PRAXIS Pre-Classical and Classical Time Periods

PC - Pre-Classical assume all else is Classical

Rococo Style

PC Art movement transitioning between baroque and classical (18th Century). Muted colors, more nature, very thin line. Focus on lightness, playfulness, gracefulness, elegance, texture.

Reaction against the ornate grandeur of Baroque styles.

Domenico Scarlatti

PC (1685-1757) Keyboardist from Naples (studied in Rome). Composed many sonatas. Worked in Spanish court starting in 1728. Melody is the focus and is balanced.

Transitional Composer

Galant Style

PC Music accessible to all audiences, emphasis on melody, simple accompaniment, thinner textures, balanced and shorter phrases. Homophonic

Alberti Bass

Accompaniment figure in music, often used in the Classical era, esp. Mozart
Technique: broken chord or arpeggiated accompaniment

The Preclassical Period

PC (~1725-~1770) Transitional period out of the Baroque. More international style → blend of different components.

CPE Bach

PC (1714-1788) Son of JS Bach. Blend of Bach and more forward ideas

The Beggar’s Opera

PC (1728) Written by John Gay and Johann Christoph Pepusch. Crossover Opera with 3 acts and realistic characters. No recitative (just songs and dialogue). Music from parodies of Handel, Baroque Music, English, and Scottish music.

Reform Opera

PC Solution to Baroque Opera/Italian Opera Seria by Gluck:

• No leeway for singers

• Singers always in character

• Shorter arias

• Overture has a theatrical purpose

• Emotional Realism

• Character Development

• Dramatic Unity

• Simplicity of Music/Poetry/Drama

• Mythology as a subject material

• Elements of Serious and Comic Opera

Christoph Willibald Gluck

PC (1714-1787) Composer who lived in Germany, but was taught in Italy. Sought a better form of Opera composition.

Classical Melody

Tuneful, easy to remember. May be folk-like. Balanced, symmetrical.

Classical Rhythms

Many rhythmic patterns. Regularity of Music. Steady Tempo. Flexibility = variety (unexpected pauses, syncopations).

Classical Texture and Harmony

Predominantly homophonic. Major and Minor. Diatonic and tonal. Clarity emphasized (no more Basso Continuo).

Classical Dynamics

Gradual and Sudden Changes. Intermediate markings (mezzo—). Creation of the pianoforte (the precursor to the piano).

Sonata Form

Ideal form. In mostly all 1st movements, sometimes in the 2nd, frequently in the 4th movements. Drama. Contains:

• Exposition (Themes Introduced)

• Conflict: Modulatory, conflict with themes develop

• Denouement (Recapitulations): Key resolution with the themes

Symphony Themes

Melodic, balanced, recognizable, repeated. Cadences and pauses delineate themes

Symphony Transitional Material

Non melodic, sense of urgency, more rhythmic

Sonata Form Exposition

Introduction of Theme 1 (I), Transition, Introduction of Theme 2 (V), Closing Material (V)

Sonata Form Development

Fragments of Themes 1 and 2. Modulatory that leads to a V

Sonata Form Recapitulations

Theme 1 (I), Transition, Theme 2 (I), Closing Material (I)

Minor Sonata Form

In minor: I → i. Also V → Relative major

Developments from Mannheim Germany

1.) Mannheim Crescendo (very quick crescendo)

2.) Rocket Themes (up and down quickly)

3.) Extra dance movement (3rd movement) into symphonies

Sonata Cycle Structure

Applies for Symphony, Sonata, String Quartet, and Concerto (varied). Balanced in length and mood, self contained movements, connected by key.

Sonata Cycle Movement 1

Fast (Allegro), Tonic, Sonata Form

Sonata Cycle Movement 2

Slow, Contrasting Key (Usually subdominant IV), Simplified Sonata Form OR theme and variations OR binary

Sonata Cycle Movement 3

Dance movement, Tonic, Minuet & Trio (3/4)

Minuet (A), Trio (B), Minuet (A)

Form: A x2, B+A’ x2, C x2, D+C’ x2, A+B+A’

Sonata Cycle Movement 4

Fast, Tonic, Sonata Form or Sonata Rondo.

