1. Music: An Appreciation 9th-10th Edition by Roger Kamien
Part V
The Classical Period

2. The Classical Period Time Line Seven Years’ War-1756-1763
Louis XVI in France
Am. Declaration of Independence-1776
French Revolution-1789
Napoleon: first French consul-1799
Napoleonic Wars
Goethe: Faust-1808
Austin: Pride and Prejudice-1813

3. The Classical Era Scientific advances changed world view Visual Art
Faith in the power of reason
Undermining of traditional authority
Social organization
Religious establishment
Age of Enlightenment
Rise of the middle class worker
Visual Art
Moved away from ornate Baroque style
Favored light colors, curved lines, & graceful ornaments

4. Ch. 1 - The Pre-classical Style
Transitional period: ~
Style Galant (Rococo )
C.P.E. and J.C. Bach—early pioneers
Domenico Scarlatti ( ): wrote 555 keyboard sonatas
Concentrated on simplicity and clarity

5. Ch. 1 - The Classical Style
Term classical
Greek and Roman antiquity
Supreme accomplishment of lasting appeal
Anything that is not rock, jazz, folk, or popular
Music and visual arts stress balance and clarity of structure
Three main composers
Joseph Haydn
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Ludwig van Beethoven

6. Characteristics of the Classical Style
Contrast of Mood
Contrasts both between & within movements
Flexibility of rhythm
Multiple rhythmic patterns for variety/ unexpected pauses
Texture
Mostly homophonic, but with frequent shifts
Melody
Tuneful, easy to remember, balanced, symmetrical
Composers borrowed popular/folk tunes + original themes
Dynamics
Emotions expressed in shades of dynamics
Use of gradual dynamic changes (crescendo/diminuendo)
Related to development of the piano – soft/loud
End of the Basso Continuo
More control of harmony

7. The Classical Orchestra
Increase in size of orchestra – standard group of four sections
Strings: 1st & 2nd violins, violas, cellos, double bass
Woodwinds: @2 – flutes, oboes, clarinets, bassoons
Brass: @2 – French horns, trumpets (no trombones/tubas)
Percussion – 2 timpani
Composers exploited individual tone colors
Each section had a special role
Strings most important w/ violins taking the melody
Woodwinds added contrasting tone
Horns & trumpets brought power to loud passages
Timpani used for rhythmic bite and emphasis
Harpsichord replaced by piano around 1775

8. Classical Forms
Instrumental works consist of several movements that contrast in tempo & character
1st—Fast
2nd—Slow
3rd—Dance-related
4th—Fast
The movements might use different forms
A B A
Theme and Variations
Sonata
Minuet and Trio
Rondo
Movements often contrast themes vividly
By movement’s end, musical tensions are resolved

9. Main classical forms Sonata form Theme and Variations Minuet and Trio
Rondo
Symphony
Concerto
String quartet (chamber music)

10. Ch. 2 - Composer, Patron, and Public in the Classical Period
Changing society affected musicians
Haydn: worked 30 years for aristocratic family
Mozart: began at court, broke away, died broke
Beethoven: successful as independent musician
Prospering middle class wanted aristocratic pleasures (theatre, literature, music)
Public, ticket buying concerts became common
Demand for printed music, instruments & music lessons
Composers wrote playable music that would sell
Serious compositions flavored by folk and popular music

11. Vienna Became the music, cultural and commercial center of Europe
4th larger city at that time
Musicians came to study and seek recognition
Aristocrats wintering there would bring their orchestras /many nobles were excellent musicians
Musicians, including Mozart and Beethoven, frequently played gigs in wealthy homes
Many musicians also worked in serenading street bands
Serenades/divertimentos (outdoor evening pieces)

12. Ch. 3 - Sonata Form Also called sonata-allegro form
Refers to form of a single movement
Ternary form (A B A)—3 main sections
Exposition
Initial statement of 1st and 2nd themes
1st theme in tonic (I) , 2nd theme in dominant (V)
Entire section usually repeated
Development
Tension building section
Themes broken into fragments—motives
Recapitulation
Resolution of tension
Re-statement of 1st and 2nd themes
Often concludes with a “tag” or tail—Coda

13. Listening Symphony No. 40 in G Minor, K. 550
by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Fourth movement
Note: Sonata Form
Exposition
Development
Recapitulation
Coda (“tail”-optional)

14. Ch. 4 - Theme and Variations
Single part form—no large contrasting “B” section
(A A’ A” A”’…)
Basic idea presented and then repeated over and over
Each repeat alters (varies) the musical idea
Each variation is about the same length as the original idea
Variations may alter melody, harmony, rhythm, dynamics, timbre, or all of these

