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The Classical Style (1750- 1820) Background  belief in progress reason, not custom or tradition, was the best guide for human conduct middle-class vs.

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Presentation on theme: "The Classical Style (1750- 1820) Background  belief in progress reason, not custom or tradition, was the best guide for human conduct middle-class vs."— Presentation transcript:

1 The Classical Style (1750- 1820) Background  belief in progress reason, not custom or tradition, was the best guide for human conduct middle-class vs. aristocracy American & French Revolutions  changes in visual art rococo: light colors, curved lines, graceful ornaments neo-classical: firm lines, clear structure, moralistic subject matter

2 The Classical Style (1750-1820) Changes in music  Preclassical period (ca.1730-1770) - transitional Carl Phillip Emanuel Bach (1714-1788) Johann Christian Bach (1735-1782) style galant: concentration on simplicity and clarity  Classical term borrowed from visual art  refers to influence of Greek and Roman models  no such reference in music

3 Characteristics of Classical Style Contrast of mood Flexibility of rhythm Basically homophonic texture Balanced, symmetrical, tuneful melodies Dynamics and the Piano End of Basso Continuo The Classical Orchestra  Strings - 1st/2nd violin, viola, cello, double bass  Woodwinds - flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon (2 each)  Brass - 2 French horns, 2 trumpets  Percussion - 2 timpani

4 Classical Forms Instrumental compositions  4 movements that contrast in tempo and character 1. Fast 2. Slow 3. Dance-related 4. Fast  symphony  string quartet  sonata Contrasting themes in movements Balance within larger structure of movement

5 Composer, Patron, and Public in the Classical Period Social Trends and Classical Composition  Effects on musicians  More people with more $  Middle Class influence public concerts pieces for amateur musicians comic opera familiar tunes in “serious” music Vienna  seat of Holy Roman Empire  one of the music centers of Europe  aristocrat winter quarters  outdoor music

6 Sonata Form Exposition (may be preceded by Introduction)  First theme in tonic key  Bridge - modulation to new key  Second (contrasting) theme in new key  Closing section in key of second theme Development  new treatment of themes; modulations to different keys / retransition Recapitulation  First theme in tonic key  Bridge  Second theme in tonic (or parallel major) key  Closing section in tonic / (may be followed by a coda)

7 Classical Forms Theme and Variations  theme repeated over and over with alterations melody, rhythm, harmony, accompaniment, dynamics, or tone color each time  A(theme) - A’(variation 1) - A’’ (variation2) - …  use of countermelody Minuet and Trio  often used as 3rd movt. / 3/4 usually in mod.tempo Minuet TrioMinuet A B A ||:a:||:ba’:||||:c:||:dc’:|| aba’  da capo  scherzo - faster than minuet

8 Classical Forms Rondo  as an independent piece or a movement  often serves as a finale  A B A C A (B A)  sonata-rondo B A - development - A B A Symphony  4 movements - FSDF - attributes of each movement Concerto  3 movements - FSF  double exposition  cadenza

9 Classical Chamber Music Characteristics  designed for intimate setting of a room (chamber)  2-9 musicians, with one player to a part  lighter sound than orchestral music  musicians work as a team  no conductor Types  String Quartet 2 violins, viola, cello usually 4 mvts. - FSDF or FDSF  Sonata for Violin and Piano  Piano Trio (violin, cello, piano)  String Quintet (2 violins, 2 violas, cello)

10 Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) Background  Born in Rohrau, Austria  musical background until age 6 - folk songs and peasant dances  sent to a relative to receive basic music lessons  age 8 - choirboy at St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna had no composition or instrumental lessons  upon his voice change - dismissed from St. Stephen’s barely stays alive by teaching lessons for 8 years also took odd jobs  Haydn’s talent gradually noticed by aristocracy  music director for court of a Bohemian count  age 29 (1761) - enters service of Esterházy family

11 Haydn and the Esterházy Family 1761-1790 - most of Haydn’s music composed for the Esterházy’s, richest and most powerful Hungarian noble family  Eszterháza - family’s palace in Hungary opera house, theater, 2 concert halls, 126 guest rooms Haydn’s responsibilities as musical director  compose all music requested by patron  conduct 25-member orchestra  coach singers  oversee instrument conditions and music library  two concerts and two opera performances weekly  daily chamber music 150 pieces with baryton part for Nicholas Esterházy

