .. 128
-N-
New World Symphony (Theme from 2nd Movement)-Dvorak/Bastien ...... ... ................ 126
Nocturne (Op. 9, No. 2)-Chopin/Bastien ...... ........ ...... ............... ... ............... 148
-P-
"Pathetique" Symphony (Theme from 1st Movement)-Tchaikovsky/Bastien .. .. ..... .......... 127
Piano Concerto in A Minor (Theme from 1st Movement)-Grieg/Bastien ........ ... ..... ....... 157
Piano Concerto No. 1 (Theme from 1st Movement)-Tchaikovsky/Bastien .... ......... ......... 150
Piano Concerto No. 2 (Theme from 3rd Movement)-Rachmaninoff/Bastien ........ .... .... ..... 153
Polovetzian Dance (from "Prince lgor")-Borodin/Bastien ..... ..................... .... ....... 136
Prelude in C Major (from "Twelve Short Preludes")-J. S. Bach ................. ............. .. 36
-R-
Romanze-Mendelssohn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Russian Folk Song-Beethoven ................. .. ................. ........................ . 52
-S-
Sad Song (from "For Children")-Bartok ..................... ....... ................... ..... .. 112
Sarabande-Corelli ... .... ........ ...... ...... ........ ........ ... .... .. ... .... .. ..... ...... . 16
Sarabande and Variation-Handel ..... .. ........ .. ...... .. .......... ..... ... ........ ..... .. 20
Scheherezade (Theme from 3rd Movement)-Rimsky-Korsakov/Bastien ........... ... ...... .... 140
Scherzo (from "Sonata No. 3")-Haydn ....... ...... ... ...... ...... ...... ... ................ .. 43
Scherzo-Weber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Sicilienne (from "Album for the Young," Op. 68)-Schumann ..... ..... ............ ........... .. 79
Soldiers' March (from "Album for the Young," Op. 68)- Schumann ... .......... ................ 72
Sonatina (from "Children's Pieces," Op. 27)-Kabalevsky .... ................ ......... ...... ... 108
Sonatina in G-Beethoven . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Sonatina, Op. 36, No. I-Clementi ........... ... .................... .................... ..... 60
Springtime Song (from "For Children")-Bartok ......................... ................... .. 119
"Surprise" Symphony (Theme from 1st Movement)-Haydn/Bastien .................. ......... 125
Symphony No. 1 (Theme from Finale)-Brahms/Bastien ..................... .. ................ 130
Symphony No. 5 (Theme from 2nd Movement)-Tchaikovsky/Bastien .. ........................ 142
-T-
To A Wild Rose (from "Woodland Sketches")-MacDowell ............. .... .............. ..... .. 98
Toccatina (from "Children's Pieces," Op. 27)-Kabalevsky .. ................... ... .. ............ 106
Toreador Song (from "Carmen")-Bizet/Bastien ...... ...... .... ............... ............... 146
-U-
Unfinished Symphony (Theme from 1st Movement)-Schubert/Bastien ................ ....... . 143
-W-
Waltz in A-Schubert .................. ...................................... .... ........ .. . 71
Waltz ( in A Minor ) (from "Six Children's Pieces")-Shostakovich ......... ............ ......... 122
Waltz in C-Schubert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
The Weary Traveler-Bartok .. ......... ....... .. ......... .. ....... ...... ............. ... ... 118
The Wild Horseman (from "Album for the Young," Op. 68)-Schumann ......... ................ 74
CONTENTS
Composer Index
THE BAROQUE PERIOD (1600-1750) ............................................. 10
BACH, JOHANN SEBASTIAN (1685-1750)
March in D Major (from "Notebook for Anna Magdalena") ........ ... .. ...... ........ .......... 30
Minuet in D Minor (from "Notebook for Anna Magdalena") ..... ...... .. ....................... 32
Minuet in G Minor(from "Notebook for Anna Magdalena") .... ...... ... ........... ...... ...... 26
Minuet in G Major (No. 1) (from "Notebook for Anna Magdalena") ............... ..... ...... ... 24
Minuet in G Major (No. 2) (from "Notebook for Anna Magdalena") .................... ..... .... 34
Musette (from "English Suite No. 3 in G Minor") ...... ..... ... ......... .. .. ................. . 37
Musette in D Major (from "Notebook for Anna Magdalena") ... ....... .................. ....... 28
Prelude in C Major (from "Twelve Short Preludes") ......... ........ ....... ... .... .. .......... 36
CORELLI, ARCANGELO (1653-1713)
Sarabande ...... ..................... ....... ....................... ............. .... ...... 16
