1. Music History
Classical Music

2. Historical Context

3. French Revolution
Leaders overturned reign of King Louis XVI and was executed by guillotine.
Leaders forbid class distinctions and existence of aristocracy
Leaders outlawed formal, second-person French language (“monsieur” outlawed)

4. French Revolution…
Revolution government established a board of censorship for the arts:
A) those artists who worked within their rules were highly successful
B) successful artists supplied the new arts required by the state
Many of the ideas of the French Revolution were not established because it had just ended as the Classical Era was beginning.

5. America
Declaration of Independence became an important document for the expression of new ideas:
All men are equal
System of government with checks and balances
Impossible for a dictator to take control
New middle class was the basis of society
Freedom of culture
Was definitely not perfect but was a good start and was improved upon throughout the Classical period.

6. Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was just beginning during this period which allowed for new limits to scientific thought.
Encyclopaedias were first written during this time.
“Clear prose and scientific investigation are valued above the excesses of poetic fancy…”
Music reflected this idea of clear, scientific expression in its form.

7. The Arts…
The focus in the ‘arts’ was imitation of the Greek Classical style of reason and logic
Architecture
White House in Washington (pillars and globe roofs)
Literature
Metre in poetry
Expository prose favoured
Middle class is the subject
Visual Arts
Still-life & dramatic portraits

8. Musical Context…
The Classical period refers to the period of Music history that was dominated by Viennese composers.
Vienna became the musical capital of Europe and remained so for about 100 years.
Since the Enlightenment deals with Balance and Logic, composers tried to have Perfect Order in their music.

9. Musical Context…
Music was supposed to meet the listener at their level, so that they didn’t have to make an effort to understand it.
Composers valued SIMPLICITY over COMPLEXITY.
Balance and form (Greek influence)
Composers stressed symetrical melodies
Followed “traditional” harmonic progressions
Favoured well-balanced forms for their music:
Sonata-allegro form
Divertimento or serenade
Concerto
String quartet
symphony

10. Musical Context…
Late in the Classical era we see some Romantic era influences:
Sturm und Drang (Storm and Stress)
a German movement emphasizing drama & emotion
forerunner of Romanticism within Classical style
Lyricism - a musical quality that expresses deep feelings or emotions.
Dynamic shifts occur more as surprises

11. Other musical tidbits…
As with the Baroque Period, the middle class continued to support the arts. This was beginning to influence composers:
Support of a new market for writers, artists and musicians which led to more public concerts.
Composers were, now more than ever, writing to reach out to the people rather than the select group of people who headed to the church or the nobility themselves.

12. Tidbits continued…
Musical amateurs sought and obtained instruction from professional musicians, or published tutor books; Music making was an essential part of neighbourhood life.
Patrons supported the livelihood of the musicians.
Patron: a person who gives money and support to an artist, organization, etc.
Music printing increased & music journalism began.
The metronome was invented.

13. Features of Classical Composition
Very structured and controlled. Music was to be tuneful and simple, not too loud or too soft. Nothing too extreme.
Composers sought balance and contrast which was achieved through their use of form.
More extensive dynamics – greater control of crescendos and decrescendos.

14. More features…
Highly structured phrases
During the Baroque period, there was a focus on mood (the Affections). Now, there was a development of the Major/minor system.
Less continuo parts, harpsichord, counterpoint and fugues.
The Sonata form evolved during this period. ABA form was the most important musical form used during the Classical period.

15. More changes in music…
Mozart developed the use of subtle and slight changes of instruments, orchestration, and tone colour to express or highlight psychological or emotional states and dramatic shifts.
This is something that you will see in the Symphony which is a HUGE musical work in 4 movements.
The concerto, string quartet, and piano sonata were also developed during this time.
And the modern symphony orchestra was born.

16. Job opportunities… Patronage Public Concert Halls (freelance work)
The composer was hired by the court of a king or prince to write music for events and private entertainment,
Or the composer was hired by a church to write music for services.
This often meant other responsibilities than just composing (Directing, performing, caring for uniforms and wigs, etc.)
Public Concert Halls (freelance work)
The composer could have works performed at public concerts and opera houses
The new middle class was not established well enough to make this a sole means of income. (for example – Mozart).

