Four Eras of Western Classical Music · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Four eras, four sound worlds

Arts & Music · Music · ages 14-16
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. Which composer belongs to the Baroque period?

    • Bach, known for fugues
    • Mozart, known for balanced phrases
    • Stravinsky, known for rhythms with changing accents

  2. Which order matches the lesson's four broad periods?

    • Romantic, Baroque, 1900 onward, Classical
    • Classical, Romantic, Baroque, 1900 onward
    • Baroque, Classical, Romantic, 1900 onward

  3. Tchaikovsky is a Romantic composer known for symphonies and ballet music.

    Circle one:   True   False

  4. Which broad change applies to many orchestral works from earlier periods to the nineteenth century?

    • Many works used fewer orchestral players
    • Many works used larger wind and percussion sections
    • Many works kept wind and percussion sections at their earlier sizes

  5. A written description says several musical lines introduce the same tune in turn. Which period is a reasonable first guess from the lesson's clues, before checking the date?

    • Music from about 1900 onward
    • Romantic music, about 1820 to 1900
    • Baroque music, about 1600 to 1750

  6. Using the lesson's rough Baroque dates, 1600 to 1750, how many years is that span?

    Answer: ______________

  7. A written description reports uneven accents, suggesting a twentieth-century piece. What is the best next check before settling on its period?

    • Check the date of the performance
    • Check who composed it and when
    • Check the release date printed on the recording's cover

  8. A friend labels a piece written in 1850 as belonging to the Classical period. Using the lesson's rough dates, which correction is best?

    • 1850 fits the Romantic period, about 1820 to 1900
    • 1850 fits the Classical period, about 1750 to 1820
    • 1850 fits the Baroque period, about 1600 to 1750
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Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Four eras, four sound worlds W1-mt_qD4DNod70--s1

  1. Bach, known for fugues · Bach is the Baroque composer among these examples.
  2. Baroque, Classical, Romantic, 1900 onward · Baroque comes first in this framework, followed by Classical, Romantic and music from 1900 onward.
  3. True · The lesson pairs Tchaikovsky with the Romantic period and names symphonies and ballet music among his work.
  4. Many works used larger wind and percussion sections · Many nineteenth-century works use larger orchestras, but solo music and smaller ensembles continued.
  5. Baroque music, about 1600 to 1750 · Imitating lines may suggest a Baroque fugue. Similar techniques occur in other periods, so this is a tentative guess.
  6. 150 · Subtract the start year from the end year: 1750 - 1600 = 150 years.
  7. Check who composed it and when · Check the composer and composition date. A performance or recording can be later than the piece, and uneven accents are not exclusive to one period.
  8. 1850 fits the Romantic period, about 1820 to 1900 · 1850 is between about 1820 and 1900, the Romantic period in this framework. Earlier stylistic features can still appear.
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