Mix 1
This musical term means that the volume starts out as a tiny, quiet whisper and slowly grows louder and louder
What is a crescendo
This Russian composer is the king of magical ballet music, famous for writing The Nutcracker and Swan Lake
Who is Tchaikovsky
Instead of following strict, rigid rules, Romantic composers wanted their music to do this, letting you imagine a movie in your head
What is tell a story
Frédéric Chopin loved this instrument so much that he wrote almost all of his music just for it
What is the piano
This technique allows a musician to slow down or speed up the tempo freely, making the music sound like it is breathing or sighing with emotion
What is rubato
Chopin wrote a famous piece called a Nocturne, a word that translates to this time of day
What is night music (or the nighttime)
This is the name of Beethoven's famous, happy melody from his 9th Symphony that features a giant choir singing along at the end
What is "Ode to Joy"
Tchaikovsky used this keyboard instrument in The Nutcracker because it sounded like magical, crystalline bells
What is the celesta
To make string instruments sound sneaky and tiptoeing, musicians use this technique where they pluck the strings with their fingers instead of using a bow
What is pizzicato
Beethoven used this technique to play the same melody over and over, changing the instruments and style each time
What is Theme and Variations
Orchestras grew in this era by adding massive harps, deep brass horns, and this crashing percussion instrument
What are cymbals
Chopin wrote the Minute Waltz after watching a tiny animal do this action
What is a little dog chasing its tail
Tchaikovsky was born in this large, cold country, which is famous for its incredible history of classical ballet
What is Russia
Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" melody is very easy for kids to sing because it is this type of melody, meaning the notes move right next to each other
What is a stepwise melody
This two-word term describes music that is specifically written to tell a story or paint a picture
What is program music/word painting
Unlike other composers who wrote giant symphonies for 100 players, Chopin was unique because he wrote almost all of his music for this many instruments
What is one (The piano)
Chopin was born in this European country, which heavily inspired his rhythmic dance music before he moved to Paris
What is Poland
In this era, romantic composers rejected the strict, orderly rules of this previous musical era
What is the Classical Era
Tchaikovsky secretly bought a brand-new instrument in Paris called the celesta just so he could use it to represent this specific, magical character in The Nutcracker
Who is the Sugar Plum Fairy
This multi-syllable word describes a musical texture where Beethoven stacks independent, melodies on top of each other all at once
What is polyphony