WHAT IS CLASSICAL MUSIC?

Unit 1
Introduction: Much of the music in this course is concerned with the phenomenon of
classical music. This exercise is aimed at getting you to think about specific musical
elements that distinguish Western classical from popular styles.
Instructions: Listen to three examples of classical music and two examples of popular
music from your collection or any online source and fill out the questionnaire below for each
of the five examples.
Download this questionnaire, save it on your computer, complete the requested information
for each of your five examples, save and upload to the assignment by its due date.
9 points earned for each fully completed questionnaire; 45 total points for the assignment
(Hint: on YouTube, search for any work by Bach, Handel, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin,
Debussy, Stravinsky, or Ravel to find online examples of classical music.)
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EXAMPLE #1:
Name of Music Example or Song: Bach Cello Suite No.1 in G
URL or location or CD Track No: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGQLXRTl3Z0
1. Are acoustic or electronic instruments used? Acoustic instruments
2. Is there more than one playing? If so, what is the size of the instrumental group?
-There is only one instrument playing
3. Are there lyrics, and if so, how important are these to your enjoyment of the music? What
are the lyrics about?
-There are no lyrics
4. Is there a definite beat? If so, is it strong (easily heard) or weak (in the background)?
-There is a repeating melody but no single beat.
5. Are the musical phrases long and complex, or short and simple?
- They are long and complex
6. Does the music seem to have an overall purpose or intent behind the music? If so, what
do you think it is?
- The purpose of this piece does not seem apparent without context.

7. If your example has lyrics, do the lyrics speak to issues of contemporary interest, such as
love, desire, money, despair, and injustice?
8. How long is your example?
- About 19 minutes.
9. Would you label this example as "classical" or "popular"? Why?
-Classical, It was composed by Bach
10. Is the music in this example easily understood in one hearing or it seem to require
repeated hearings before it makes sense?
- The piece is classical so it will require many listenings to get the full message.

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EXAMPLE #2:
Name of Music Example or Song: Beethoven Symphony No. 9
URL or location or CD Track No: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3217H8JppI
1. Are acoustic or electronic instruments used? Acoustic
2. Is there more than one instrument playing? If so, what is the size of the instrumental
group?
-There is an entire orchestra playing
3. Are there lyrics, and if so, how important are these to your enjoyment of the music? What
are the lyrics about?
- There are lyrics and they are in another language
4. Is there a definite beat? If so, is it strong (easily heard) or weak (in the background)?
- There is no definite beat
5. Are the musical phrases long and complex, or short and simple?
- The phrases are long and complex
6. Does the music seem to have an overall purpose or intent behind the music? If so, what
do you think it is?
-The Purpose cannot be knows without context on the piece
7. If your example has lyrics, do the lyrics speak to issues of contemporary interest, such as
love, desire, money, despair, and injustice?
-The lyrics seem to be about joyful experiences

8. How long is your example?

-The sample is about an hour long
9. Would you label this example as "classical" or "popular"? Why?
-This would be considered classical it was composed by Beethoven
10. Is the music in this example easily understood in one hearing or does it seem to require
repeated hearings before it makes sense?
- Since it is classical it will require many listenings
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EXAMPLE #3:
Name of Music Example or Song: Franz Liszt - Liebestraum - Love Dream
URL or location or CD Track No: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpOtuoHL45Y
1. Are acoustic or electronic instruments used? Acoustic
2. Is there more than one instrument playing? If so, what is the size of the instrumental
group?
-A single piano is used
3. Are there lyrics, and if so, how important are these to your enjoyment of the music? What
are the lyrics about?
- There are no lyrics
4. Is there a definite beat? If so, is it strong (easily heard) or weak (in the background)?
-There is repeating melody but no true beat
5. Are the musical phrases long and complex, or short and simple?
- The phrases are of medium length and semi-complex
6. Does the music seem to have an overall purpose or intent behind the music? If so, what
do you think it is?
- The song seems to be about a man thinking about past memories with a lover
7. If your example has lyrics, do the lyrics speak to issues of contemporary interest, such as
love, desire, money, despair, and injustice?
8. How long is your example?
-5:50
9. Would you label this example as "classical" or "popular"? Why?
-This would be considered classical because it requires you to pay attention to
understand the meaning of the song

10. Is the music in this example easily understood in one hearing or does it seem to require
repeated hearings before it makes sense?
- This song is easier to get the meaning of than other classical music, but may still
require a few listenings
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EXAMPLE #4:
Name of Music Example or Song: Vampire Weekend - Oxford Comma
URL or location or CD Track No: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_i1xk07o4g
1. Are acoustic or electronic instruments used?
-Electric
2. Is there more than one instrument playing? If so, what is the size of the instrumental
group?
-There is a whole band playing
3. Are there lyrics, and if so, how important are these to your enjoyment of the music? What
are the lyrics about?
- The lyrics are what make up a lot of the song
4. Is there a definite beat? If so, is it strong (easily heard) or weak (in the background)?
- There is a definite beat
5. Are the musical phrases long and complex, or short and simple?
- They are short and simple
6. Does the music seem to have an overall purpose or intent behind the music? If so, what
do you think it is?
- I dont think there is too much of a purpose
7. If your example has lyrics, do the lyrics speak to issues of contemporary interest, such as
love, desire, money, despair, and injustice?
- The song talk about relationships
8. How long is your example?
-The sample is about 3.5 minutes long.
9. Would you label this example as "classical" or "popular"? Why?
-This would be a popular song
10. Is the music in this example easily understood in one hearing or does it seem to require
repeated hearings before it makes sense?

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EXAMPLE #5:
Name of Music Example or Song: alt-J - Breezeblocks
URL or location or CD Track No: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVeMiVU77wo
1. Are acoustic or electronic instruments used?
- Electronic instruments are used
2. Is there more than one instrument playing? If so, what is the size of the instrumental
group?
- There are multiple instruments playing, drums piano guitar bass
3. Are there lyrics, and if so, how important are these to your enjoyment of the music? What
are the lyrics about?
- Lyrics are what make up most of the song, They are about a girl who wants to leave
but he does not want her too for various reasons.
4. Is there a definite beat? If so, is it strong (easily heard) or weak (in the
Background)?
- There is a definite beat
5. Are the musical phrases long and complex, or short and simple?
-They are short and complex
6. Does the music seem to have an overall purpose or intent behind the music? If so, what
do you think it is?
- There is a purpose and that is to tell stories
7. If your example has lyrics, do the lyrics speak to issues of contemporary interest, such as
love, desire, money, despair, and injustice?
-Yes it talks about love
8. How long is your example? The song is about 3 minutes long
9. Would you label this example as "classical" or "popular"? Why?
-Popular
10. Is the music in this example easily understood in one hearing or does it seem to require
repeated hearings before it makes sense?
-This song would require many listenings because it is very lyrically complex