Intro to Music - Classical Period

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