Franz Joseph Haydn

(1732-1809). Composer born in Austria → left to study music with cousin at age 6. Recruited to St. Stephen’s Cathedral (Vienna) at age 8. Expelled in 1749. Worked at Count Morzin’s Palace for 1 year. Worked for 30 years with the Esterhazy family. High expectations and pressure. Haydn had to push himself to keep creativity. Left for temporary leaves in Paris. Also spent time in London where he wrote 12 symphonies. Died May 31, 1809 in Vienna

Rondo Forms

Sonata Rondo: 7 Part Rondo: A B A C A B’ A

5 Part Rondo: A B A C A

A is always the Tonic

Double Exposition Form

Sonata Form in Concerto

Exposition: Orchestra A(I), transition, B(I), closing (I) → Solo A(I), transition, B(V), closing (V)

Development: C (modulatory)

Recap: A(I), B(I), Cadenza (I)

Theme and Variation Form

Commonly found in Second Movements

Theme: A A B B

Variation 1: A’ A’ B’ B’

Variation 2: A’’ A’’ B’’ B’’

etc.

Coda

Classical Sonata

Solo Sonata (Keyboard or Violin) or Duo Sonata (Keyboard + Other). Follows sonata cycle structure (4 movements). Allowed for amateurs to play at home.

Classical Concerto

Solo concerto: instrumental soloisit + orchestra

Three Movements: fast, slow, fast

Movement 1: Fast, Tonic, Double Exposition Form, Cadenza

Movement 2: Slow, usually subdominant, lyrical, can be double exposition or not

Movement 3: Fast, tonic, usually rondo or sonata rondo

18th Century Opera

Designed for large audiences → massive Opera houses built. New Italian Opera Seria still being composed. Reform opera starts to take over. Comic opera becomes popular.

Comic Opera

Vernacular, Realistic Characters, Ensemble focus, Humorous Situations, Buffo character. Often varied depending on the comic stylings of the country.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

(1756-1791) Musical prodigy. Heard Allegri’s Miserere and copied it → ended up touring across Europe, spending little time in Saltsburg, Austria (home). 16yo: Orchestra Master of Hieronymus Colloredo. 1778: Mom died in Paris → Mozart devastated and becomes freelance. 1787: Appointed as chamber composer of Emperor Joseph II (but financially exploited). Commissioned to write requiem for Count Franz of Walsegg, but he died in 1791 before finishing it.

Don Giovanni

(1787) Written by Mozart. Mix of serious and comic opera. Aristocratic characters, but lower. Buffo character = man servant

Serious Elements: Super natural and tragedy

Humorous Elements: Realistic situation, comic

Joseph Bologne le Chevalier de Saint-George

(1745-1799) African French composer, violinist, and athlete. Son of an affair between wealthy Guadeloupean plantation owner and slave. Joseph spent much time getting education in France. Top of class in Fencing academy. Became concert master of Concert des Amateurs. Denied positions because of race. Worked with Marie Antoinette. Mozart was jealous of him. Helped lead the French Revolution, but died of bladder infection in 1799.

Ludwig van Beethoven

(1770-1827) Changed trajectory of classical music → seen as god. Changed musicians forever → no longer seen as servants. Began to usher in the romantic period.

First Period (1770-1802)

• Born in Bonn, Germany to a musician/alcoholic father. Pushed him to be the next Mozart. Beethoven was temperamental/emotional and tour went poorly. Learned with court organists at age 12. Mother passed away (couldn’t study with Mozart). Studied 1 year with Haydn. Started going deaf in late 20s

Second Period (1803-1812)

• Most productive and triumphant. Wanted to outperform expectations. Wrote most symphonies. Less restrained and more emotional music → more subjective.

Third Period (1813-1827)

• Completely deaf. Fewer works, but they were very complex.

Scherzo & Trio

Replacement of the Minuet & Trio. Started by Beethoven. Still in 3, but much faster. Playful.

Major Compositions of the Classical Period

• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

  • Notable Composition: "Symphony No. 40 in G minor"

• Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

  • Notable Composition: "Symphony No. 9 in D minor" (Choral Symphony)

• Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)

  • Notable Composition: "String Quartet in C major, Op. 76, No. 3" ("Emperor" Quartet)

Classical Concerto Movement 1

Tonic, Fast, Double Exposition, Cadenza near the end (just before the Closing Theme)

Classical Concerto Movement 2

Slow, Subdominant (or Contrasting), Flexible Form

Classical Concerto Movement 3

Fast, Tonic, Usually Rondo or Sonata Rondo Form