The Classical Era The Classical Era 1750-1800 1750-1800
Dec 22, 2015
The Classical EraThe Classical Era1750-18001750-1800
Neoclassicism in ArtNeoclassicism in Art
Imitation of Greco-Roman art Imitation of Greco-Roman art Clarity and simplicityClarity and simplicitySymmetry and balanceSymmetry and balance Objectivity (intellectual rather than Objectivity (intellectual rather than
emotional)emotional)
The EnlightenmentThe Enlightenment
Reason over tradition or customReason over tradition or custom Social reform- rise of middle classSocial reform- rise of middle class Encyclopedic frame of mindEncyclopedic frame of mind
Age of revolution – government should Age of revolution – government should arise from the will of the people rather arise from the will of the people rather than be imposed by a ruling classthan be imposed by a ruling class American RevolutionAmerican Revolution French RevolutionFrench Revolution
David, Oath of the Horatii, 1785David, Oath of the Horatii, 1785
David, Death of Socrates, 1787
Jean Honoré Fragonard, The Swing (1766) Rococo
Francois Boucher
Toilet of Venus
Nude on a Sofa
First Painter to King Louis XV
Old vs. NewOld vs. New
AristocraticTradition-boundDecadent
EgalitarianEnlightenedSelf sacrifice
Thomas Jefferson – Rotunda at the University of VirginiaThomas Jefferson – Rotunda at the University of Virginia
The Pantheon in Rome, ItalyThe Pantheon in Rome, Italy
Jacques-Germain SoufflotSainte Genevieve, 1757-1792
Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel (1805)
Arch of Constantine, Rome, Italy
NapoleonNapoleon -Canova Greek, c. 480 B.C.
Classicism in musicClassicism in music
Not modeled on ancient musicNot modeled on ancient musicModeled on classical ideals: balance, Modeled on classical ideals: balance,
symmetry, claritysymmetry, clarityShould appeal to both the amateur Should appeal to both the amateur
and professionaland professional
The Changing AudienceThe Changing Audience
Aristocratic in the Baroque Aristocratic in the Baroque Both middle class and upper class in 18Both middle class and upper class in 18thth century century Music that appeals to allMusic that appeals to all
Rise of comic opera Rise of comic opera Plots from everyday lifePlots from everyday lifeMore natural text settingMore natural text settingVernacular Vernacular
Instrumental music (played at public concerts)Instrumental music (played at public concerts)Focus on melodyFocus on melodyBalanced phrases Balanced phrases
The Situation of the musician: The Situation of the musician: The Patronage systemThe Patronage system
BenefitsBenefits: : Steady incomeSteady income Housed, fed, and Housed, fed, and
clothedclothed Worked with good Worked with good
musiciansmusicians An audience of An audience of
connoisseurs connoisseurs
DisadvantagesDisadvantages:: Musicians were Musicians were
servantsservants Had to cater to the Had to cater to the
patron’s tastespatron’s tastes
Contrasting Careers: Contrasting Careers: Haydn and MozartHaydn and Mozart
Franz Joseph Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)Haydn (1732-1809)
Struggled to earn a Struggled to earn a living teaching in living teaching in ViennaVienna
1761-Got a 1761-Got a position with the position with the Esterhazy familyEsterhazy family
Wolfgang Amadeus MozartWolfgang Amadeus Mozart(1756-1791)(1756-1791)
Leopold Mozart, Leopold Mozart, violinist and composer violinist and composer for the archbishop of for the archbishop of Salzburg Salzburg
Child prodigy Child prodigy Position for the Position for the
archbishop of Salzburgarchbishop of Salzburg Disagreements Disagreements 1781-Mozart fired, 1781-Mozart fired,
moved to Viennamoved to Vienna
Conventions for Instrumental Conventions for Instrumental Genres Genres
4 Movements: Fast-slow-minuet-fast4 Movements: Fast-slow-minuet-fastSymphony (a new genre)Symphony (a new genre)String Quartet (developed from Baroque String Quartet (developed from Baroque
trio sonata)trio sonata)
3 Movements: Fast-slow-fast3 Movements: Fast-slow-fastKeyboard Sonata Keyboard Sonata Concerto (same principle as Baroque Concerto (same principle as Baroque
concerto)concerto)
Classical Style (vs. Baroque) Classical Style (vs. Baroque)
Scoring: no basso continuo Scoring: no basso continuo Dynamics: gradual changes; clarifies Dynamics: gradual changes; clarifies
formformRhythm: a variety of rhythmic Rhythm: a variety of rhythmic
patterns within one movement; patterns within one movement; clarifies formclarifies form
Melody- balanced phrases; used to Melody- balanced phrases; used to clarify harmonic and formal content clarify harmonic and formal content
Classical Style (vs. Baroque) Classical Style (vs. Baroque)
Harmony- Rameau develops a new Harmony- Rameau develops a new theory of harmony (Treatise on theory of harmony (Treatise on Harmony, 1722)Harmony, 1722)Progressions of harmonies Progressions of harmonies Slower harmonic rhythm Slower harmonic rhythm
Texture: variety within one Texture: variety within one movement; clarifies formmovement; clarifies form
Form: Sonata form (developed from Form: Sonata form (developed from Baroque binary form)Baroque binary form)
Sonata Form: For first and Sonata Form: For first and last movementslast movements
Part 1 Part 2
Section 1
Section 2
Section 3
Section 4
P S(T, t)
(K, k) “Fantasy”
P (T, t) S (K, k)
• •
• •
• •
I V V Modulatory
I I
i III III Modulatory
i i
or i I I
Exposition Development Recapitulation
Classical Style (vs. Baroque) Classical Style (vs. Baroque)
Baroque: rhetorical modelBaroque: rhetorical modelClassical: dramatic modelClassical: dramatic model
The working out and resolution of The working out and resolution of conflict conflict
Mozart’s Da Ponte OperasMozart’s Da Ponte Operas
Librettist Lorenzo Da Ponte:Librettist Lorenzo Da Ponte:Le nozze di FigaroLe nozze di Figaro (The marriage of (The marriage of
Figaro)Figaro)17861786
Don Giovanni Don Giovanni 17871787
Cosi fan tutte Cosi fan tutte (Thus do all women)(Thus do all women)17901790
Don GiovanniDon Giovanni
Don GiovanniDon Giovanni Leporello- his Leporello- his
servantservant Donna Anna- Donna Anna-
noblewoman noblewoman Commendatore- her Commendatore- her
fatherfather Don Ottavio- her Don Ottavio- her
boyfriendboyfriend Donna ElviraDonna Elvira Zerlina- peasant girl Zerlina- peasant girl
1
Die ZauberflöteDie Zauberflöte((The Magic FluteThe Magic Flute))
17911791 SingspielSingspiel Emanuel Emanuel
SchikanederSchikaneder The plot and The plot and
Freemasonry Freemasonry Protagonist’s (and Protagonist’s (and
audience’s) audience’s) journey from journey from ignorance and ignorance and superstition to superstition to enlightenment enlightenment
Die Zauberflöte’sDie Zauberflöte’sPrincipal CharactersPrincipal Characters
Tamino - a PrinceTamino - a Prince Sarastro – Priest of the Sarastro – Priest of the
SunSun Queen of NightQueen of Night Pamina – her daughterPamina – her daughter Papageno – a bird Papageno – a bird
catchercatcher Monostatos – overseer Monostatos – overseer
of Templeof Temple
Jenkens' Queen of Night/