12 Joseph Haydn Advantages and disadvantages of patronage Personal characteristics of Haydn  good-humored and unselfish  cared about personal interests of his musicians early 1780’s - met Mozart, became close friends Haydn’s popularity grows while serving the Esterházy’s 1790 - Nicholas dies - Haydn free to go to London  Salomon / London symphonies  servant to celebrity

13 Joseph Haydn 1795 - returns to Vienna  new agreement with Nicholas Esterházy II  one mass composed each year (6 written) wrote two oratorios  The Creation  The Seasons 1809 - dies at age 77  during time of Napoleon’s occupation of Vienna  memorial service of Viennese with French generals and an honor guard of French soldiers

14 Haydn’s Music pioneer in development of symphony and string quartet use of folk tunes / original folk-like melodies master of theme development musical “jokes” 104 symphonies  many known by nicknames 68 string quartets  may have invented the string quartet Other works - piano sonatas, piano trios, divertimentos, concertos, operas, masses.

15 Haydn’s Music Symphony No. 94 (“Surprise”)  key, form, tempo, notable features of each movement Trumpet Concerto in E-flat Major

16 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756- 1791) born in Salzburg, Austria age 6 - playing the harpsichord and violin, improvising fugues, writing minuets, sight-reading perfectly compositions as a child  age 8 - 1st symphony  age 11 - 1st oratorio  age 12 - 1st opera Leopold Mozart (father) shows off his son  age 6-15 - Mozart tours Europe almost half the time Empress Maria Theresa of Austria Louis XV of France George III of England

17 Mozart Visit to Sistine Chapel age 15 - return to Salzburg - under patronage of Prince-Archbishop Colloredo  only given subordinate seat in orchestra lack of initiative insubordinate / requests for dismissal 1781 (age 25) - goes to Vienna to be free-lance musician  concerts attended by the emperor and nobility  married Constanze Weber  friendship with Haydn

18 Mozart 1786 - Vienna loves The Marriage of Figaro 1787 - Vienna dislikes Don Giovanni  Leopold dies during the composition of D.G. Mozart’s popularity deteriorates 1791 -  The Magic Flute  Requiem commissioned by Count Walsegg “strange” messenger thought he was writing his own Requiem  dies of rheumatic fever - December 5, 1791

19 Mozart’s Music More than 600 compositions  “K.” = Köchel number Mozart’s output catalogued by Ludwig von Köchel  Most notable ~ concertos operas (mostly comic) piano sonatas Requiem

20 Mozart’s Music Don Giovanni  unique blend of comic and serious opera  characters / plot Act I: Introduction Act I: Leporello’s catalogue aria Act I: Duet (Don and Zerlina) Symphony No. 40, K.550  key, form, tempo, notable features of each movement Piano Concerto No. 23 in A Major – 1 st mvt Requiem – Dies irae

21 Ludwig van Beethoven (1770- 1827) Background  born in Bonn, Germany into a family of musicians  Johann (father) comes home from tavern late and makes Ludwig practice at the keyboard until morning  age 16 – improvises for Mozart in Vienna  mother dies, father becomes an alcoholic  age 18 – becomes legal guardian of two younger brothers

22 Beethoven  1792 (almost age 22) – studies with Haydn in Vienna Haydn neglects Beethoven / secretly goes to another teacher  1 st 7 years in Vienna very productive  rebels against social convention  age 29 – 1 st signs of deafness appear  1803-04 – 3 rd Symphony dedication Bonaparte ---- becomes ---- Eroica

23 Beethoven  self-educated  drifter in romantic relations  earns money through publishing never in the service of aristocracy 1809 – paid by three Austrian nobles to stay in Vienna  age 44 – stops playing piano in public, but continues to conduct  1815 – Casper dies becomes coguardian of nephew, Karl 5-year custody battle  Karl attempts suicide / Beethoven shattered

24 Beethoven’s Music expands range of pitch and dynamics works and reworks music during composition expands forms (i.e. 50-minute 3 rd Symphony) continuity between contrasting movements  resemblance of themes in separate movements  movements linked w/o pause expands sonata form  development section  develops themes in coda scherzo preferred over minuet larger instrumentation for orchestra uses choir in 9 th Symphony

25 Beethoven’s Music Piano Sonata in C minor, Op. 13 (“Pathétique”)  key, form, tempo, notable features of each movement Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67  key, form, tempo, notable features of each movement


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