Music History
Classical Music
1750 - 1820
Historical Context
French Revolution

Leaders overturned reign of King Louis XVI and
was executed by guillotine.

Leaders forbid class distinctions and existence
of aristocracy

Leaders outlawed
formal, second-person
French language
(“monsieur” outlawed)
French Revolution…

Revolution government established
a board of censorship for the arts:
 A)
those artists who worked within
their rules were highly successful
 B) successful artists supplied the new
arts required by the state

Many of the ideas of the French
Revolution were not established
because it had just ended as the
Classical Era was beginning.
America

Declaration of Independence
became an important
document for the expression
of new ideas:
 All
men are equal
 System
of government with checks and balances
 Impossible
 New
middle class was the basis of society
 Freedom
 Was
for a dictator to take control
of culture
definitely not perfect but was a good start and
was improved upon throughout the Classical period.
Industrial Revolution

The Industrial Revolution was just beginning during
this period which allowed for new limits to
scientific thought.

Encyclopaedias were first written during this time.

“Clear prose and scientific investigation
are valued above the
excesses of poetic
fancy…”

Music reflected this
idea of clear, scientific
expression in its form.
The Arts…

The focus in the ‘arts’ was imitation of the Greek
Classical style of reason and logic
 Architecture

White House in Washington (pillars and globe roofs)
 Literature

Metre in poetry

Expository prose favoured

Middle class is the subject
 Visual

Arts
Still-life & dramatic portraits
Musical Context…

The Classical period refers to the period of Music
history that was dominated by Viennese composers.

Vienna became the musical capital of Europe and
remained so for about 100 years.

Since the Enlightenment deals
with Balance and Logic,
composers tried to have
Perfect Order in their music.
Musical Context…

Music was supposed to meet the listener at
their level, so that they didn’t have to make an
effort to understand it.

Composers valued SIMPLICITY over COMPLEXITY.

Balance and form (Greek influence)
 Composers
stressed symetrical melodies
 Followed “traditional” harmonic progressions
 Favoured well-balanced forms for their music:
 Sonata-allegro
form
 Divertimento or serenade
 Concerto
 String quartet
 symphony
Musical Context…

Late in the Classical era we see some
Romantic era influences:
 Sturm
und Drang (Storm and Stress)

a German movement emphasizing drama & emotion

forerunner of Romanticism within Classical style
 Lyricism
- a musical quality that expresses deep
feelings or emotions.
 Dynamic
shifts occur more as surprises
Other musical tidbits…

As with the Baroque Period, the middle class
continued to support the arts. This was beginning
to influence composers:
 Support
of a new market for writers, artists and
musicians which led to more public concerts.
 Composers
were, now more than ever, writing to
reach out to the people rather than the select group
of people who headed to the church or the nobility
themselves.
Tidbits continued…

Musical amateurs sought and obtained instruction
from professional musicians, or published tutor
books; Music making was an essential part of
neighbourhood life.

Patrons supported the livelihood of the musicians.
 Patron:
a person who gives money and support
to an artist, organization, etc.

Music printing increased & music journalism began.

The metronome was invented.
Features of Classical Composition

Very structured and controlled. Music was to be
tuneful and simple, not too loud or too soft.
Nothing too extreme.

Composers sought balance and contrast which was
achieved through their use of form.

More extensive dynamics – greater control of
crescendos and decrescendos.
More features…

Highly structured phrases

During the Baroque period, there was a focus on
mood (the Affections). Now, there was a
development of the Major/minor system.

Less continuo parts, harpsichord, counterpoint and
fugues.

The Sonata form evolved during this period.
ABA form was the most important musical form
used during the Classical period.
More changes in music…

Mozart developed the use of subtle and slight
changes of instruments, orchestration, and tone
colour to express or highlight psychological or
emotional states and dramatic shifts.

This is something that you will see in the Symphony
which is a HUGE musical work in 4 movements.

The concerto, string quartet, and piano sonata
were also developed during this time.

And the modern symphony orchestra was born.
Job opportunities…

Patronage
 The
composer was hired by the court of a king or
prince to write music for events and private
entertainment,
 Or the composer was hired by a church to write
music for services.
 This often meant other responsibilities than just
composing (Directing, performing, caring for
uniforms and wigs, etc.)

