Music History Test: Classical

Classical Era Time Period

~1730-1830 AD

Instruments from Classical Era

Piano (fortepiano), clarinet + development of horns, flutes, oboes, brass, etc.

Countries that influenced Classical Music

Greece and Italy (Rome)

Age of Enlightenment

Another name for the Classical Period

Subjects popularized during this era

Humanism, natural science, philosophy, structure

Classicism

New style of arts, literature and architecture

Availability of music

Now available to the public, not just church and court

Classical Melody and Harmony

• “classic” sounds, as a result of society’s interest in art/literature

• Clearer melodies

• homophonic music (melody + accompaniment)

• Lighter and clearer

Classical Rhythm and Dynamics

• more freedom

• move away from constant-moving notes

• use rhythm to add character to a piece

• dynamics contain more variety (crescendoes, decrescendoes, etc.)

Music Form

Classical music ha more structured forms ie. Sonata Form

Sonata

To sound (ie. instrumental music, as opposed to sung)

Sonata Form

Used in Symphony 1st movements, concertos, etc.

1. exposition: theme 1, bridge (contrasting key), theme 2 (contrasting key), codetta, repeat

2. development: build up tension with modulations and motifs, transition back to tonic key

3. recapitulation: theme 1, bridge (same key), theme 2 (same key), closing, coda

The Father of the Symphony/Father of the String Quartet

Franz Joseph Haydn

Classical Composers Order

Haydn

Mozart

Beethoven

Haydn Main Employer

• worked for the noble Esterhazy family

• started as vice-conductor, then became conductor

• stopped working when the prince died

Haydn Influences

Demands of the prince

• wrote a lot of operas for the court

• pieces for the prince’s Baryton

Farewell Symphony

Haydn

• wrote because musicians wanted to go home

• didn’t leave because they didn’t wanna upset the prince

• during the piece, each member leaves until it is just 2 violins

• shows that it’s time for them to go home

Haydn 1779

New contract = more freedom

• no longer composing for Esterhazys

• less operas + more quartets and symphonies

London Symphony

• Esterhazy Prince dies, Haydn can travel

• Goes to England twice

• Writes London Symphonies, including comedic Surprise Symphony

  • Lots of unexpected shifts

Four Movement Pattern

Sonata, Slower Movement, Minuet, Lively Finale

Hadyn Skull

Skull was stolen, took 145 years to be returned

Mozart Early Life

• Born in Salzburg

• Father was a composer

• Started composing at 5

• Father took him on tour around Europe

• Met Bach’s son, who helped him compose 5 symphonies

Mozart Rise to Fame

• went to Vienna and was inspired by Haydn

• Konzertmeister at 13

• Composed many more symphonies and an opera

• didn’t like archbishop of Salzburg because he didn’t like music → he didn’t let Mozart perform

  • This is why Mozart and his wife went to Vienna

Die Entfuhrung

Mozart opera that was a failure because it had “too many notes”

Queen of the Night Aria

One of the hardest operas to sing: was composed for specific voices

Eine Kleine Nachtmusik

Mozart’s most famous piece

End of Mozart’s Life

Struggles to make money to support his habits

Got sick

• unknown if it was a virus or a disease from undercooked pork

• died at 35

Mozart’s legacy

• music for every genre

• talent from a young age

• unique melodies and structures

Beethoven Early Life

• father was a musician and alcoholic

• wanted him to be prodigy like Mozart

• pursued music with Christian Gotlob Neefe

• Wrote first piece at 12

• Studied with Salieri and Haydn

Beethoven Early Period

• 1792-1802

• classical style

• influenced by Haydn and Mozart

• String Quartet

Beethoven Heroic Period

• 1802-1812

• Spent summer in Heiligenstadt

• Wrote Heiligenstadt Testament about his struggles with going deaf

Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata

• Heroic period

• One of first pieces after going deaf

• Written lower because he could hear it better

• Moonlight Sonata

• Symphony Eroica: romantic style (1 hr long, originally Bonaparte)

Symphony No. 5

• Beethoven’s most famous work

• repeated 4-note motif

  • “fate’s motif”

• Heroic Period

Allegro Con Brio, Andante, Scherzo, Allegro Presto

Fidelio

Written in 1805, reworked in 1806, finalized in 1814

Fur Elise

Heroic Era Beethoven

• was not published during his life

Beethoven Late Period

• 1812-1827

• Lost his hearing completely at 45

• had to use a pencil to feel vibrations

• Became secluded near the end

• Died of pneumonia

• 20 000 people at funeral

Symphony No. 9 

Beethoven’s final symphony

• showed full potential of symphony orchestra using a choir

• last movement is Ode to Joy

Franz Schubert Early Life

• born near Vienna

• father was a school teacher

• played viola, violin, organ

• received a scholarship to Stadtkonvikt

• tutored by Salieri

Schubert Career

• tutored the Esterhazy kids

• would host Schubertiades (parties celebrating himself)

• Compositions became popular in Viennese sitting rooms

• Not successful in operas/concerts

• Composed masses for the catholic church but weren’t used

Erlkonig

Piece based on a poem

• written by Schubert

Ave Maria

Not intended to be used in church

• 1825

Schubert Legacy

Inspired by Beethoven

• buried next to him

Known for lieders

• german song form using poems set to music

• Known as the “most poetic of composers”

Schubert End of Life

• first and last concert in 1828

• struggled with health issues

• died of typhoid fever or STI

• became more popular after death

Standchen

Schubert

• symbol of romanticism

• emotional and simple

• shows the transition between classical and romantic