The Classical Period

1
The Classical Period

• 1750-1820

2
Characteristics

• Music should be stripped of non-essentials making
  it simple and easy to comprehend
  
• Logic, order and balance
• Standard genres, musical forms, and ensembles
• Music is meant to please and entertain

3
Contrast of mood

• Variety and contrast of mood within pieces
• Changes in mood may be gradual or sudden
• Composer has firm control over conflict and
  contrast

4
Rhythm

• Flexibility of rhythm
• Variety of rhythm patterns
• Unlike continuity and predictability of the
  Baroque, there may be unexpected pauses,
  syncopations, and frequent changes from long to
  short notes
• Changes may be gradual or sudden

5
Texture

• Homophony reigns
• Polyphonic sections may be added for contrast

6
Melody

• Melodies have a folk or pop like character
• Tuneful and easy to sing and remember
• Symmetrical and balanced

7
Melody (cont.)

• Crescendos and decrescendos are more prominent
• The basso continuo is no longer the most
  prominent accompaniment to melody

8
Standard Ensembles The Classical Orchestra

• Four families strings, woodwinds, brass and
  percussion are standard (see pg. 152) which
  provide for variety in timbres
  
• Classical orchestra is larger than the Baroque
  and may vary in size (27-60)

9
Standard Ensembles

• Chamber music music to be performed in a more
  intimate setting than a concert hall. Chamber
  music is performed by a small group of two to
  nine musicians
• String Quartet 2 violins, 1 viola, 1 cello
• Piano trioviolin, cello and piano
• Violin and piano (sonatas)

10
Musical Examples

• Symphony 40 in G Minor by Mozart
• String Quartet in C Minor by Beethoven
• Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven
• Piano Trio by

11
Standard Compositions

• The symphony Multi movement work for orchestra
• String quartet multi movement work for four
  musicians (a mini symphony)
  
• Sonata composition for solo instrument and piano
  or for piano solo
  
• Serenade a multi-movement work for strings that
  in light and entertaining

12
Standard Compositions (cont.)

• The Classical Concerto a three movement work for
  solo and orchestra
  
• Mass five sung prayers for Christian worship
• Oratorios multi-movement work for chorus, vocal
  soloists and orchestra
  
• Opera buffa Italian comic opera
• Minuet and trio ABA dance in triple meter

13
Classical Composers

• Three titans of the Classical Era
  
  
• Joseph Haydn
• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
• Ludwig Van Beethoven

14
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart1756-1791

• Austrian born child prodigy and genius
• Trained by father who was a professional
  musician
  
• Touring child superstar (featured with his
  sister, Nanerl)
  
• Only patron was the archbishop of Salzburg His
  difficult personality led him to a career of
  free-lancing

15
Mozarts Compositions (cont.)

• Operas Buffa The Marriage of Figaro, Don
  Giovanni and the Magic Flute
  
• Numerous symphonies, masses, sonatas, string
  quartets and concertos for a variety of
  instruments

16
Symphony 40 in G Minor, K.550Wolfgang Amadeus
Mozart

• Four movementsMolto Allegro, Andante,
  Menuetto,and Allegro assai
  
• First movement is in sonata form (intro.)
  -exposition-development-recapitulation-(coda)

17
Piano Concerto No. 23 in A MajorWolfgang Amadeus
Mozart

• Classical Concerto Three movement work for
  soloist and orchestra
  
• CadenzaUnaccompanied virtuoso display at the end
  of the first or last movement of the concerto
  
• 1st Movement (Allegro con brio) is in sonata form

18
Eine kleine NachtmusikWolfgang Amadeus Mozart

• Multi-movement work for string ensemble
• Composition is a serenade light chamber
• Third Movement Minuet and Trio

19
The Magic FluteWolfgang Amadeus Mozart

• Opera Buffa written the last year of Mozarts
  life
  
• Theme of the opera is the brotherhood of man
• The Queen of the Night is a coloratura soprano

20
Joseph Haydn1732-1809

• Austrian born
• Humble beginnings began musical training at as a
  choirboy in Viennas St. Stephens Cathedral
  
• At age 29 he became employed by the noble,
  wealthy, Hungarian, Esterhazy family
  
• He worked for them for about 30 years

21
Haydn (cont.)

• Duties included conducting and rehearsing the
  orchestra, coaching singers, instrument manager,
  music librarian composer and produced two
  concerts, two operas, and chamber music weekly
• Numerous works include chamber music, concerti,
  symphonies oratorios and masses

22
Trumpet Concerto in Eb MajorJoseph Haydn

• Written for a friend who had just invented the
  keyed trumpet which increased the number of tones
  the instrument could produce
  
• Later the keyed trumpet was replaced for a valve
  trumpet which had a nicer timbre
  
• Concerto has 3 movements
• Listen for the cadenza in the first movement

23
Symphony No. 94 in G Major (Surprise)Joseph Haydn

• Symphony reflects Haydns sense of humor
• Second movement is in theme and variations form
• Theme has a folk like quality and is easy to
  remember
  
• Listening guide is on page 163

24
Ludwig Van Beethoven1770-1827

• Born in Bonn, Germany into a family of musicians
• At age 22 left Germany for Vienna, studies with
  Haydn and established himself as a concert
  pianist and composer
  
• At age 29 Started to go deaf, contemplated
  suicide but decided to live for his art

25
Beethoven(cont.)

• Eccentric, dressed sloppily, lived in 40
  different places in his lifetime
  
• Couldnt keep a housekeeper or a cook
• Musically, he was orderly, methodical, and a
  perfectionist
  
• He was more deliberate in his composing than
  Mozart
  

26
Beethoven (cont.)

• Because he uses standard Classical forms with
  emotional intensity and power, he bridged the
  Classical Era with the Romantic
  
• He wrote 9 symphonies, 32 piano sonatas16 string
  quartets, 5 piano concertos, two masses and one
  opera.
  
• First composer to be considered and artist

27
String Quartet in C Minor,Op.18, No.4Ludwig Van
Beethoven

• Fourth movement is in rondo form A B A C A B
  A
  
• Listen for gypsy-like rondo theme

28
Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67

• Opening rhythmic motive is fate knocking at the
  door or possibly Morse code
  
• All four movements are unified with this rhythm
• Listen to Movement I. Allegro Con Brio
• Listening guide on page 194-195

29
Symphony No. 9 (Ode to Joy)Ludwig Van Beethoven

• First symphony to use full chorus and vocal
  soloists
  
• Work is auto biographical
• Last movement unifies all the movements and is
  theme and variations on Ode to Joy