Public Concert Halls (freelance work)
 The
composer could have works performed at public
concerts and opera houses
 The new middle class was not established well
enough to make this a sole means of income. (for
example – Mozart).
The Classical Symphony
- Orchestration
 Violin
I
2
Flutes
 Violin
II
2
Oboes
 Viola
2
Clarinets
 Cello
2
Bassoons
 Bass
2
French Horn
2
2
Timpani
Trumpets
(sometimes)
The Classical Symphony
Form of the Composition

1st movement – Sonata Allegro form; fast,
intense but sometimes has a slow introduction

2nd movement – ABA form; lyrical, slower,
simpler

3rd movement – Minuet and Trio
(Time signature = ¾)

4th movement – Rondo or Sonata Allegro; intense
and fast
Sonata-Allegro Form


3 Sections:
 1.
Exposition - Tonic
 2.
Development - Dominant
 3.
Recapitulation - Tonic
Exposition
 Theme
1 – Tonic key; Strong and Aggressive
 Transition
 Theme
– Modulation (change); “Bridge”
2 – related key: dominant, related
Major or minor; Lyrical to contrast 1st;
2nd half of the Sonata-Allegro form…

Development
 Manipulation
of previous themes, or parts thereof, in
different often remote keys.
 Usually
ends on a strong dominant chord to prepare
for the return to the tonic key

Recapitulation
 Theme
1 – Tonic key
 Theme 2 – No Modulation
 Theme 3 – Tonic key
 Theme
4 – Ending
The composers…
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
(1756 – 1791)

A child prodigy, Mozart was composing
and playing the piano before most
children could write

He produced a massive amount of
pieces

Mozart hated the patron system –
SLAVERY!!

Gift for imitating the music he heard

Developed and popularized the piano
sonata

Lived for only 35 years and died
penniless
Mozart’s Listening…

Symphony No. 40 in G minor, K. 550


Piano Concerto in A major, K. 488


1st – Allegro Molto
1st movement
Don Giovanni: Act 1, Scene 5
Ah, chi mi dice mai
 Madamina! Il catalogo è questo
 Considered opera buffa – comedic opera


Kegelstatt Trio
1st Movement – Andante
 Written for viola, clarinet and piano

Franz Joseph Haydn
(1732-1809)

Born in Rohrau, an Austrian village near Vienna.

Haydn is considered the Father of the Symphony.


Hired to be the director and composer for the Bohemian
Count Ferdinand Maximillian von Morzin.


Haydn wrote for this family’s personal orchestra.
Eventually, he became director of music for the Prince of
Esterhàzy


Haydn composed more than 100 symphonies - developing this form
to perfection, carefully defining and arranging the combination of
instruments.
He was required to be present twice a day to receive orders
and create whatever music the Esterhàzy family requested.
When he was dismissed, after 30 years of service, Haydn was
given a generous, lifelong pension.
Haydn’s Listening…

Symphony No. 104 – London
 4th
movement
 The last of his 12 London Symphonies
 Written in D major

String Quartet, Op. 76, No. 3
 2nd
movement
 Quotes the melody from
Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser
("God Save Emperor Francis"),
an anthem Haydn wrote for
Emperor Francis II.
 Nicknamed the “Emperor”
Ludwig von Beethoven
(1770 - 1827)

Born in Bonn, Germany, Beethoven’s father (a drunk) expected
him to be a child prodigy. Beethoven was abused and forced to
practice.

He did receive lessons from both Mozart and Haydn.

Pianist, conductor and composer – known for his exceptional
skill at improvisation

Friends with nobility but never had a patron or a steady job.
He was the first to be a successful freelance composer.

Portrayal of his innermost feelings and his love of nature is
apparent within his music

Lost his hearing

Beethoven became the link between Classical and Romantic
periods
Beethoven’s Listening


Piano Sonata No. 8, Op 13 (Pathetique)

3rd movement – Rondo: Allegro

Form: ABACABA

Shows a possible influence of Mozart and
his music

Rolling octaves - In c minor

Showed his brooding restlessness
Symphony No. 3 in E-flat, Op. 55

Eroica, 1st movement – Allegro con brio

Italian for Heroic

Originally, this piece was to be called the Bonaparte Symphony.
However, when Napoleon crowned himself emperor, Beethoven was
furious. Beethoven scratched out the title so hard that he ripped
through the paper.

He then called it Eroica – “to celebrate the memory of a great man”.