1. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and the Classical Period
“Due Pupille Amabili”
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
and the Classical Period

2. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Austrian composer, lived from
His father, Leopold Mozart, was also a composer.
He started composing at the age of 5 and was also competent on both keyboard and violin
At age 17, he was hired as a court musician in Salzburg

3. More on Mozart:
Throughout his lifetime, he composed over 600 pieces of music
Today, he is one of the most well-known composers of the classical period- known for opera, chamber music, piano music, symphonic music, choral music
He left an influence on Western Music that has been enjoyed and studied for centuries

4. The Classical Period Dates: 1750-1825
Some Major Composers: Mozart, Beethoven, Gluck, Clementi, CPE Bach
Some Major Terms: Sonata, String Quartet, Symphony

5. Why “Classical”?
In the mid-18th Century, Europeans desired to return to the classicism of ancient cultures, especially Greece
Their architecture, literature, art, and music was affected
Music of the Classical period was very structured and emotions were controlled.  It was tuneful and simple.  Even the size of the orchestra was small, usually with no more than 40 musicians.  
The Classical period was about balance and contrast.  .Music was not to be too loud or too soft, too fast or too slow.  Nothing was done in the extreme. 

6. “Due Pupille Amabili” Written in 1783 For SAB chorus and 3 clarinets
Sung in the original Italian text (with an optional English translation)

7. listen… “Due Pupille Amabili”
“Due pupille amabili m’han piegato il core Se pietà non chiedo a quelle luci belle Per quelle, si per quelle io morirò d’amore”
listen…

8. what does it mean??? Due pupille amabili m’han piegato il core
Two lovely eyes hold my heart enslaved
E se pietá non chiedo a quelle luci belle per quelle,
If I cannot win the mercy of those fair lights,
Io moriró d’amore
I will die of love for them.

9. let’s talk about…form Can you figure out what form this piece is in?
Binary (AB)? Strophic? Ternary (ABA)? Through-composed? Something else?
…take 1 minute to look it over, figure it out, and we’ll discuss it as a class…

10. let’s talk about…Rhythm
What do you see in measures 2, 8, 14, and 20?
How do we treat these?
What are they called?

11. let’s talk about…Expression
Express the TEXT- what are you singing about? Make it personal!
Express the MUSIC- what does it make you feel?
Express the PERIOD- how can you sing this authentically?

12. For (date)… Over the course of the next unit, you will
complete one of the following assignments
based on your interests, all of
which will be due November 15…

13. 2 page written report about:
The Classical Period: its features, style, major works, and major composers
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: his life, works, and legacy
Chamber music: what it is, how it’s meant to be performed, and its history
(Choose one of the above)

14. Give a 4-5 minute speech/presentation about:
The Classical Period: its features, style, major works, and major composers
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: his life, works, and legacy
Chamber music: what it is, how it’s meant to be performed, and its history
(Choose one of the above)

15. Give this song a fresh arrangement:
Using the same text, write a new arrangement for “Due Pupille Amabili”. It must have at least 2 vocal parts and 1 accompanying instrument. How can you do this assignment and stay authentic to Mozart and the Classical Period?

16. Or…
Your last option is to write a 2-page report about how you can/have already internalized this text and music. You’ll write IPA for the Italian text and provide a summary in your own words that relates this piece to your life.