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    Classical Period Class Notes

    Uploaded by

    Dennis Wong

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    Classical Period Class Notes

    Uploaded by

    Dennis Wong
    23 views19 pages

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    © © All Rights Reserved

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    23 views19 pages

    Classical Period Class Notes

    Uploaded by

    Dennis Wong

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    of 19

    Music of the Classical Period

    1750 – 1825

    • A new style in architecture,


    literature, and the arts
    developed.
    • Sought to emulate the
    ideals of Classical Antiquity,
    especially Classical Greece
    • Called “Classicism”

    • Style reflected simplicity,


    clarity and symmetry.
    Important people and events of the classical era
    include:
    • 1732 – The birth of George Washington
    • 1752 – Benjamin Franklin proves that
    lightning is electricity
    • 1760 – George III crowned king of England
    • 1770 – James Cook discovered east coast of
    Australia
    These people contributed to how the society
    would later function with these discoveries
    Inventions of the classical Era
    • 1760 - Industrial Revolution begins

    • 1763 - Watts invents the first steam powered engine

    • 1769 - Watt's steam engine patented

    • 1771 - First edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica

    • 1775 - Electric battery invented by Volta

    • 1788 - Steamboat invented by John Fitch

    • 1796 - First vaccination

    • 1821 - Electric motor and generator invented by Faraday


    Characteristics of classical music
    1. Less complicated texture than Baroque (more homophonic).
    2. Emphasis on beauty, elegance and balance.
    3. More variety and contrast within a piece than Baroque
    (dynamics, instruments, pitch, tempo, key, mood and
    timbre).
    4. Melodies tend to be shorter than those in baroque, with
    clear-cut phrases, and clearly marked cadences.
    5. The orchestra increases in size and range. The harpsichord
    fails out of use. The woodwind becomes a self-contained
    section.
    6. The piano takes over as main keyboard instrument.
    7. Importance was given to instrumental music - sonata, trio,
    string quartet, symphony, concerto.
    8. Sonata form was the most important design.
    “God has blessed me with a cheerful heart so he will forgive me
    for serving him Cheerfully.”
    Composers of the Classical Period
    Franz Joseph Haydn (1732 – 1809)
    • Austrian composer (Viennese School)
    • Often referred to as “Papa” Haydn for:
    1. The development of Symphonies
    2. The transformation of String Quartets
    3. His influence on Mozart and Beethoven
    • Composed:
    Over 100 Symphonies
    6 “Paris” Nos. 82-87; 12 “London” Nos. 93-104
    Concertos, Sonatas, & Chamber Music
    68 String Quartets, piano trios and divertimenti
    Listening:
    Sacred & Secular Vocal Music “Surprise” Symphony no. 94, Mvt 2
    14 Masses, Oratorios (The Creation &
    “Emperor” Quartet Opus 76 No. 3 Mvt 2
    The Seasons), Folk Songs, etc.
    Trumpet Concerto
    Haydn worked for the Grand Duke Esterhazy for most of his career. His
    duties included taking care of the instruments and teaching others how to
    play. He was unable to publish while in their employ.

    He was happy in his roll as a servant.

    Moved to London late in his life and enjoyed great commercial success.

    Was a sought after teacher, he taught both Mozart and Beethoven.

    Did more than any other composer to develop the early symphony form
    and string quartets.
    "His Highness expects Mr Haydn to behave as an honorable
    officer of a princely establishment To wit: to be always sober, to
    behave not rudely but politely and with consideration towards the
    musicians under his direction, and to be modest, quiet and
    honest in his conduct.

