The World of Music
7th edition
Part 4
Listening to Western Classical Music
Chapter 11: Music of the Classic Period
(1750-1820)
Classic Period: Age of Reason
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Emotional Restraint
Balance
Clarity
Symmetry
Clear/Precise Formal
Structure
• Simplicity
Classic Period Musical
Characteristics
• Melody is Prime Concern
– Homophonic Texture
– Stepwise (Scalar) Melodies
– Tonal and Diatonic
• Obvious Cadences
• Rhythm
– Uncomplicated
– Predictable
• Decline/Disuse of Continuo and “Realized”
Harmonies
Instrumental Ensembles
• Standard Orchestra
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Violin I and II
Violas
Cellos
Double Basses
Flute I and II
Clarinet I and II
Oboe I and II
Bassoon I and II
Trumpets
Horns
Timpani
• String Quartet
– Violin I and II
– Viola
– Cello
• Piano Trio
– Violin
– Cello
– Piano
• Piano Quintet
– String Quartet
– Piano
Multimovement Works
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Sonata (4)
Symphony (4)
Concerto (3)
Chamber Music
• Typical Movements
– I Fast: Sonata Form
– II Slow: ABA or
Theme and Variations
Form
– III Dance: Minuet (or
Scherzo) and Trio
– IV Fast: Rondo or
Sonata Form
Opera in the Classic Period
• Ongoing Music
• Continuous Drama
• Recitative/Aria Accompaniment
– More Complex
– Enhanced the Voice
– No Longer Totally Subservient
Sonata Form
• Exposition
– Primary Theme in Tonic Key
– Secondary Theme in Contrasting Key
• Development
– Composer’s Playground
– Develops Themes from Exposition
• Recapitulation
– Primary Theme in Tonic Key
– Secondary Theme in TONIC Key
Theme and Variations Form
• Begins with a Theme
• Continues with Variations of Same Theme
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Tempo
Dynamics
Articulations
Tonality
Mode
Instrumentation
Texture
Minuet and Trio Form
• Stately Dance
• From Baroque Period
• ABA Form
– Minuet
– Trio
– Minuet
• Many Parts of Each Section are Repeated
Rondo Form
• Begins with Ritornello (Returning) Theme
• Ritornello Alternates with Contrasting Themes
– Melody
– Mood
– Tonality
• Common Structures
– ABACA
– ABACABA
– ABACADA
Franz Joseph Haydn (1732 – 1809)
• Austrian
• Logical Coherent Music
(Predictable)
• Served 30 Years with
Prince of Austria (Prince
Estherhazy) (1760-1790)
• Afterwards, traveled to
London and Vienna
(Where he had tea
w/Wolfie) prior to
checking out…
• Output
– 104 Symphonies
• A few were named by
others, not Haydn
– “London” Sym. #104
– “Surprise” Sym. #94
– “La Chasse” Sym.#72
– 35 Concertos
• More famous = Trumpet
– 82 String Quartets
– 60 Piano Sonatas
Cataloged by Anthony van
Hoboken
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791)
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Austrian (Salzberg born)
Child Prodigy
– Started at age 5
– Father was Musician
– Traveled Europe
Sophisticated, Urbane Music
Musical Nemesis?? = Antonio
Salieri, an Italian who worked in
Vienna about the same time as
Mozart
His story is told in Play and Movie
Amadeus with a few dramatic
modifications (“Too many notes!”)
His work was catalogues by
Ludwig Von Kochel (K. …)
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Output (Partial list)
– Many Concertos
• 25 Piano
• 7 Violin
• Various Other Instruments
– Clarinet, Horn (4), Bassoon
– 23 String Quartets
– 17 Piano Sonatas
– 23 Operas
• The Magic Flute
• The Marriage of Figaro
• Don Giovanni
– Masses and a Requiem
• Composed just prior to his own
death..unfinished by Wolfie, but
completed by his colleague,not
student, Franz Xavier Sussmeyer
(to what extent is debatable)
– 41 Symphonies
– Instrumental works (Divertimenti,
Serenades, Dances, etc.)
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 – 1827)
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Transitional Composer (to
Romantic Period)
Three Periods
– Early
• Education
• Formative
– Middle
• Prolific
• More Classic Works
– Late
• Fewer Works
• Predicted Romantic Style
• Lost hearing during this
period
Did not seek Court employment as
others of this time
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Output
– 9 Symphonies
– 5 Piano Concertos
– 1 Violin Concerto
– 32 Piano Sonatas
– 16 String Quartets
– 9 Piano Trios
– Many Concert Overtures
– 1 Opera (Fidelio)
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Immortal Beloved and Beethoven
Lives Upstairs recent movies of
Beethoven’s life