THE CLASSICAL ERA
1750-1820
Jacob Hale, Dakota Matthews, Justin Webb, Daniel Jordan
INVENTIONS OF THE CLASSICAL ERA
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1760 - Industrial Revolution begins
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1763 - Watts invents the first steam powered engine
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1769 - Watt's steam engine patented
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1771 - First edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica
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1775 - Electric battery invented by Volta
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1788 - Steamboat invented by John Fitch
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1796 - First vaccination
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1821 - Electric motor and generator invented by Faraday
ART AND MUSIC OF THE CLASSICAL ERA
Classical art had the following traits:
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Sharp
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Simple
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Calm
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Elegant
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Orderly
This style of art also applies to the music of the era. Music was soft, clean, and
elegant. Classical music focused on the clarity of the music while regarding melodic
expression and instrumental color.
An example can be heard here.
ARCHITECTURE OF THE CLASSICAL ERA
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Buildings in the classical era were made of wood, stone, or marble.
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Most buildings had very exquisite designs carved into them.
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What distinguishes the classical architecture from any other era is that the
designs were very elegant and symmetrical right down to the base.
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Another separation from the other era’s was the use of plants and animals in the
carvings.
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Modern influences on classical architecture include the United States capital
buildings, the pantheon in Rome, the Parthenon in Greece, and some architecture
found in Williamsburg.
EXAMPLES OF CLASSICAL ARCHITECTURE
Parthenon in Greece
Pantheon in Rome
United States Capitol Building
IMPORTANT PEOPLE OF THE CLASSICAL ERA
Important people and events of the classical era include:
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1732 – The birth of George Washington
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1752 – Benjamin proves that lightning is electricity
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1760 – George III crowned king of England
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1770 – James Cook discovered east coast of Australia
These people contributed to how the society would later function with these
discoveries
POLITICS OF THE CLASSICAL ERA
POLITICS IN AMERICA
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1754 - 1763 French and Indian war was waged
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1760 - Industrial revolution began
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1775 - 1783 American revolution
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1776 - American declaration of independents
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1789 - George Washington was elected first President
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1791 - Bill Of Rights
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1799 - Great Revival in America
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1803 - Louisiana Purchase
THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR
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Resulted in British gaining control of French Canada and Acadia. And gaining
control of 80,00 people
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Following the peace treaty, King George III issued the Royal Proclamation of
1763 on October 7, 1763, which outlined the division and administration of the
newly conquered territory
THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
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The impact of the revolution left the French financially prostrate.
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The British were left with a booming society thanks to the return of American
business.
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The Americans were not so lucky though. The cost of the war left America in a
national debt of $114 million by the states and $37 million by the government.
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Benefits to the Americans were the guaranteed rights to their freedom and the
creation of a more perfect union for a strong central democracy.
POPULAR INSTRUMENTS OF THE DAY
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The standard orchestra was really established in the Classical period, so
orchestral instruments
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(violins, flutes, trumpets etc.) were by far the most common.
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Harpsichords were popular for the first half, overtaken by pianos in the later
years of the period. Some instruments from the Baroque were still popular.
WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART
• Born – January 27, 1756
• Born in Salzburg but spent most of his time
living in Vienna, Austria
• Mozart showed prestigious ability early in life
• At the age of five he began composing music
and performing for European royalty. At 17,
he was engaged as a court musician in
Salzburg.
• He later left Salzburg in search of better
opportunities
• Choosing to stay in Vienna, where his most
famous writings were written.
MOZART’S STYLE AND INFLUENCE
• Johann Nepomuk Hummel was Mozart’s greatest influence because of
his overall style. Mozart appreciated Hummel’s style and adopted it
for his own.
• Mozart altered Hummel’s pattern and was later adopted by Ludwig
Van Beethoven.
• Mozart’s overall style had the form of being clear, balanced, and
transparent
4 Famous writings were:
1) First Movements of Symphonies 25 & 40
2) Ein Kline Nachtmusik
3) Piano Concerto No. 21
4) Requim
A listening of Ein Kline Nachtmusik can be heard here.
FAMILY BACKGROUND
• His father Leopold (1719–1787) was from
Augsburg. He was deputy Kapellmeister to the
court orchestra of the Archbishop of Salzburg, a
minor composer, and an experienced teacher. In
the year of Mozart's birth, his father published a
violin textbook, Versuch einer gründlichen
Violinschule, which achieved success
CHILDHOOD
• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born to Leopold and
Anna Maria Pertl Mozart at 9 Getreidegasse in
Salzburg, capital of the sovereign Archbishopric of
Salzburg, in what is now Austria but, at the time, was
part of the Holy Roman Empire. His only sibling to
survive past birth was Maria Anna (1751–1829),
called "Nannerl". Wolfgang was baptized the day after
his birth at St. Rupert's Cathedral. The baptismal
record gives his name in Latinized form as Joannes
Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart. He
generally called himself "Wolfgang Amadè
Mozart"[4] as an adult, but there were many variants .
FRANZ JOSEPH HAYDN
Franz Joseph Haydn was born on the 31st of March 1732 an died on
May 31st in 1809
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HIM
• He is often called the "Father of the symphony" and "Father of
the string quartet" because of his important contributions to
these forms. He was also instrumental in the development of the
piano trio and in the evolution of form
4 of his famous writings include:
1) The Creation
2) The Seasons
3) His 6 Paris Symphonies
4) The 14 Masses
A listening of The Creation can be heard here.
COMPOSER
• An Austrian composer, one of the most prolific
and prominent composers of the Classical period.
He is often called the "Father of the symphony"
and "Father of the string quartet" because of his
important contributions to these forms. He was
also instrumental in the development of the piano
and in the evolution of sonata form.
SOURCES
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Classical Architecture
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Classical Music
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More Classical Music
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Classical Period
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Timpani Drums
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Haydn
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Mozart