    Whenever there is music for Hi Highness, Mr. Haydn will be


    responsible not only for his own but for his musicians' becoming
    appearance in proper livery, according to instructions, with white
    stockings, white linen, well powdered, and either with pigtails or
    with hair-bags, but all in the same attire. Mr. Haydn will write at
    .

    the order of his Highness such music as may be commanded…


    Mr. Haydn will appear every day, both in the morning and the
    afternoon, in the ante chamber, to receive his orders for the day
    regarding the music and having done so, he will communicate
    them to his musicians and make sure that they arrive punctually
    according to order…”
    Quartet No. 62 in C major, Op. 76, No. 3, Movement 2

    “Emperor Quartet”
    Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser (Haydn)
    God save Francis the Emperor, our good Emperor
    Francis!
    Long live Francis the Emperor in the brightest splendor
    of bliss!
    May laurel branches bloom for him, wherever he goes,
    as a wreath of honor.
    God save Francis the Emperor, our good Emperor
    Francis!
    (This hymn became the basis for the Emperor string quartet and
    the current German national anthem)
    Composers of the Classical Period
    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 – 1791)
    • Austrian composer, master of all genres
    Child prodigy, Musical Genius, and an Eccentric
    • Traveled and performed throughout Europe
    with father and sister, settled in Vienna.
    • Eccentricity made life difficult
    • Composed:
    Orchestral Music - 40 Symphonies
    Divertimentos, Serenades, Marches, Dances
    Concertos – 27 for Piano, 5 for Violin, etc.
    Operas – “The Marriage of Figaro”,
    “Don Giovanni”, “The Magic Flute”, etc.
    “I get paid far too much for Choral Music – Masses, the Requiem K.626
    what I do, and far too little for
    what I could do.” Requiem was incomplete, finished by Franz Süssmayr
    Composers of the Classical Period
    Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 – 1827)
    • German composer, transitional figure from
    the Classical to the Romantic Era
    • Enigmatic composer in a changing world:
    Unlike Haydn and Mozart, financial support from
    patrons became sporadic (unstable)
    Depended mainly on concerts and publications. Made
    his name as a piano player when he first moved to
    Vienna. Established himself as a composer later.
    Produced his most profound works after turning deaf
    Orchestral music:
    9 Symphonies, Overtures, and Incidental Music
    “Music is the mediator
    between the spiritual and Concertos:
    the sensual life.”
    5 for Piano, 1 for Violin, 1 triple concerto
    Composers of the Classical Period
    Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 – 1827) cont.
    Chamber Music
    String Quartets, Sonatas, Serenades, etc.
    32 Piano Sonatas
    Op.13 "Pathétique“, “Moonlight”, etc.

    1 Opera
    “Fidelio”
    Choral Music & Songs
    Including: “Missa Solemnis”, song cycle,
    etc.
    Listening:
    Symphony No. 9 “Choral”
    Symphony No. 5
    Piano Sonata “Pathetique”
    Moonlight Sonata
    Fur Elise
    Symphony #3 Eroica
    • Was written while Beethoven was coming to terms with his hearing
    loss
    • Heilgenstadt Testament-A last will and testament that Beethoven
    wrote to his brothers in the form of a letter. It showed that during
    this period Beethoven was depressed and contemplating suicide.
    • Eroica was originally dedicated to Napoleon Bonaparte. The
    dedication was changed after Napoleon declared himself Emperor.
    Traditional Sonata Allegro Form

    Exposition:

    Theme 1 (tonic) Theme 2 (new key)

    Development:

    Themes are freely developed, modulates to dominant key

    Recapitulation:

    Theme 1 and Theme 2 return in home key followed by a coda(closing material)


    • Symphony #5, C minor- four note theme sometimes called “the knock of fate”.

    • One of the most recognizable melodies in all of classical music.

    • Symphony #9, D minor- Choral Symphony

    • First symphony to use a Chorus.

    • The 9th symphony has become an international symbol for hope and freedom. Played to commemorate the fall
    of the Berlin wall, played by students during the Tiananmen Square protests, etc…
    Movement scheme for a typical symphony

    1. Fast (allegro)

    2. Slow (largo, adagio)

    3. Minuet (3/4 dance form)

    4. Fast (allegro, presto)


    Symphony
    A long musical work for a symphonic orchestra which usually
    consists of four contrasting movements
    Requiem
    A mass for the dead

    Program Music
    Music that is written to tell a story or portray non-musical ideas

    String Quartet
    A composition for 2 violins, a viola and a cello, usually consisting of 4
    contrasting movements

    Overture
    A piece played at the beginning of a larger composition such as an
    opera. In 19th century it also referred to a one-movement
    programmatic work

    Orchestral Music
    any music composed for an orchestra

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