Classical Music
Haydn, Mozart & Beethoven
What is Classical Music?
• All music older than Mr. Waterman?
• Does it have something to do with
Greco-Roman culture?
• No to both.
• Classical technically refers to music from
about 1730 to 1815.
Piano
• Invented in 1700
• Replaces
harpsichord and
clavichord as
favorite keyboard
instrument
• Becomes the
instrument of
choice for
virtuosos
Terminology
• Score – a record of musical notation that
indicates every sound to be played by
each instrument.
• Orchestra – instrumental grouping of
strings, woodwinds, brass, and
percussion.
• Symphony – an independent
instrumental composition for full
orchestra.
Haydn
• “Father of the
Symphony”
• Spent 30 years as
musical director for
Esterhazy family.
– Two opera theaters
– Two concert halls
• Good friends with
Mozart
• Early teacher of
Beethoven
Symphony No. 94 in G Major,
“Surprise”
What to listen for:
• Folk-like theme in 2 phrases
• Loud, crashing chord (the “surprise”) at
the end of the first theme
• Listen for the period string, wind, and
percussion instruments
Mozart
• Hands down the greatest
musician/composer EVER.
• Age 3 – Perfect Pitch
• Age 5 – Master
harpsichord player
• Age 6 – First composition
• Age 7 – Read, transpose,
and harmonize any
melody
• Age 8 – First symphony
Mozart
• By 18 he had written
34 symphonies, 16
quartets, 5 operas,
and over 100 other
works
• No single patron –
worked freelance
• Died at 35 with over
600 compositions to
his name
Serenade No. 3 in G Major, K. 525
“Eine kleine Nachtmusik”
What to listen for:
• Will sound lighter than Haydn’s work
• String, chamber music style
• Quick paced movement with 3 themes
• Homophonic texture
Requiem In D Minor, K 626
Rex Tremendae
• Requiem – Funeral Mass
• Commissioned while Mozart was trying
to finish two other pieces
• He died while writing it, but his student
had enough information to finish it
Beethoven
•
•
•
•
•
Born in Germany
Moved to Vienna at 17
Trained with Haydn
Numerous patrons
Constantly fell in love
with upper class ladies
• Never married
• Started to go deaf in
1802
• Died in 1827
Piano Sonata No. 14
“Moonlight”
What to listen for:
• Delicate character of melody
• Singing quality of the piano
• Continuous melody
Symphony No. 5 in C minor
• One of the most popular and well-known
compositions ever.
• Written while in Vienna, which was
occupied by Napoleon’s troops.
Symphony No. 9 in D Minor,
“Ode to joy”
• Adopted as the Theme for Europe
• Transition piece from Classical to
Romantic
• Beethoven was deaf when he wrote it
• While deaf, he conducted it at the
premiere
Egmont Overture
Free Write
As you watch and listen to this piece of
music describe what you are hearing in
as much detail as possible. You may
write about the timbre (instruments),
tempo, texture, emotion, or any other
aspect of the music.