Test 3 - Exploration of Music

Dates of The Classical Period

1750-1820

in this age, faith in the power of reason was so great that it began to undermine the authority of the social and religious establishment.

The Age of Enlightenment

The Age of Enlightenment was also known as

The Age of Reason

The 5 characteristics of the Classical Period

1. Rhythm 

2. Texture

3. Melody

4. Dynamics and piano 

5. Structure

Rhythm in the classical period

Flexible, a wealth of rhythmic patterns. (CONTRAST: baroque pieces have few patterns that are reiterated throughout)

Texture in the classical period

Basically Homophonic (having the same sound. same. closely similar or comparable in kind or quality or quantity or degree)

Melody in the classical period

Balanced and symmetrical.

Classical melodic lines are much _______ than those used during the Baroque

shorter

Dynamics in the classical period

gradual dynamic change - crescendo and decrescendo (CONTRAST: baroque period had terraced dynamics)

Crescendo 

gradually getting louder

Decrescendo

gradually getting softer

The piano in the classical period

replaced the harpsicord from the Baroque period

Structure in the classical period

HIGHLY Structured

the four sections of a standard classical orchestra

1. strings

2. woodwinds

3. brass

4. percussion

was the number of musicians was greater in a classical orchestra or in a baroque orchestra?

Classical

Which section of the classical orchestra was most important?

strings

3 of the world’s greatest composers

Hadyn, Mozart, and Beethoven

• Content to spend most of his life serving a wealthy aristocratic family.

• Considered a skilled servant (garden or gamekeeper)

• Had to wear a uniform and refrained from vulgarity in eating, drinking, and conversation.

Joseph Hadyn

• Could not bear the servant life

• Went to Vienna to try his luck as a freelance musician

• Very successful at first but then popularity declined and he died in debt.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

• Worked as independent musician in Vienna

• Success was gained through a wider middle-class market for music 

• Commanding personality prompted the nobility to give him gifts and treat him as an equal.

Ludwig van Beethoven

which class was now prospering and able to buy better homes, clothes, and food?

the middle class

The reason people made more money during the Classical Period was due to the emergence of the economic system known as ________

Capitalism

because of capitalism, the middle class was now an important supporter and patron of ______

music

The Classical Period saw the emergence of ________

Capitalism 

the 2 Christian elements of Capitalism 

1. rooted in work, hard work (before the fall, there was work)

2. rooted in creativity

The aspect of capitalism that is most helpful/related to music is __________

Expendable or disposable income

Capital of Austria. Where Hadyn, Mozart, and Beethoven played

Vienna 

Composers during the Classical period placed great emphasis on _____ in the music they wrote 

Form