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