Music in the
Classical Period
Franz Joseph Haydn
&
Wolfgang Amadeus
Mozart
General Characteristics of
Classical Music
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It is meant to be easy on the ear.
Direct reaction to the complexity of Baroque
music.
Balance, clarity, accessibility.
Melody with accompaniment (homophony).
Melodies are tuneful and catchy (2-4
measure phrases).
Harmony is simple, logical and clear (few
dissonances).
No basso continuo (walking or Alberti Bass).
Three Main Qualities
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Melody is most
important part.
 Tuneful and
balanced.
Simple harmony.
Light
accompaniment.
Classical Opera
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Opera buffa – comic
opera.
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Simple music, amusing
plot, real characters.
Performed in palace
and public opera
houses.
Reaction to problems
with Baroque Opera.
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Mythology/historical
Not real people or
situations
Music too heavy and
complex.
Symphony
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Most important
instrumental genre.
Began as sinfonia
(overture to opera).
Three movements
(Fast, Slow, Fast)
Begins to look like the
modern symphony.
Mannheim, Germany
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Center of symphonic composition and performance.
Johann Stamitz, conductor
Expanded sinfonia to four movements
 Mvt 1 – Fast and serious (sonata form)
 Mvt 2 – Slow and lyrical (aria form)
 Mvt 3 – Graceful and moderate (dance form)
 Mvt 4 – Fast and lively (Rondo form)
Structure of the orchestra expanded
 Full strings, woodwinds (flute/oboe, horn),
trumpets and drums, later added bassoons and
clarinets.
Mannheim Steamroller - Crescendo
Chamber Music
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Music for the Middle Class to play at
home.
String Quartet – Violin I & II, viola, cello
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Ideal balance to match SATB voice types.
Followed the symphonic patterns.
Sonatas
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Solo keyboard or keyboard + solo instrument.
1775 – pianoforte replaces harpsichord.
Composers wrote and improvised from the
keyboard (often performing their own music).
Strict Conventions and
Forms
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Mvt. 1 - Sonata Form
Exposition – state the
two themes (firs in
tonic, second in
dominant).
Development – develop
the themes by changing
keys, etc.
Recapitulation – replay
the two themes, both in
the tonic key.
Coda – optional ending
Used for the most
serious musical ideas.
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Mvt. 2 – Aria Form
Lyrical and songlike.
ABA form
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Triple meter
Contrasting keys
with new material.
Less serious than
Sonata Form
Forms (cont.)
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Mvt. 3 – Minuet and
Trio Form
Minuet – Dance in
Binary form (AABB
usually in ¾ time)
Trio – Different music
in binary form
(CCDD)
Return to original
Minuet (AB)
Makes for an overall
ternary form (ABA).
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Mvt. 4 – Rondo
form
Simplest of all
forms (most
accessible).
New music always
returns to a main
theme.
ABACADA…….
Franz Joseph Haydn
(1732-1809)
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Began musical career as
choir boy in Vienna
(learned to play
harpsichord and violin).
1761 – hired as
assistant music director
to Prince Esterhazy
1762 – Palace Esterhaza
built
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2 large music rooms
and 2 opera theatres.
1766 – promoted to
Music Director
Haydn’s Musical Duties
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As music director he was expected to
write, direct or perform 2 operas and 2
concerts each week, extra concerts for
important visitors, dinner music and
chamber music for the Prince’s rooms.
As a result he wrote over 100
symphonies, 70 string quartets, 50+
keyboard sonatas, and numerous choral
and solo voice pieces.
Last 12 symphonies written in London.
Haydn’s Music
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Operas – Wrote many, but few are still performed
today.
Symphonies – Wrote well over 100.
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Father of the String Quartet
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Expanded the size by emphasizing brass, clarinets and
percussion.
Added crescendos and accents.
First to develop the genre
Masses
Oratorios – The Creation & The Seasons
Musical Jokes
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Credited with inventing the false recapitulation
Surprise/Farewell Symphonies
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
1756-1791
Leopold Mozart
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Mozart’s father was a
performer, composer,
author and music
theorist.
Wrote one of the most
important contributions
to music theory.
Sacrificed his own
career to further his
son’s.
Domineering personality
who took Mozart on tour
at a young age.
The Child Prodigy
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Age 4 – Learned to
play harpsichord and
violin.
Age 6 – wrote his first
compositions and
started touring
(10yrs).
Age 10 – First
Symphony
Age 14 – First Opera
Age 17 – Hired by
Archbishop of
Salzburg
Mozart’s Family
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Mother died while
he was very
young.
Sister, Nanerl, also
was musically
gifted.
1782 Married
Constanze Weber
Mozart’s Early Music
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Released by the Archbishop for disorderly
conduct and began freelance composing.
Considered too young and overqualified
for most jobs.
Moved to Vienna
1782 – First major opera, The Abduction
from the Seraglio
Wrote string quartets to emulate Haydn.
Made a living by performing his piano
concertos.
Mozart’s Late Music
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Losing fame and poorly
managed money.
Late works are the most
impressive.
Symphonies 37, 40, 41
Operas
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1786 – Marriage of
Figaro
1787 – Don Giovanni
1791 – Magic Flute (Die
Zauberflote)
Requiem
Mozart’s Characteristics
Accessible and highly refined.
 Instilled a sense of drama in all of
his music.
 Master of melody, tuneful and
catchy.
 Mastered all Classical genres.
 Wrote more than 800 compositions
in 35 years.
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