What are “movements” and why are they so important in classical music?
A. Ever since the prehistory of classical music (say the Renaissance period), composers sought to STRETCH music into longer and larger compositions… to sustain the beauty. Thus a Medieval song with alternating choruses and verses (Cantata) may not have been quite as grand as a Baroque multi-movement suite for violin or orchestra (Sonata). Separate and contrasting movements allow the composer to COLLECT a wider variety of music together into one larger composition that, taken as a whole, display more contrasting moods, tempos, instrumental colors and forms. VARIETY of course holds the attention of the audience; but the composers have to be careful to somehow RELATE these movements to one another. Initially in the Baroque and Classical Periods this was accomplished by related key signatures or a musical character; but with Beethoven’s famous 5th Symphony we began to have movements related by THEMATIC material as well. And this is why we the audience have to check out the written progra
