Classicalism Notes from book

The Enlightenment

A secular rebirth in Western history marked by rationally grounded thinking and the emergence of new ideas in philosophy and science.

Natural Law

A philosophy asserting that human understanding and morality should guide governance and society, prominently advocated by philosophers like Jean-Jacques Rousseau.

Deism

A belief system that emphasizes reason and natural law as the basis for morality, viewing God as a supreme architect who does not intervene in human affairs.

The Encyclopédie

A comprehensive work edited by Denis Diderot and Jean le Rond d’Alembert, promoting liberalism and scientific inquiry, published between 1751 and 1777.

Neoclassicism

An artistic movement that emphasized simplicity, balance, and harmony, inspired by the art of ancient Greece and Rome, replacing the ornate Baroque style.

Accessibility & Patronage

The shift in music from exclusive court performance to public concerts and home entertainment, allowing a larger middle-class audience to engage with the arts.

Franz Joseph Haydn

Known as the 'Father of the Symphony' and the 'Father of the String Quartet,' he contributed extensively to instrumental music and spent decades as a court composer.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

A prolific and influential composer of the Classical era, known for his operatic works, innovative approaches to ensemble writing, and blending of comedy and drama.

Christoph Willibald Gluck

A composer who initiated significant reforms in opera to prioritize drama and emotional truth over vocal excess, exemplified in his work Orfeo ed Euridice.

The First French Republic

Established in September 1792 after the abolition of the monarchy, marked by the motto 'Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité' and the execution of King Louis XVI.