15. Types of variations Melodic Harmonic Rhythmic Dynamics related Timbral
Accompaniment related
Combinations of the above are possible

16. Listening Symphony No. 94 in G Major (Surprise; 1791)
by Franz Joseph Haydn
Second Movement
Note: Theme and Variations form
Countermelody

17. Ch. 5 - Minuet and Trio
Ternary form based upon stately court dance (~1650) of the Baroque
Often as a 3rd movement of a larger composition
Triple meter/ moderate tempo
Each ternary part is itself ternary:
Minuet Trio Minuet
A B A
||: a :||: b a’ :|
|: c :||: d c’ :|
| a b a’ ||
Return of the Minuet is usually marked on the music as da capo

18. Listening by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Eine kleine Nachtmusik (A Little Night Music; 1787), K. 525
by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Third Movement

19. Ch. 6 - Rondo
Features a tuneful main theme which returns over and over
Lively, pleasing and simple to remember
Main theme alternates with other contrasting sections
Common rondo patterns:
A B A C A (small rondo)
A B A C A B A (large rondo)
Note the similarity to modern pop-music form

20. Listening String Quartet in C Minor, Op. 18, No. 4 (1798-1800)
by Ludwig van Beethoven
Fourth movement
Note: Rondo form
A B A C A B A

21. Ch. 7 - The Classical Symphony
Extended, ambitious composition lasting for minutes
Most important contribution in classical era
Multi-movement instrumental work
1st Fast—frequently Sonata form
2nd Slow—often Sonata form, sometimes Theme and Variations
3rd Dance—usually Minuet and Trio or scherzo (fast, dance-like) form
4th Fast—frequently Sonata or Rondo form
Each movement is a self- contained composition
Themes in one movement rarely appear in another movement

22. Ch. 8 - The Classical Concerto
Work for instrumental soloist and orchestra (equally important) lasting minutes
Usually three movements:
Fast—Slow—Fast (no Minuet movement)
Combines soloist’s virtuosity with power and timbres of orchestra
Break near end of 1st and sometimes last movement called cadenza
Unaccompanied showpiece for the soloist
Originally improvised, Classical composers seldom notated cadenzas
Double exposition if a movement is in a sonata form
Usually orchestra enters first, then the soloist

23. Ch. 9 - Classical Chamber Music
Designed for the intimate setting of a room, rather than concert hall (lighter, more subtle)
Small group of 4-9 instrumentalists
No conductor
Each player shares thematic material
Most important setting is string quartet
2 violins, viola, cello
Four movements
Usually Fast—Slow—Dance—Fast
Other popular settings:
Sonata for violin and piano
Piano trio (violin, cello, and piano)
String quintet (2 violins, 2 violas, cello)

24. Ch Joseph Haydn
—early and mid-Classical Period Austrian composer (long life)
Talent recognized early
Age 8—sent to Vienna to be a choir boy
Dismissed from school—voice changed
Worked in Vienna and continued studies
Esterhazy’s 30 years service
Entered in year 1761
Employment status as skilled servant (dependent on the will of prince (common in 18th Century)
Became famous in Europe at this time
Prolific composer
Considered the father of the classical period in music

25. Ch. 10 - Joseph Haydn (contin.)
1780- He met with Mozart and became close friends
After death of prince, he travels to London where he has a brilliant career.
1795- He returns in Vienna rich and honored
A pioneer in the development of the symphony and string quartet
Master at developing themes
Lively themes, vivid contrasts
Innovator and experimenter

26. J. Haydn’s works 104 symphonies 68 string quartets 2 oratorios
12 London symphonies ( )
“Surprise”, shows his humorous character
“Farewell”, funny story
68 string quartets
“Emperor” string quartet is the national anthem of Germany
2 oratorios
“Creation”, “The Seasons”
Piano sonatas, piano trios, concertos, masses, operas, divertimentos
Trumpet concerto in E-flat Major
Many more…..

27. Listening First movement
Trumpet Concerto in E Flat Major (1796) by Haydn
First movement
Emperor string quartet in C major Op 76, No 3 (~ ) by Haydn

28. Ch. 11 - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
(mid-Classical composer)
Austrian (Saltsburg) – most versatile composer
Son of a professional musician
Leopold Mozart, violinist, worked for Archbishop of Salzburg with whom he had a confrontation about Mozart
Child prodigy
Age of 8 he wrote a symphony
Age of 10 he wrote an oratorio
Age of 12 he wrote an opera
Traveled to England, Italy and France
Didn’t want to be a servant musician (Like Haydn)
Became his professional life as an international celebrity
He could memorize a long piece eaisly
Story about Sistine Chapel

29. Ch. 11 – W. A. Mozart (contin.) At 25—freelance musician in Vienna
His music is sensuous, easy, beautiful, balanced perfect proportioned
His pieces were catalogued during 19th century. By Ludwig von Kochel.
Customary to refer to a Mozart work by the “K” number, indicating its chronological place in his ouput
At 25—freelance musician in Vienna
Partly due to winning the Emperor’s favor
Initially successful, then novelty wore off.

