Classical Period

Vienna

The musical center of the Classical style, and the city where Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven all lived and worked was

Some qualities of music in the Classical Period:

1. Melodies (Often consist of short, tuneful phrases strung together; usually have a light, elegant quality; statement-answer pattern; 2. Rhythm (Metric with a steady beat, except in recitatives); 3. Texture (Mostly homophonic); 4. Harmony (Tonal with modulations mostly to nearly related keys; continuo part no longer present); 5. Dynamic Levels (Gradual crescendo and decrescendo developed); 6. Performance media (Orchestra; chamber music group; piano replaces harpsichord; vocal music; 7. Forms (Sonata, theme and variations, rondo, and minuet and trio; forms often contain balanced and symmetrical phrases); 8. Genres (Symphony, solo concerto, sonata, chamber music, opera).

Classical Period

1750-1820 (1825)

String Quartet

2 violins, 1 viola, 1 cello

Sonata (allegro) form

A form consisting of • Exposition - theme (s) presented • Development - themes developed • Recapitulation - themes return • (may also start with an intro and end with a coda) • usually used in first movement sometimes the fourth also

Rondo form

A form in which the theme appears 3 or more times with contrasting sections between its appearances. • Rondeau - (French) "to come around again" • Themes tend to be shorter and more cheerful

Symphony

A large multi-movement work for orchestra. The great contribution of the Classical period.

Cadenza

A section in which the soloist plays a free paraphrase on the themes of the work

Motive

A short fragment of melody or rhythm used in constructing a long section of music

Theme and variations

A work consisting of a theme and altered version of that theme

How was opera different in the Classical period than in the Baroque?

Baroque • Arias, recitatives, choruses • Mood more consistent • Story-ancients, mythology • More pose and sing Classical • Arias, recitatives, choruses but more flow • More vocal ensembles • Mood fluctuates more • Story - everyday life, the common man • More movement

Opera buffa

Comic opera of the 18th and 19th centuries (compared to opera seria).

The age of Enlightenment or the Age of Reason.

During those years' intellectuals believed that certain laws of nature and humanity were universal and eternal.

How many movements and what was the tempo of each?

Originally 3 movements expanded to 4. 1st fast 2nd slow 3rd dance- like 4th fast

Classical-era instrumental music was:

Symphony, Concerto, String quartet, and Sonata.

What does classical mean?

The "classical music" has two meanings: the broader meaning includes all Western art music from the Medieval era to the 2000s, and the specific meaning refers to the art music from the 1750s to the early 1830s—the Era of Mozart and Haydn. Classical music and Baroque music both use orchestras to produce their distinctive sounds, but the way in which each does it is truly different. • Classicus - "something of the highest quality" • Term coined in 19th century to distinguish from Romanticism • Classicism vs. Romanticism

Rococo

The decorative, light style prevalent in the 18th c. courts, especially in France. Gallant Style

Scherzo

The third movement of some symphonies and other works in a playful style

The center of the music world

moved from the cities of Italy to Vienna, the capital of the Austrian Empire.

Concerto

multi-movement work consisting of music that contrasts a soloist with an orchestra.

Franz Joseph Haydn

• 1732-1809 • Born Rohrau, Austria • Age 6 - music instruction from uncle • Age 8 - sent to Vienna to be choir boy at St. Stephens • Freelances in Vienna, odd jobs, taught music. • Age 29 - obtains position of Kapellmeister with Prince Paul Esterhazy • Paul succeed by Nicolas the next year. An amateur musician who played the cello, viola da gamba, and baryton • Worked there for 30 years • After retired made two trips to London. Wrote 6 symphonies for each trip

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

• 1756-1791 • Born Salzburg, Austria • Father violinist and composer • First pieces at 6 years old, toured Europe • By 13-concertos, symphonies, sonatas, and opera • By 14 knighted by Pope • Pianist and violinist • Died at 35 leaving over 600 works

Ludwig Van Beethoven

• 1770-1827 • Born 14 years after Mozart • Violent, alcoholic father • At 16 played for Mozart • At 22 studied briefly with Haydn. "Though I had some instruction from Haydn, Inever learned anything from him." • At 29 started going deaf • German • Poor • Virtuoso • Personally difficulties • No patron

Chamber music

• Instrumental music, each part played by only one player; small group 2-9 players • Music for small groups, homophonic (string quartet, flute quartet, piano sonata)

General characteristics of "Classical" music

• Lighter, airy, elegant, well thought out • More interested in beauty and design • Fairly homogenous style • Might steal tunes • Less mystery, more systematized • Idea of natural and pleasing variety • More contrast of mood

Coda

• New imitative passage • Repeated cadences

Minuet form

• minuet and trio • triple meter, time signature 34 • usually third movement • ternary form A - minuet B - trio A - minuet A B A [:A:][:BA:] [:C:][:DC:] [:A:][:BA:]