The Classical Era: The Enlightenment and the 18 th century

The Enlightenment Revival of interest in ancient Greek architecture, sculpture: –Pompeii ruins discovered 1748 –Scholarly works on ancient art and history –“Grand tour” and the appropriation of artifacts Social justice, equality, satire of institutions –Voltaire These qualities reflected in the balance of classical music.

Major Composers Franz Joseph Haydn ( ) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart ( ) Francesca LeBrun ( ) Ludwig van Beethoven ( ) NOTE: Beethoven spanned both Classical and Romantic eras.

New Classical Genres Symphony: has a 4 movement plan Ex.: Haydn, Symph. No. 95; Ex. Mozart, Symph. No. 40 in G Minor Ex. Beethoven, Symph. No. 5 in C Min. Classical Concerto: double exposition form rather than the ritornello form of Baroque. Ex.: Mozart, Piano Ct. No. 23 in A

Other New Classical Genres Sonata –For solo instrument; 3 movements; similar formal plan to the symphony, minus the minuet and trio. String Quartet –For the 4 instruments of the string family; 4 movements, similar formal plan to the symphony

New Classical Forms Sonata form –Exposition (1 st th.; bridge; 2 nd th.; cadence th.) –Development –Recapitulation Double exposition form of the Classical concerto: one exposition for the orchestra, a second exposition for the soloist. Compare this to the ritornello form of the Baroque concerto.

The four-part form of a symphony (p. 166 textbook) Mvt. 1: fast-to-moderate tempo –Form: Sonata; may have an optional slow introduction Mvt. 2: slow/very slow tempo –Form: variations, rondo, or other Mvt. 3: moderate –Minuet and trio (always in triple meter); ABA * Mvt. 4: fast/very fast –Form: sonata form or rondo form

Classical Era Symphony Listening Examples Symphony No. 40 in G Minor, mvt. I (1788), by W. A Mozart Symphony No. 95 in C Minor, esp. mvt. III (1791) by F. J. Haydn Symphony No. 5 in C Minor (1808), by Ludwig van Beethoven—listen to all movements. What form is the 3 rd movement?

Sonata Form Exposition –Theme 1 (tonic key) –Bridge modulates to the second key –Theme 2 (contrasting key) –Cadence theme (preparing for repeat of exposition)

Sonata Form part 2 Development –Themes 1 and 2 are fragmented and developed; modulating through various keys. The themes may be reduced to short motives which may be sequenced, or even inverted (turned upside down). –Retransition prepares for the recapitulation in the tonic

Sonata, part 3 Recapitulation –Theme 1 in the tonic –Bridge which pretends to modulate –Theme 2 also in the tonic –Cadence theme Coda (may have some new material) signals the end of the piece. Cadences: tonic-dominant- tonic repeatedly

The Classical Concerto Double Exposition form, as opposed to the Ritornello form of the Baroque. The orchestra enters with the exposition; then the soloist enters with the exposition. Both the classical concerto and the baroque concerto feature the forces of the orchestra versus the soloist (or solo group for the baroque concerto grosso).

Comic Opera (for Week 7) In contrast to opera seria of the Baroque, comic opera of the Classical era had: Spoken dialogues Simple songs (instead of recitative and da capo arias) Example: The Marriage of Figaro (Le nozze de Figaro, 1786) by Mozart