Music, Philosophy, and Historical Context of the Baroque and Classical Eras

Opera is comparative to modern day

movies

Why does classical music become more commercialized?

Due to the rise of the middle class

Isaac Newton

Revolutionized physics and mathematics; symbolic of the era's intellectual rigor.

Rene Descartes

His philosophy (e.g., "I think, therefore I am") emphasized the dualism of body and mind.

John Locke

Promoted Enlightenment ideas such as natural rights and empiricism.

Bernini

His sculptures, like his dynamic "David," embody the energy and emotional depth mirrored in Baroque music.

William Shakespeare

Though earlier, his legacy inspired many musical works and libretti.

During the Baroque period, which sects of the church were in religious conflict

Protestantism and Catholicism

Characteristics of Rococo art style

Highly decorated and ornamented, less rigid than traditional baroque

basso continuo

continuously played bass line that provided harmonic structure (instruments: harpsichord, cello, lute).

Binary

(AB) Used in Dances

Ternary

(ABA) used in arias and instrumental works

Ritornello

Alternating orchestral sections and solo episodes (found in concertos).

Fugue

A complex contrapuntal form with layered melodic entries.

Sonata-Allegro Form

a dramatic musical form that originated in the Classical period involving an exposition, development, and recapitulation, with optional introduction and coda

Minuet and Trio

An A-B-A form (A = minuet; B = trio) in a moderate triple meter; often the third movement of the Classical multimovement cycle.

Rondo

ABACA

Opera

A new genre combining music, theater, and dance.

Recitative

Speech-like, narrative singing over sparse accompaniment.

Aria

Expressive solo with orchestral accompaniment.

Oratorio

Large-scale sacred work, similar to opera but unstaged.

Cantata

Shorter vocal work, either sacred (used in Lutheran services) or secular.

Concerto Grosso

A small group of soloists contrasted with the full ensemble.

Solo Concerto

Single soloist versus the orchestra.

Suite

Chamber piece, often in multiple movements, written for solo instrument(s) with continuo.

What is Orfeo?

An Opera

What is Messiah?

an oratorio

What is Wachtet auf?

A Cantata/Oratorio

What is Vivaldis Four Seasons?

A Solo Concerto

What Major Revolutions took place during the Classical Era?

The French and American Recolutions

Why did many composers become freelancers during the Classical Era?

With separation from the church and court composers weren't bound to one place and chose to spread their music across Europe

Which Era was marked by Ornamentation?

The Baroque Era

Which Era was marked by Constraint?

The Classical Era

Harpsichord was replaced by what in the Classical Era?

Piano

Who was the father of the Symphony?

Joseph Haydn

Who composed over 600 works in every genre?

Ludwig von Beethoven

Who was transitional figure who composed in both the Classical and Romantic styles and the only "Viennese" composer who was actually from Vienna.

Mozart