COUPERIN, FRANCOIS (1668-1733)
Le Petit Rien (from "Pieces de Clavecin") .......... ................................. ......... 14
HANDEL, GEORGE FRIDERIC (1685-1759)
Minuet in F Major . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Sarabande and Variation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
PURCELL, HENRY (1659-1695)
Air ..... .............. .. ...................... ............ ... ............. ............. ... 12
RAMEAU, JEAN PHILIPPE (1683-1764)
Minuet in Rondo Form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
SCARLATTI, DOMENICO (1685-1757)
Minuetto in C .. ........................................... ......................... ....... 22
TELEMANN, GEORG PHILIPP (1681-1767)
Gavotte ...... .. ............................... .................. ......................... . 13
THE CLASSICAL PERIOD (1750-1820) ........................................... 38
BEETHOVEN, LUDWIG VAN (1770-1827)
Ecossaise in G . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Fur Elise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Russian Folk Song . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Sonatina in G . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
CLEMENTI, MUZIO (1752-1832)
Sonatina, Op. 36, No. 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
DIABELLI, ANTON (1781-1858)
Bagatelle ........ ...... ....... ...................... .......................... .. ... ....... 51
HAYDN, FRANZ JOSEPH (1732-1809)
German Dance ... ... .......... ... ................... ...................................... 41
Minuet in F Major . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Minuet in G . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Scherzo (from "Sonata No. 3") . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
MOZART, WOLFGANG AMADEUS (1756-1791)
Allegro in Bb Major . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Minuet and Trio (K. 1) ......... ...... ................ ............................ ... ....... 48
Minuet in C (K. 6) ........ .. ...................... ............ ..... ............. .... ....... 46
Minuet in F (K. 2) ........................................................... .............. 47
PLEYEL, IGNAZ (1757-1831)
Minuet ................... ................................................................. 44
THE ROMANTIC PERIOD (1820-1900) ............................................ 68
BURGMu'LLER, JOHANN FRIEDRICH FRANZ (1806-1874)
Arabesque (from "25 Progressive Pieces," Op. 100) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Ballade (from "25 Progressive Pieces," Op. 100) ........ ......... .... .... .......... ........ .... 88
GURLITT, CORNELIUS (1820-1901)
Morning Song ... .......... ............................... ............................. .... 91
MACDOWELL, EDWARD (1861-1908)
To A Wild Rose (from "Woodland Sketches") .. ... ......... ............... .. ........ ............9 8
MENDELSSOHN, FELIX BARTHOLDY (1809-1847)
Romanze ......... ............... .............. ...... ........... .................... ....... 84
SCHUBERT, FRANZ (1797-1828)
Waltz in A ......... ... .................................... ................................ 71
Waltz in C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
SCHUMANN, ROBERT (1810-1856)
First Loss (from "Album for the Young," Op. 68) ......... .... ......... ....................... . 80
Hunting Song (from "Album for the Young," Op. 68) .......................................... 82
Little Song (from "Album for the Young," Op. 68) .. ........................................... 78
The Merry Farmer, Returning from Work (from "Album for the Young," Op. 68) .............. ... 76
Sicilienne (from "Album for the Young," Op. 68) ............ .......... ......... .. ........... .. 79
Soldiers' March (from "Album for the Young," Op. 68) ............... ......... ...... .... ....... 72
The Wild Horseman (from "Album for the Young," Op. 68) ... ....... .. .... ................. ... 74
TCHAIKOVSKY, PETER ILYICH (1840-1893)
The Doll's Funeral (from "Children's Album") ......... .. ................... ....... .......... . 94
Italian Folk Song (from "Children's Album") ....... .................... .......... .... ........ 96
WEBER, CARL MARIA VON (1786-1826)
