Given the wide range of styles in classical music, from Medieval plainchant sung by monks to Classical and Romantic symphonies for orchestra from the 1700s and 1800s to avant-garde atonal compositions for solo piano from the 1900s, it is difficult to list characteristics that can be attributed to all works of that type. However, there are characteristics that classical music contains that few or no other genres of music contain, such as the use of a printed score and the performance of very complex instrumental works (e.g., the fugue). As well, although the symphony did not exist through the entire classical music period, from the mid-1700s to the 2000s the symphony ensemble—and the works written for it—have become a defining feature of classical music. COUNT 8
QSN1 Who sang Medieval plainchant? ANS1 monks QSN2 Avant-garde atonal compositions were written for what instrument? ANS2 solo piano QSN3 What two characteristics of classical music can not be attributed to other genres? ANS3 use of a printed score and the performance of very complex instrumental works QSN4 Through what period did the symphony not exist? ANS4 the entire classical music period QSN5 What has become a defining feature of classical music? ANS5 the symphony ensemble QSN6 What did not exist through the entire classical music period? ANS6 the symphony QSN7 The use of a printed score and the performance of very complex instrumental works are characteristics of what? ANS7 classical music QSN8 Who sang medieval plainchant? ANS8 monks