Chapter 45. Absolutely Classic: Brahms and the Nineteenth-Century Symphony; Listening Guide 36: Brahms: Symphony No. 3 in F Major, III
Which of the following statements correctly describe the third movement of Brahms's Symphony No. 3?
-The tempo is moderate. -The A section has two different themes.
Which of the following statements describe the third movement of Brahms's Symphony No. 3? Which do not?
-The tempo is moderate. -The A section has two different themes.
Which statement is NOT true of Brahms's personal motto?
Brahms's personal motto was "Always a bachelor."
Let's compare two examples representing Romantic symphonies: one from the early part of the era and the other from the last decades of the nineteenth century. Match each work with the appropriate traits you hear. (Coincidentally, both are last movements from the composers' fourth symphonies.)
Brahms: Symphony No. 4, IV Correct label: slow-moving theme late Romantic era (c. 1885) Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 4, IV (Italian) Correct label: early Romantic era (c. 1830) quick-paced dancelike
Which best describes the structure (or form) of the third movement of Brahms's Symphony No. 3?
A-B-A'
Which describes the structure (or form) of the third movement of Brahms's Symphony No. 3?
A-B-A'
Which of the following characterizes the third movement of Brahms's Symphony No. 3?
All possible answers
Brahms wrote his Requiem Mass in memory of -.
his mother
Brahms is buried
in Vienna, near Beethoven and Schubert.
Which statement about the Romantic-era symphony is true?
The first movement of a Romantic symphony is usually the most dramatic and features the use of sonata-allegro form.
Brahms only wrote orchestral music.
false
Brahms's Symphony No. 3 in F major uses none of the forms often found in late eighteenth-century symphonies.
false
Brahms's compositional focus was programmatic music.
false
Johannes Brahms wrote all four of his symphonies as a youth in Hamburg, Germany.
false
The scherzo movement in nineteenth-century symphonies generally is characterized by a slow march tempo.
false
In the nineteenth century, the - movement of a symphony was the most dramatic movement.
first
Which is the most important element in absolute music?
form
How many symphonies did Brahms write?
four
Here is the beginning of the A section: (Brahms, Symphony No. 3, III, A section 0:28) And here is the beginning of the B section: (Brahms, Symphony No. 3, III, B section 0:36) What best describes this music? (Brahms, Symphony No. 3, III)
it sounds like the A section
Here is the beginning of the A section: (Brahms, Symphony No. 3, III, A section 0:28) And here is the beginning of the B section: (Brahms, Symphony No. 3, III, B section 0:36) What describes this music? (Brahms, Symphony No. 3, III)
it sounds like the A section
Match the descriptive words or phrases with the different elements of music as found in the third movement of Brahms's Symphony No. 3.
meter- triple form- A-B-A' melody- lyrical
Match the movement of the Romantic symphony to its correct description.
most dramatic in sonata form Correct label: movement 1 slow and lyrical in a loose 3-part form Correct label: movement 2 rhythmic dance or scherzo Correct label: movement 3 often follows sonata form and closes the symphony correct label:movement 4
Which movement of the Romantic symphony was slow and lyrical in nature, but varied in mood?
movement 2
Match the term to its correct definition.
music that links sound to a narrative or image for musical meaning Correct label: program music music that relies entirely on the structures of sound, or form, for musical meaning correct label: absolute music
Which of the following is not a musical genre to which Brahms made significant contributions?
opera
a musical genre to which Brahms made significant contributions?
opera
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of the nineteenth-century symphony?
orchestra decreased in size as compared with Classical era
By the Romantic era, music had moved from the palace to the -.
public
Which composer nurtured Brahms's talents, going as far as taking him into his home?
robert
Which composer nurtured Brahms's talents, going as far as taking him into his home?
robert schumann
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of the nineteenth-century symphony?
small orchestra with limited winds
How many symphonies did Brahms write?
4
Brahms is from which country?
Germany
Put the excerpts in the correct order in which they first appear in Brahms's Symphony No. 3, third movement. BE VERY CAREFUL to click only on the white triangle to listen to the excerpt; clicking anywhere else in the card will select it as an answer.
Orange-yearning cello melody 0:28: 1st Green-violins, cellos in duet 0:35: 2nd Red-three-note figure 0:36: 3rd
Listen to the following music excerpts and drag each to its correct location on the chart below. Listen carefully for differences in instrumentation. Red-violins, cellos in octaves 0:26 Green-flutes, oboes 0:26 Orange-French horns 0:28
Red-3rd Green-1st Orange-2nd
Put the excerpts in the correct order in which they first appear in Brahms's Symphony No. 3, third movement. BE VERY CAREFUL to click only on the white triangle to listen to the excerpt; clicking anywhere else in the card will select it as an answer.
Red-three-note figure 0:36: 3rd Orange-yearning cello melody 0:28: 1st Green-violins, cellos in duet 0:35: 2nd
Who of the following are Classical period composers and who are Romantic period composers?
Romantic Period Composers Johannes Brahms Robert Schumann
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of the Romantic symphony?
Romantic composers often shortened and lightened up the last movement of a symphony to balance the first movement.
Drag and drop the words in the appropriate blanks to describe the third movement of Brahms's Symphony No. 3.
The third movement of Brahms's Symphony No. 3 is in three-part form. The plaintive main theme of the A section appears first in the cellos; when it returns after the B section, it is heard in the French horns.
Which of the following is not a way to refer to this melody when analyzing Brahms's Symphony No. 3, mvt. III?
Theme 2
Johannes Brahms is revered for his mastery in composing
absolute music
Music without a program, relying entirely on structures of sound for its expressive power, is called
absolute music
Brahms moved to Vienna
and became enormously successful
The opening melody of the third movement in Brahms's Symphony No. 3 is given to which instrument?
cellos
What instruments first play the opening melody in the third movement of Brahms's Symphony No. 3?
cellos
What instruments play the opening melody in the third movement of Brahms's Symphony No. 3?
cellos
Which of the following are characteristics of Brahms's career and compositional output? Which are not?
collected folk songs wrote chamber music
Even though nineteenth-century symphonic - retained the basic structure of the earlier - symphony, they did not always follow the "- rules."
composers classical traditional
The third movement of a nineteenth-century symphony is most likely in - form.
dance
Which does NOT describe Brahms's musical style?
supernatural as an element
Which describes Brahms?
traditionalist composer
Brahms wrote all of his symphonies after he turned forty.
true
Brahms's Four Serious Songs were written in response to Clara Schumann's declining health.
true
By the Romantic era, music had moved from the palace to the public concert hall.
true
By the Romantic era, music performances had moved from the palace to public concert halls.
true
In his Symphony No. 3, Brahms incorporates a melodic motive from the first movement into the other movements.
true
Instrumental music that does not have a program is called absolute music.
true
The Romantic symphony featured an orchestra larger than that of the Classical composers.
true
The Romantic symphony featured an orchestra larger than that of the Classical era.
true
The first movement of a Romantic symphony is usually the most dramatic and features the use of sonata-allegro form.
true
The violins play Theme 2 in the A section of this movement. T/F
true
What instruments play the main theme at the end of the third movement of Brahms's Symphony No. 3?
violins and cellos
How does the B section of this movement begin?
with a connected three-note figure in the woodwinds
How does the A section of this movement begin?
with a yearning cello melody