Scherzo ............... .......... .................. .......... ........... ................... 92
THE CONTEMPORARY PERIOD (1900-Present) ................................ . 100
BARTOK, BELA (1881-1945)
Folk Dance (from "For Children") .... ........................................ .............. . 116
Follow The Leader (from "For Children") ............................... ...... .... ... .. .... .. 114
Hungarian Folk Song (from "For Children") ............... .... ................ ...... ......... 113
Sad Song (from "For Children") ...... .... ............... ...................... ............ .. 112
Springtime Song (from "For Children") ............... ......... ........ ........... ... ........ 119
The Weary Traveler ..... ..... ........................... ....... ..... .. ........ ............. 118
KABALEVSKY, DMITRI (1904-1987 l
The Clown (from "24 Little Pieces for Children," Op. 39) ........................... ... ..... ... 104
Follow The Leader (from "24 Little Pieces for Children," Op. 39) ........................ ....... 103
Little Dance (from "24 Little Pieces for Children," Op. 39) ... .............. .............. .. .... 102
Sonatina (from "Children's Pieces," Op. 27) .......................... ...... .... ......... ..... 108
Toccatina (from "Children's Pieces," Op. 27) ............ .............. ...... .................. 106
KHATCHATURIAN, ARAM (1903-1978)
Ivan Sings (from "Children's Pieces") .................... ......... .... .... ................... 110
SHOSTAKOVICH, DMITRI (1906-1975)
March (from "Six Children's Pieces") .................... ........... .. ... .... .. ..... ... ...... 120
Waltz (In A Minor) (from "Six Children's Pieces") ........ ................. ......... .. ....... .. 122
ARRANGEMENTS .............................................................. . 124
BIZET, GEORGE
Toreador Song (from "Carmen") .......... .. ................ ............................. .... 146
BORODIN,ALEXANDER
Polovetzian Dance (from "Prince Igor") .................................... ............. .. ... 136
BRAHMS, JOHANNES
Hungarian Dance No. 5 .......... ... .................. ........... ............ ... ........... 131
Symphony No. 1 (Theme from Finale) ....... .............. ........ .. ................... ..... 130
CHOPIN, FREDERIC
Fantaisie Impromptu (Op. 66) ..................... ..................... ....... .......... .... 152
Nocturne (Op. 9, No. 2) ................................. ................. ........... ........ 148
DVORAK,ANTONIN
New World Symphony (Theme from 2nd Movement) ........................... ....... ... ..... 126
GOUNOD, CHARLES
Ave Maria .................... ........... ....... ......... .................................. 134
GRIEG, EDVARD
Piano Concerto in A Minor (Theme from 1st Movement) .................... .... .............. . 157
I Love Thee (lch Liebe Diehl ......................... ............... .. ............... .. ..... 156
HAYDN,FRANZJOSEPH
"Surprise" Symphony (Theme from 1st Movement) .......... .......... .......... .............. 125
LISZT, FRANZ
Liebestraum .................... ................. ......... ... ... ........................... 144
RACHMANINOFF, SERGEI
Piano Concerto No. 2 (Theme from 3rd Movement) ........ ................ ................... . 153
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV, NIKOLAI
Scheherezade (Theme from 3rd Movement) ... ............................ .................... 140
SAINT-SAlNS, CAMILLE
My Heart At Thy Sweet Voice (from "Samson and Delilah") ...... .... ......... ............ ..... 128
SCHUBERT, FRANZ
Unfinished Symphony (Theme from 1st Movement) ......................... .... .......... ... . 143
STRAUSS, JOHANN
Emperor Waltz ..... ....... .... .......... ........................................... ..... .. 138
TCHAIKOVSKY, PETER ILYICH
"Pathetique" Symphony (Theme from 1st Movement) ... ........ ...................... ........ 127
Piano Concerto No. 1 (Theme from 1st Movement) ..... ...................... ................. 150
Symphony No. 5 (Theme from 2nd Movement) ...................................... ...... .. .. 142
THE BAROQUE PERIOD
(1600-1750)
"The Investiture of Bishop Harold" by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (1750-1753),
Kaisersaal, Residenz, WUnburg, Germany. Courtesy of Editorial Photocolor Archives, Inc.
