Classical Period

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

One of the Enlightenment thinkers, social reformer

Voltaire

Enlightenment thinker

Giovanni Battista Pergolesi

known for comic opera

Giovanni Battista Sammartini

one of the composers in Milan that began to write the first concert symphonies

Johann Stamitz

first symphony composer to use a 4 movement plan, his orchestra was known for dynamic range and effect

Elector Palatine

His court was one of the most active musical centers in Europe

Joseph Haydn

employment with Esterhazys, freedom to experiment, father of symphonies and string quartet, style was simple, motives with variations, uses humor

Prince Paul Anton Esterhazy

Hungarian, employed Haydn

W. A. Mozart

child prodigy, traveled, combined galant style with learned style, incorporated opera buffa and seria, gave orchestra greater importance, more feeling in pieces

Archbishop Colloredo

Patron of Mozart

Lorenzo da Ponte

librettist for Mozart’s operas

Ludwig van Beethoven

combined style of Mozart and Haydn, piano virtuoso, incorporated drama and heroicism into music

Prince Karl von Lichnowsky

Beethoven’s patron

Prince Franz Joseph von Lobkowitz

Beethoven’s patron, hosted first performance of Eroica

Prince Kinsky

Beethoven’s patron

Archduke Rudolph

Beethoven’s patron

Napoleon Bonaparte

French general during the French Revolution

Galant style

courtly, short melodies, repeated phrases, accompaniment with simple harmony

Learned style

baroque style, imitation and counterpoint

period

2 or more phrases

Schema

formulas used to compose

Comic opera

funny opera

simple recitative

accompanied by only harpsichord or basso

Accompanied recitative

full orchestra accompaniment

De capo aria

no developed musical motive

Sinfonia

Italian opera overture

Symphony

a work of 3 or 4 movements, homophonic, without division between orchestra and soloists

Instrumental sonata

sonata written for a specific instrument

Instrumental Concerto (solo)

solo instrument with orchestra

Early sonata form

2 main sections, first section has 1 period (tonic to dominant), second section has 2 periods (starts with dominant, begins and ends in tonic)

Late sonata form

3 part form: exposition (tonic to dominant), development (dominant and noodles), recapitulation (tonic)

String quartet

written for amateurs, 2 violins, viola, and cello

Alberti Bass

arpeggiated accompaniment of chords

Sturm und Drang

storm and stress

Ritornello form

theme repeats between contrasting sections

Heiligenstadt Testament

discussed his deafness, its isolating effect, his contemplation of suicide, and his decision to continue on for the sake of his art

Heroic style

what Beethoven used in his compositions, drama, Greek mythology