17. The Classical Symphony - Orchestration
Violin I
Violin II
Viola
Cello
Bass
2 Timpani
2 Flutes
2 Oboes
2 Clarinets
2 Bassoons
2 French Horn
2 Trumpets (sometimes)

18. The Classical Symphony Form of the Composition
1st movement – Sonata Allegro form; fast, intense but sometimes has a slow introduction
2nd movement – ABA form; lyrical, slower, simpler
3rd movement – Minuet and Trio (Time signature = ¾)
4th movement – Rondo or Sonata Allegro; intense and fast

19. Sonata-Allegro Form 3 Sections: Exposition 1. Exposition - Tonic
2. Development - Dominant
3. Recapitulation - Tonic
Exposition
Theme 1 – Tonic key; Strong and Aggressive
Transition – Modulation (change); “Bridge”
Theme 2 – related key: dominant, related Major or minor; Lyrical to contrast 1st;

20. 2nd half of the Sonata-Allegro form…
Development
Manipulation of previous themes, or parts thereof, in different often remote keys.
Usually ends on a strong dominant chord to prepare for the return to the tonic key
Recapitulation
Theme 1 – Tonic key
Theme 2 – No Modulation
Theme 3 – Tonic key
Theme 4 – Ending

21. The composers…

22. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 – 1791)
A child prodigy, Mozart was composing and playing the piano before most children could write
He produced a massive amount of pieces
Mozart hated the patron system – SLAVERY!!
Gift for imitating the music he heard
Developed and popularized the piano sonata
Lived for only 35 years and died penniless

23. Mozart’s Listening… Symphony No. 40 in G minor, K. 550
1st – Allegro Molto
Piano Concerto in A major, K. 488
1st movement
Don Giovanni: Act 1, Scene 5
Ah, chi mi dice mai
Madamina! Il catalogo è questo
Considered opera buffa – comedic opera
Kegelstatt Trio
1st Movement – Andante
Written for viola, clarinet and piano

24. Franz Joseph Haydn ( )
Born in Rohrau, an Austrian village near Vienna.
Haydn is considered the Father of the Symphony.
Haydn composed more than 100 symphonies - developing this form to perfection, carefully defining and arranging the combination of instruments.
Hired to be the director and composer for the Bohemian Count Ferdinand Maximillian von Morzin.
Haydn wrote for this family’s personal orchestra.
Eventually, he became director of music for the Prince of Esterhàzy
He was required to be present twice a day to receive orders and create whatever music the Esterhàzy family requested.
When he was dismissed, after 30 years of service, Haydn was given a generous, lifelong pension.

25. Haydn’s Listening… Symphony No. 104 – London
4th movement
The last of his 12 London Symphonies
Written in D major
String Quartet, Op. 76, No. 3
2nd movement
Quotes the melody from Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser ("God Save Emperor Francis"), an anthem Haydn wrote for Emperor Francis II.
Nicknamed the “Emperor”

26. Ludwig von Beethoven (1770 - 1827)
Born in Bonn, Germany, Beethoven’s father (a drunk) expected him to be a child prodigy. Beethoven was abused and forced to practice.
He did receive lessons from both Mozart and Haydn.
Pianist, conductor and composer – known for his exceptional skill at improvisation
Friends with nobility but never had a patron or a steady job. He was the first to be a successful freelance composer.
Portrayal of his innermost feelings and his love of nature is apparent within his music
Lost his hearing
Beethoven became the link between Classical and Romantic periods

27. Beethoven’s Listening
Piano Sonata No. 8, Op 13 (Pathetique)
3rd movement – Rondo: Allegro
Form: ABACABA
Shows a possible influence of Mozart and his music
Rolling octaves - In c minor
Showed his brooding restlessness
Symphony No. 3 in E-flat, Op. 55
Eroica, 1st movement – Allegro con brio
Italian for Heroic
Originally, this piece was to be called the Bonaparte Symphony. However, when Napoleon crowned himself emperor, Beethoven was furious. Beethoven scratched out the title so hard that he ripped through the paper.
He then called it Eroica – “to celebrate the memory of a great man”.