Transcript
How did the term “classic” originate?The term “classic borrowed from a period in ancient
Greece connotes emphasize on clear-cut structure and on the classical simplicity in style.
When did the Classical Period in Western Music take place?
The Classical period in Western music occurred from about
1750 to 1825. There is considerable overlap at both ends with
preceding and following periods, as is true for all musical eras. The
Classical period falls between the Baroque and Romantic periods.
What were the developments prior to the Classical Period?
In the middle of the 18th century, Europe began to move to a new
style in architecture, literature and the arts generally, known as
Classicism.
The new style was also pushed forward by changes in the economic
order and in social structure of the line. As of the 18th century progressed,
the nobility more and more became he primary patrons of instrumental
music and there was a rise in the public taste for comic opera. This led to
changes in the way music was performed, the most crucial of which was
the move to standardize instrumental groups.
Some of the best known composers from this period are Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven, through other notable names include Muzio Clementi, Joseph Haydn, Johann Ladislaus Dussek, Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, and ChristophWillibald.
Franz Joseph Haydn
The Early Classical Period
The first great master of the Classical style was the
composer Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) was born in
Austria to a poor family. A schoolmaster noticed how
musical Haydn was and offered to support his education.
At 17, he started to teach himself to compose music by
studying the works of other composers. He served as
Director of Music to the Esterhazy family for 30 years. He
was known as a gentle man and best known for his
symphonies. He was able to compose over 100
symphonies. He developed the symphony into a long form
for a large orchestra, for it was during the classical period
when the orchestra evolved with its sections of strings,
woodwinds, brasses, and percussion. He took existing
ideas, and radically altered how they functioned- earning
him the titles “Father of Symphony. He is considered as
the “Father of Sonata” form which relied on dramatic
contrast and tension of melody against harmony and
rhythm. Another title he earned was the “Father of String
Quartet.” He composed the Creation and Surprise
Symphony.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
He is generally considered to be
“one of the greatest composers of
classical music.”Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart His output
of over 600 compositions include works
widely acknowledged as pinnacles of
symphonic genre, concertante,
chamber, piano, operatic, and choral
several of the pieces at the age of four
and he was not only reading notes but
making up tunes of his own. At the age
of thirteen, he had written sonatas,
concertos, symphonies, religious works,
an opera buffs and the operetta
“Bastien and Bastienne”. Mozart’s
music is clear, delicate, and simple. His
major works include Requiem, the
operas Nozze de Figaro, Don Giovanni,
and Die Zauberflote, the clarinet
concerto, the string quartet, the late
Ludwig Von Beethoven
The Late Classical PeriodLudwig Van Beethoven (1770-1827)
represents the highest level of musical
genius. He was born in Bonn, Germany, to
Johann van Beethoven, one of a line of
musicians of Flemish ancestry, and Maria
Magdalena Keverich. Beethoven’s first
music teacher was his father. Beethoven’s
talent was recognized at very early age,
and by 1778 he was studying the organ,
violin, and viola in addition to the piano. In
1787, the young Beethoven traveled to
Vienna for the first time, where he played
for Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. He
composed Fur Elise and Moonlight Sonata.
He was a talented pianist and composer
and was recognized as the “Prince of All
Composers”. Even if he began to go deaf in
the year 1796, he was still determined to
compose music.
What are the general characteristics of the Classical Period?
Music during this period was objective.
The general characteristics of the Classical Period as follows:
Great concern for from, especially the sonata
Attention placed to dynamic markings like piano (soft), forte (loud), etc…
Development of the symphony to the fullest
The new instrument, the piano that captured the interest of the composer
Shorter and more regular melody with regular phrases
Melody- often folk-like in clarity and simplicity
Theme as the basis of expanding the composition
The use of simple chords (I,IV,V, and VI)
The use of Alberti bass accompaniment
Modulation to related minor keys
Balance of structure
Generally homophonic structure
Binary structure was less often used (compared with Baroque period)
Ternary form is more frequently
Less harmonic complexity (compared with Baroque)
The Sonata-allegro form:
-offers composers the greatest challenge in organizing musical materials into form.
This form is designed in three large sections: Exposition: first section, where the
keys and themes are “exposed” for the listener. Theme 1 in home key, transition
modulates, Theme 2 in new key, closing section. The exposition is played twice.
Development: the second section. Themes 1 and 2 are fragmented and made into
motives. And recapitulation: the third section. You hear the home key coincide with
Theme 1 again.
Coda: “tail” the very end of a movement. The term sonata developed from an early
Italian word sonare, meaning sound. It originally meant any piece of several
sections that contrast in tempo.
Rondo form:
An instrumental form that was
popular in the late 18th to early
19th centuries. A rondo has a
main theme (usually in the tonic
key) that is restated several
times as it alternates with other
themes.
Theme and Variations:
It may be illustrated as A A'A'' A''' A'''', notice
that each successive variation (A' A'', etc)
contains certain elements of the theme (A).
Compositional techniques used to create
variation may be instrumental, harmonic,
melodic, rhythmic, style, tonal and
ornamentation.
Concerto: is a sonata for solo instrument and orchestra. It is usually designed in three
movements. The highly-developed skill of the soloist and the variety of
possibilities of the solo instrument are shown in most concertos. It has only
three movements: fast, slow, and fast. Lie symphonies, concertos can last from
20-45 minutes.
is a sonata for orchestra, or, in
recent years, for band. The
traditional symphony has four
individual movements which
are similar in temporary mood,
and form to those of the solo
sonata. Recent composers
have organized the symphony
into more or less movements
and have varied their tempos
and form to suit themselves.
Overtures: an overture is a short piece for an
orchestra. Overtures were
performed before an opera or
play to put the audience in the
right mood. Some are written for
their own sake, unconnected to
play or opera.
Chamber
music: A lot of chamber music
is classical. Chamber
music is played by
small groups. You may
not hear wide variety
of tones; instead, listen
to how parts are
woven around each
other and pass the
tune between them.
The String Quartet• A composition for four solo string instruments:
– 2 Violins
– 1 Viola
– 1 Cello
• Each part is equally important.
• Haydn was the first to write one - he also mastered them.
• Piece usually has four movements similar to that of the symphonic form.
The Opera
The type of opera audiences preferred during this period was the comic opera.
Also known as light opera, this type of opera often tackles light, not so delicate subject
matter where the ending often has a happy resolution. The term opera usually implies a
heroic or tragic drama. This was formerly called opera seria (serious opera) or grand
opera. These kind of opera employs mythological characters.
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