Neoclassical Period

1
Neoclassical Period

• Historical Background

2
When Where

• 1700s
• Western Europe
• France
• England
• America
• English Colonies
• Become USA

3
History Culture

• This period has many names
• Enlightenment
• Scientific ideas applied to many areas of life
• Age of Reason
• Age of Revolutions
• American Revolution 1776
• French Revolution 1789

4
Some Famous People

• USAs Founding Fathers
• George Washington
• Thomas Jefferson
• Ben Franklin
• Etc.
• France
• Louis XVI Marie Antoinette
• Napoleon
• Philosophers
• Voltaire
• Montesquieu

5
Why is it called Neoclassical?

• NeoNew
• ClassicalGreek Roman
• Havent we seen this before?
• Whats so great about Greece Rome?

6
Whats it all about?

• Simple but elegant
• Reaction AGAINST the fanciness of the Baroque
  period
• Democracy Power to the people!
• Bourgeoisie
• Middle Class
• More educated
• Wealthier
• Absolute monarchs are losing their grip on
  society!

7
New Ideas in Religion

• Deism
• Attempt to combine science with Christianity
• God viewed as a clockmaker who creates the
  clock and then allows it to run on its own,
  according to rules like gravity, inertia, etc.
• Thomas Jefferson was a deist.

8
New Ideas in Government

• Democracy
• Republic
• All men are created equal
• No more divine right
• The people are the source of the governments
  power
• Governments purpose is to protect the peoples
  rights. If it isnt working, get rid of it and
  try again.
• Natural rights
• Life
• Liberty
• Pursuit of Happiness

9
Classical Music

• Of the
• Neoclassical Period

10
Some Basic Info

• Some people use the term Classical Music to
  mean any music that doesnt have words. Thats
  actually Orchestral Music.
• Real Classical Music comes from the
  Neoclassical period.
• Greek Roman music was lost, so they dropped the
  Neo and just called it Classical Music.

11
What is Classical Music like?

• Neoclassical composers wanted music to match
  Neoclassical architecture.
• Very symmetrical
• Structured
• Bound by rules

12
Classical Music Structure

• The Classical Symphony
• Extended musical composition for orchestra
• Usually has four movements or sections that
  coordinate
• First movement is usually done in sonata form

13
Classical Music Structure

• Sonata Form ABA
• A Exposition
• Themes introduced
• B Development
• Themes developed
• A Recapitulation
• Themes restated, like beginning

14
Classical Music Structure

• Opera Musical drama in which text is sung.
• Some vocab to know
• Libretto the words
• Score the music
• There are both serious and comic operas.
• Classical operas sometimes contained ballet
  scenes.

15
Famous ComposersFranz Josef Haydn (1732-1809)

• Vienna, Austria
• Patrons Esterhazy family
• Developed Sonata form
• Wrote more than 100 Symphonies
• Known as Papa (father figure)
• Friend of Mozart, Teacher of Beethoven
• Most Famous Works
• Surprise Symphony
• Emperors Hymn

16
Famous ComposersWolfgang Amadeus Mozart
(1756-1791)

• From Salzberg, then Vienna, Austria
• Child Prodigy, performing at 6, writing at 7
• Patron Prince Archbishop of Salzberg, then
  Emperor Joseph II of Austria but wished for
  independence
• Wrote 41 Symphonies, 20 Operas
• Composed quickly easily
• Goofy personality, May have had Turrets Syndrome
• Not all that famous during his lifetime
• Died at 35 from unknown causes
• Most Famous Works
• Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (A Little Night Music)
• Requiem Mass
• Operas
• The Marriage of Figaro
• Don Giovanni
• The Magic Flute