Serenade; Divertimento; Cassation; Notturno
Serenade
As a form, the Serenade is characterized by a mixture of elements
taken from the suite, particularly marches
and minuets, and from the sonata.
The style likewise is about midway between that of the suite and the symphony.
Serenades usually are written for a small ensemble
consisting of a limited number of strings and a few wind instruments, as
would be suitable for an open-air performance. The most famous examples
are Mozart's "Haffner" Serenade
(K. 250) and "Eine kleine Nactmusik" (K. 525).
Divertimento
A term frequently used in the 18th century, especially in Austria, for
an instrumental composition written primarily for
entertainment and hence in a rather light vein. The title
Divertimento was given to an enormous variety of types. Usually,
however, such compositions were written for small
ensembles (strings, winds, or mixed groups; three to eight or more
players) and consisted of a number (three to ten)
of relatively short movements, some of which are modeled after the
sonata while others are dances (especially minuets),
marches, or variations. In one of
his autograph catalogs Haydn used
the title Divertimento for 162 compositions, among them his Baryton trios.
More than 50 of them are divertimenti as defined here. Mozart
wrote 37 compositions called Divertimento.
Cassation
An instrumental form of the 18th century, designed
for outdoor performance, that includes elements
of the symphony as well as the suite; hence, practically
identical with the divertimento and serenade.
Notturno
An 18th-century name for compositions similar to
the serenade, designed to be played as an evening
entertainment.