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Classical Time
1750-1820. Immortal.
Classical Period
Galant, light, graceful, elegant approach to music. Anything not rock, pop, jazz, folk, or popular music.
Mood
Variety and contrast, elegance suddenly shifting to violence, elation to depression/anger. Far reaching emotional range.
Rhythm
Flexibility: include unexpected pauses, syncopations, and frequent changes from long to short notes
Texture
Basically homophonic in contrast to polyphonic baroque. Melody and simple accompaniment but can quickly change
Melody
Popular, easy to remember, and often symmetrical. Variations on theme being favored
Basso Continuo
ends in classical period, as accompaniment was written out
Classical Orchestra
Grew in size, 60 members
Orchestra Strings
1st violins, 2nd violins, violas, cellos, double basses
Orchestra Woodwinds
2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons
Orchestra Brass
2 french horns, 2 trumpets
Orchestra Percussion
2 Timpani
Classical Middle Class
Wanted Theatre, Literature, Concert debuts, private music lessons
Vienna
Capital of Musical Europe, had to conquer the city through musical achievement
Haydn (1732-1809)
Born in Austrian village of Rohrau, moved to Vienna at age 8. Spent time in London: dedicated 12 symphonies to the city. Treated like king by english royalty.
Esterházys
Richest and most powerful Hungarian nobles. Offered Haydn a formal contract.
Haydn's Music
Paved way for Mozart and Beethoven. Folk personality. Shock the audience with unexpected harmonic twist, long pauses, and violent dynamic changes.
Haydn Writing
Piano sonatas, piano trios, concertos, operas, 104 symphonies, 68 string quartets, 6 masses. Creation 1798 and The Seasons 1801 (oratorios). "Art is free"
Symphony
Extended instrumental composition that lasted from 20-45 minutes. Typically had 4 movements. Each movement is a self contained composition.
1st Movement
vigorous, dramatically fast
2nd movement
lyrical and slow
3rd movement
dancelike movement
4th movement
heroic and brilliant finale
Surprise
Haydn Symphony No. 94 in Theme and Variations format: original theme stated and transforms in key, rhythm, dynamic, and melody.
Countermelody
create polyphonic texture.
Mozart (1756-1791)
a composer from Austria, who was known for classical NEW STYLE. Child prodigy. Memorize and rewrite in ONE HEARING
Abduction from the Seraglio
1782 - Mozart's first German Opera. Immediate success
Marriage of Figaro
1786 - Mozart's opera that conquered Vienna. Repeated in Prague for 5 years.
Don Giovanni
1787 - Perhaps Mozart's greatest opera and most massive undertaking
Requiem
Mass for the dead
Mozarts Music
Masterful in all forms: piano sonatas, symphonies, string quartets, piano concerts, operas, choral music, and chamber music. Never changed a note.
Sonata Form
formal design that symphonies, concertos and sonatas were designed in.
Exposition
introduces original key, first and second theme, ends with repeat sign to play exposition again
Development
Most dramatic section of movement - rapid modulations and broken fragments from first theme
Recapitulation
Brings 1st theme back in original key. First and second theme return with harmonic tension resolved
Coda
rounds off movement by repeating themes or developing them. Usually no more than 12 measures in length
Kochel
Catalogued Mozart's works, the K in Symphony No. 40
Beethoven (1770-1827)
Born in Bonn, family of musicians. Played for Mozart at 16. One who would change history of music. At 22, left Germany to study in Vienna
Heiligenstadt Testament
1802 - Long Letter of Beethoven's anguish of hearing loss.
Beethoven's Music
Bridge from Classical to Romantic. Triumphant, dramatic, climactic and monumental. Heavy Textures, orchestra twice the size. Experimental harmony and form
Beethoven's Compositions
9 symphonies (#3 "Erotica," #9), 32 piano sonatas, violin concerto, late string quartets, Emperor Piano concerto, others
Fiedelio
Bombed at premiere, not representative of Beethoven's Genius
Beethoven Early (1790-1802)
music that reflects more of Haydn and Mozart's influence
Beethoven Middle (1803-1814)
composers heroic period - works are longer, and more thrilling
Beethoven Late (1815-1827)
Beethoven's experimental period, strange harmonies, extended forms, profoundly philosophical and personal
Beethoven's 5th Symphony
Greatest composition of all time. First movement (Allegro con Brio) is in Sonata format