30. W.A. Mozart’s works Operas (Italian and German text)
The Marriage of Figaro
Cosi Fan Tutte
The Magic Flute
Don Giovanni
20 piano concertos
Piano concerto in A major, K 488
Symphonies
String quartets
Requiem in D minor (Mass for the dead)
His last piece-completed by his student
More than 600 compositions

31. Listening Don Giovanni (1787) by Mozart
Act I: Excerpt from Opening Scene
Don Giovanni has slipped into the room of Donna Anna. Leporello worriedly waits outside.
Donna Anna is not happy to see Don Giovanni.
Her father, the Commandant, catches him. They fight a duel and the Commandant is killed.

32. Listening Don Giovanni (1787) by Mozart
Leporello’s catalog aria (Madamina)
Donna Elvira, an earlier conquest of Don Giovanni’s, tries to see him again.
Leporello intercepts her and attempts to discourage her by reading a list, or catalog, of the women Don Giovanni has been with.

33. Listening First Movement—Molto allegro
Symphony No. 40 in G Minor (1788)
by Mozart (K. 550)
First Movement—Molto allegro
Movement I – Molto allegro
Movement II – Andante
Movement III – Menuetto (Allegretto)
Movement IV – Allegro assai

34. Listening Mozart, Piano Concerto No. 23 in A Major (1786)
First Movement: Allegro
Sonata form
Lyrical themes
Cadenza

35. Listening Mozart, Requiem in D Minor, K. 626 (1791)
-Dies irae (Day of wrath)
Distinctive rhythmic pattern of the opening phrase
(long-long-short-short)
Homophonic texture
-Lacrimosa (Tear)

36. Ch. 12 - Ludwig van Beethoven
—late Classical, Germany (Bohn)
Son of a professional musician
Father, Johann, was a singer & abusive alcoholic
Forced the boy to study music (wanted $)
Financially successful as freelance musician
Believed in period’s societal changes
Traveled to Vienna to improvise for Mozart
1792 – studied with Haydn
~1800 starts losing his hearing
1800 – Met with German poet Goethe
Never in the service of the Viennese aristocracy

37. Ch. 12 – L.V.Beethoven (contin.)
His production is divided into three periods:
Early : Influenced by Mozart and Haydn
Middle: Longer pieces –heroic in tone
Late: Tend to be romantic
Wrote final pieces while totally deaf
Died in Vienna
20,000 people attended funeral
Movie “Immortal Beloved”

38. Characteristics of Beethoven’s music
Sketchbooks
New power and intensity, sudden dynamic changes
Dissonances, range of pitch, contrast of mood, accents
Forms are expanded
3rd Symphony lasts about 50 minutes(!)
Stormy, powerful, gentle, humorous, noble, lyrical
Unifies contrasting movements (sometimes no pause in between movements)
Development section is expanded
Themes of one mvt. can appear in another mvt. In the same piece.
More movements than usual

39. Characteristics of Beethoven’s music (contin.)
Minuet and Trio is substituted by Scherzo
More instruments used
Trombone, Piccolo flute, Contrabassoon
Different use of timpani and French horns
Symphonies 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 9th are powerful Symphonies 2nd, 4th, and 6th are calmer and lyrical
Forms altered
Added a Chorus at the 4th mvt. of the 9th Symphony (Ode to Joy)

40. L. V. Beethoven’s works 9 Symphonies 5 Piano Concertos 1 Opera
Fidelio
Piano Sonatas
Appassionata, Pathetique, Moonlight…
16 String Quartets
His last quartets have 5, 6 or even 7 movements
1 Mass
Missa Solemnis
Many More ….

41. Listening Piano Sonata in C Minor, Op. 13
(Pathetique, 1798) by Beethoven
First movement (Grave-solemn, slow intro.)
Note: Extreme dynamic contrasts & accents
Unexpected pauses
More use of dissonance than previous
composers

42. Listening Mvt. 1—Allegro con brio Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67
by Beethoven (1808)
Mvt. 1—Allegro con brio
Mvt. 2—Andante con moto