Music History
Classical Period
1750 – 1825 AD
Music History
Classical ---1750 – 1835 AD
1. Opera splits into two categories:
a. Tragic Opera
-also called opera seria
-usually told a very sad story
b. Comic Opera
-also called opera buffa
-usually told a funny story
-Mozart made this style very popular
Music History
F. Classical --- 1750 - 1825 AD
1. Opera splits into two categories:
Music History
Classical --- 1750 - 1825 AD
New instrumental musical styles:
a. Symphony Orchestra
-invented during the Classical Period
-the Symphony Orchestra evolved from the
Concerto Grosso of the Baroque period
-uses the same form as the Concerto Grosso
(fast slow fast), but there is a fourth movement
added after the slow movement. It is in 3 beats per
measure:
Fast
Slow
• The Classical Symphony
3 beats per measure
has 4 sections or movements
Fast
Music History
Classical --- 1750 - 1825 AD
New instrumental musical styles:
a. Chamber Music
-music for a small ensemble and audience
(an ensemble is a group of musicians)
-usually consisted of two to eight different instruments
-examples: String Quartet, Piano Trio
Music History
Classical --- 1750 - 1825 AD
New instrumental musical styles:
Chamber Music (continued)
Music History
Classical --- 1750 - 1825 AD
Important Composers:
a. Franz Joseph Haydn
-From Vienna, Austria (the new center of musical
activity)
-very poor as a child, he taught himself to write music
-experimented with every new musical style
-most famous for writing Symphony Orchestras (104)
and String Quartets (chamber music).
-nicknamed the Father of the Symphony
- Two famous pieces by Haydn are the “Surprise Symphony”
and “The Creation”
Music History
Classical --- 1750 - 1825 AD
Important Composers (continued):
b. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
- lived in Austria (the cities of Salzburg and Vienna)
- a child prodigy and a musical genius
- composed in almost every musical style including
concerto, string quartet, symphony, mass, and
opera
- most famous for writing comic opera
- Two famous Mozart pieces include “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik”
and his opera “The Magic Flute”
Music History
Classical --- 1750 - 1825 AD
Important Composers (continued):
b. Ludwig van Beethoven
- born and lived in Germany
- had a rough early life, which made him
temperamental and mean later in life.
- a very hard worker, Beethoven spent months on
every composition.
- went deaf later in his life (due to severe tinnitus)
- most well-known for his symphonies
- bridged the Classical and Romantic periods
- Two famous pieces include his piano piece “Fur Elise,” and
his 5th Symphony
Music History
Classical --- 1750 - 1825 AD
Important Details
a. Simplicity is the important word of the Classical Period
b. The pianoforte was invented during this time and
becomes the most important keyboard instrument