Chamber music - EduqasPerforming and composing ideas

During the Classical period, Joseph Haydn composed music for many string quartets. Like his symphonies, they display many features that are integral to Classical era. These were then developed further by composers such as Mozart and Beethoven.

Part ofMusicMusic for ensemble

Performing and composing ideas

Here are the techniques used by Haydn in String Quartet No.2. The points mentioned are typical musical devices from the and in string . Consider how they can be used in performance and composition.

	In performance	In composition
Dynamic contrasts	Following performance directions keeps the audience engaged.	Create contrast between phrases and sections by adding dynamic markings.
Ornamentation	Ornamentation decorates the melody. This could be especially useful in a solo and to add variation in repeated sections.	Ornamentation adds variation to repeated phrases.
Balanced phrasing	Think about how the phrases are shaped. Remember, instrumental phrasing is linked closely to vocal phrasing. The duration of one breath is the starting point for phrases in instrumental music too.	Use question and answer style phrases.
Modulation	Check the accidentals associated with the new keys that the music is moving to.	Modulate to closely related keys to create variety.
Change of time signature	Think about how the tempo or pulse of the music is the same or different when moving from one time signature to another.	Change the time signature to create a contrasting section.

	Dynamic contrasts
In performance	Following performance directions keeps the audience engaged.
In composition	Create contrast between phrases and sections by adding dynamic markings.

	Ornamentation
In performance	Ornamentation decorates the melody. This could be especially useful in a solo and to add variation in repeated sections.
In composition	Ornamentation adds variation to repeated phrases.

	Balanced phrasing
In performance	Think about how the phrases are shaped. Remember, instrumental phrasing is linked closely to vocal phrasing. The duration of one breath is the starting point for phrases in instrumental music too.
In composition	Use question and answer style phrases.

	Modulation
In performance	Check the accidentals associated with the new keys that the music is moving to.
In composition	Modulate to closely related keys to create variety.

	Change of time signature
In performance	Think about how the tempo or pulse of the music is the same or different when moving from one time signature to another.
In composition	Change the time signature to create a contrasting section.

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The elements of music to consider

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