The art and architecture of the Baroque period reflect an often bizarre style characterized by ornamental decorations.
Especially notable in churches, palaces, and other buildings of the period is the profusion of worldly splendor evident in
grandiose designs and elaborate decorations.
The music of the period reflects the decorative art in the use of ornamentation to embellish melodies. Thick and complex
polyphonic texture prevails in many composers' works. A sense of drama and urgency is infused in vocal forms such as the
cantata, mass, opera, oratorio, and passion, and in instrumental forms such as the concerto, concerto grosso, prelude,
fugue, toccata, sonata, and suite. Vibrant rhythms and expressive dissonances heighten tension in many Baroque works.
Much of the Baroque keyboard music written for the harpsichord and clavichord was written in suites comprising
separate dance pieces, changing in tempo and meter, but maintaining key unity throughout. The suite {Italian: Partita,
Sonata da Camera; German: Suite, Partita, Overture; French: Order, Suite; English: Lessons) consists of dances such
as the allemande, courante, sarabande, gigue, and others such as the gavotte, musette, bourree, minuet, and pavane. Each
dance piece (movement) is usually written in two sections, called binary form, and is generally performed with each
section repeated. Other forms of keyboard music from the Baroque period are theme and variation, passacaglia, chaconne,
invention, prelude, fugue, choral prelude, ricercare, fantasy, toccata, and concerto.
The two best known Baroque composers are Johann Sebastian Bach and George Frederick Handel, both Germans. Other
German Baroque composers include Heinrich Sch\ltz, Samuel Scheidt, Johann Froberger, Dietrich Buxtehude, Johann
Pachelbel, Johann Kuhnau, and Georg Telemann. English Baroque composers include William Byrd. John Bull, and
Henry Purcell. Notable Italian Baroque composers include Claudio Monteverdi, Arcangelo Corelli, Antonio Vivaldi, and
Alessandro and Domenico Scarlatti. Prominent French Baroque composers include Jean Baptise Lully, Francois Coupe
rin, and Jean Philippe Rameau.
THE CLASSICAL PERIOD
(1750-1820)
"Death or Socrates" by Jacques Louis David ( 1750-1820), oil on canvas. Courtesy of Metropolitan
MuseumofArt,WolfoFund, 1931
A transitional era ofabo11t thirty years, termed "Rococo," between the Baroque and Classical periods set the stage for the
emergence of the Classical style. The Rococo musical style was characterized by delicate, frivolous expression designed
more to please than to excite the listener. Some of the transitional composers are Francois Couperin, Domenico Scarlatti.
and the sons of J. S. Bach.
Emerging from the Baroque period was a new style, highly refined, simple in melodic line and harmonic texture, and
unified by symmetrical form. Developing during the early Classical period were expanded instrumental forms such as the
sonata allegro and the rondo.The binary dance movements oftheBaroque gave way to the ternary first movements of most
Classical period works (sonata, concerto, chamber music, symphony) which comprised three parts: exposition (A),
development (8), and recapitulation (A). Frequently, well-defined melodies were harmoni?.ed with triadic harmony.
especially in keyboard works with a broken-chord figure called the Alberti bass (named after Domenico Alberti who was
or,e of the first to use this type of accompaniment\.
Major Classical period composers arc Franz Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Ludwig van Beethoven.
Others include Domenico Cimarosa and Luigi Cherubini (Italians, best known for their operas), Karl Ditters von
Dittersdorf (Viennese, a composer of symphonies, choral music, and operas), Christoph Gluck (Viennese. best remembered
for his operas), and Muzio Clementi (Italian, best known today for his keyboard sonatinas).