Music of the Classical Period Study Notes

5.1 Objectives

The objectives of the Classical period music study include:

  1. Demonstrating knowledge of historical and cultural contexts of the classical period.

  2. Recognizing musical performing forces (voices, instruments, and ensembles), styles, composers, and genres of the classical period.

  3. Aurally identifying selected music of Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven and explaining how it interacts with forms of the day.

5.2 Key Terms and Individuals

  • American War for Independence: The conflict leading to the establishment of the United States.

  • Cadenza: A solo passage in a concerto or other work that showcases the performer's virtuosity.

  • Chamber Music: Music composed for small groups of instruments, traditionally performed in intimate settings.

  • Coda: The concluding section of a piece of music, often reaffirming the home key.

  • Concerto: A musical composition for a solo instrument accompanied by an orchestra.

  • Cotton Gin: A machine that revolutionized cotton processing and impacted the economy.

  • Da Capo: An instruction in music meaning “from the head,” indicating a return to the beginning.

  • First-Movement Concerto Form/Double-Exposition Form: A structure used in concertos where the exposition of the first movement features the orchestra and the soloist presenting themes separately.

  • French Revolution: The revolution that drastically changed the political landscape in France and influenced culture and arts.

  • Hemiola: The rhythmic shift from a duple to a triple feel.

  • Industrial Revolution: A period of industrial growth that transformed economies, especially in Europe and the United States.

  • Jean-Jacques Rousseau: An influential philosopher of the Enlightenment.

  • Joseph Haydn: Renowned composer known as the 'Father of the Symphony' and 'Father of the String Quartet'.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven: A pivotal composer transitioning between the Classical and Romantic periods.

  • Minuet and Trio Form: A musical form popular in the Classical period consisting of a minuet (A), a contrasting trio (B), and a return to the minuet (A).

  • Napoléon Bonaparte: Leader during the French Revolution, who influenced arts significantly.

  • Opera Buffa: A comedic opera that became popular in the Classical period, commonly associated with Mozart.

  • Pizzicato: A technique of plucking the strings of string instruments.

  • Rondo: A musical form that alternates a refrain (A) with contrasting sections (B, C, etc.).

  • Scherzo: A lively movement that often replaces the minuet in classical symphonies.

  • Sonata: A term used for a range of works, particularly the three-part structure consisting of exposition, development, and recapitulation.

  • Sonata Form: A form that includes three distinct sections—exposition, development, and recapitulation.

  • Steam Engine: A key invention during the Industrial Revolution that transformed industry and society.

  • String Quartet: A musical ensemble consisting of two violins, one viola, and one cello.

  • Symphony: A large-scale orchestral composition, typically structured in four movements.

  • Ternary Form: A musical form with three sections, often shaped as A-B-A.

  • The Enlightenment: An intellectual movement emphasizing reason and individualism rather than tradition.

5.3 Introduction and Historical Context

The Classical period in music is the shortest among musical eras, lasting less than a century, approximately from 1750 to 1815. It is majorly characterized by the works of three composers: Joseph Haydn (1732-1809), Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791), and Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827). These three composers established a foundation for most subsequent music and significantly influenced the development of Western art music.

Vienna, Austria, emerged as the cultural capital during this period, where Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven each spent considerable time, honing their craft and impacting one another's work. The Classical music of this era is regarded as "classic" in its ability to provide exemplars that stand the test of time and emulate the balance found in ancient Greek and Roman art.

This period correlates with broader historical shifts including political revolutions, the rise of the middle class, and the intellectual climate of the Enlightenment. During this time, traditional hierarchies were being questioned, with the educated middle class gaining prominence leading to significant cultural changes.

5.3.1 Historical Context of the Enlightenment

The Enlightenment, beginning in the late 17th century with thinkers like Isaac Newton and John Locke, established a shift towards reason, empirical evidence, and individual rights. Locke's assertion that knowledge derives from experience directly fueled educational reforms and movements advocating for social change. Influential philosophers of the Enlightenment included Voltaire, Montesquieu, Rousseau, Franklin, and Kant, who advocated for societal improvements through reasoning.

Political Changes: The Enlightenment was instrumental in prompting political revolutions such as those in America (1776) and France (1789), leading to the early structures of modern democracy where the well-being of the populace became a central concern.

The middle class emerged as a consumer force in the arts, contributing to changing dynamics in music patronage from royal courts to public and commercial venues. This democratization of music led to the emergence of public concerts, shifting the culture from aristocratic domestic settings to public theaters and concert halls where increased audiences could enjoy symphonic and operatic works.

5.3.2 The Visual Arts and Architecture

The Enlightenment prompted visual arts to bifurcate into two styles. Artists, like Jacques-Louis David during the French Revolution, embodied themes of democracy and civic virtue contrasted with aristocratic imagery from earlier periods. A notable work, David’s The Death of Marat, symbolizes revolutionary sacrifice.

Architecture of the time saw a departure from Baroque opulence towards Neoclassicism, drawing inspiration from ancient structures like the Parthenon, promoting simplicity and clarity akin to ancient Greek values. This is mirrored in the ascending evolution of music, as seen in the compositions of Haydn, Mozart, and early Beethoven, who strived for elegance and clarity in their works.

5.3.3 Music in Late Eighteenth Century

The late eighteenth century was marked by a significant transition for composers from aristocratic patronage to a new model where artistic freedom flourished. Haydn navigated the patron system while establishing recognition for his unique contributions, particularly in symphonic and chamber music. Beethoven's later career represented the apex of compositional autonomy, and his life serves as a stark contrast to that of Mozart, who struggled to break free from the constraints of patronage. Beethoven ultimately paved the way for future composers to prioritize individual artistic expression.

5.3.4 Musical Timeline of Historical Events

Key events in history overlapping with the development of these composers and their music include:

  • 1732: Birth of Haydn

  • 1750: Death of J.S. Bach

  • 1756: Birth of Mozart

  • 1762: Publication of Rousseau’s Émile

  • 1770: Birth of Beethoven

  • 1776: American Declaration of Independence

  • 1781: Mozart moves to Vienna

  • 1789: Start of the French Revolution

  • 1791: Death of Mozart

  • 1791-95: Haydn travels to London

  • 1809: Death of Haydn

  • 1827: Death of Beethoven

5.4 Music in the Classical Period

5.4.1 Music Comparison Overview

  • Baroque Music: Predominantly polyphonic with significant use of ornamentation.

  • Classical Music: Moved towards homophony and instrumental dominance, with a focus on clear melodies and structured forms.

5.4.2 General Trends of Classical Music

Musical Style: Emphasized balance and structural clarity, often reflecting a synthesis from the Classical ideals of simplicity and grandeur like ancient Greek art. Featured tuneful melodies with prominent use of question/answer phrasing and lively rhythmic flexibility, often using crescendos and decrescendos.

Performing Forces: Saw the emergence of new ensembles, particularly the piano and string quartet, significantly expanding orchestral size with unique roles assigned to various instrument families, enhancing timbral diversity.

5.4.3 Emergence of New Musical Venues

With the rising middle class came the democratization of music, leading to the establishment of public concerts and increased home music making, transitioning from an elitist art form to one accessible to broader audiences.