How is the German 'national' sound described?

• A. A conglomerate of surrounding European styles of music.
• B. A completely original German invention unrelated to Europe.
• C. An exclusively French galant influence.
• D. An Italianate polychoral approach only.

Answer: (C)

The main idea is how a national sound can be defined by a specific foreign influence that German composers adopted and shaped to feel native. In 18th‑century Germany, the French galant style—with its clear melodies, balanced phrases, and refined elegance—had a strong impact. German composers took these traits and wove them into their own forms and harmonic language, producing a sound that listeners associated with a distinctly German voice while still carrying that French taste. So describing the German national sound as an exclusively French galant influence highlights that particular source of influence as the defining one in this context. While other European styles also contributed to German music, this framing emphasizes French galant as the primary influence shaping that national character in the period discussed.