Gott im
Himmel! Today
I am a classic
composer
January 1750
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Classical
clas-si-cal / ‘klas-i-kəl
According to Webster’s New Collegiate
Dictionary:
1. of or relating to the ancient Greek and
Roman world and esp. to its literature,
art, architecture, or ideals
2. versed in the classics
3. of or relating to music of the late 18th and
early 19th centuries characterized by an
emphasis on simplicity, objectivity and
proportion
Classical
1750 - 1820
Social, political and economic
conditions led many countries to
abolish monarchies
Reason, tolerance, hope, knowledge
and justice replaced power,
repression, despair, ignorance, and
political abuse
Classical
1750 - 1820
Classicists believe in universal values which led to
statements such as “When in the course of human events it
becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political
bands which have connected them with another. . . “
The freedoms and rights that we enjoy and take for
granted today grew out of the convictions and beliefs of
the late 1700’s. The dominance of any group or person
by another was not tolerated. “We hold these Truths to be
self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are
endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,
that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of
Happiness. . .
Classical
1750 - 1820
“Thomas Jefferson may be
considered the prototype of the
classical man: intelligent and well
educated, he was a linguist,
scientist, mathematician, architect,
musician and statesman.”
Classical
History
1750
1751
1752
1756
1757
1757
1759
1761
1762
1762
1764
1766
1770
1776
1777
1778
Over a million people live in colonial America
The Minuet becomes Europe’s fashionable dance
Benjamin Franklin flies a kite during a thunderstorm to prove that lightning is electricity.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is born
Whale oil street lamps, designed by Benjamin Franklin, are installed on a few streets in Philadelphia.
First public concert in Philadelphia
Händel dies
Haydn is appointed Kapellmeister to Prince Paul Esterhazy
Benjamin Franklin improves the harmonica turning it into a viable musical instrument
Mozart (age 6) tours Europe as a musical prodigy
Mozart (age 8) writes his first symphony
British Parliament repeals the Stamp Act after American colonists stop buying British goods in
protest against the taxes.
Ludwig van Beethoven is born
On July 4TH the Continental Congress approves the Declaration of Independence, written by
Thomas Jefferson.
United States Congress adopts the American flag of thirteen alternating red and white stripes
and thirteen white stars on a blue background.
Beethoven is presented by his father as being a six year old prodigy. (He’s eight.)
Classical
History
1783
1789
1790
1791
1793
1794
1797
1803
1804
1808
1809
1813
1814
1818
The American Revolution officially ends when the United States and Britain sign the Treaty of
Paris.
George Washington becomes the first president of the United States.
First musical competition in America
The Bill of Rights becomes part of the United States Constitution.
Eli Whitney invents his cotton gin.
After more than a hundred years, white-powdered hair goes out of fashion for men.
John Chapman, known as "Johnny Appleseed," begins planting apple seeds along the Ohio
Valley.
The United States more than doubles its size after buying over 820,000 square miles of land from
the French government. It is known as the Louisiana Purchase,.
Meriwether Lewis and William Clark begin their exploration of the vast Northwest territory,
traveling from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean.
The United States prohibits the importation of Africans for enslavement.
Felix Mendelssohn is born
Giuseppe Verdi and Richard Wagner are born
Francis Scott Key writes poem, “Defense of Fort McHenry,” later set to music of “Anacreon in
Heaven” to become U.S. National Anthem
Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht is written (Silent Night)
Classical
Art
Two Old People Eating
Francisco de Goya
1746 - 1828
Classical artistic
characteristics
Art looks to ancient Greece and
Rome for inspiration.
Classical
Art
Classical artistic
characteristics
Art looks to ancient
Greece and Rome for
inspiration.
Death of Socrates,
Jacques-Louis David
1748 - 1825
Classical
Art
Voltaire,
Jean-Antoine Houdon
1741 - 1828
The images of Franklin on the
fifty-cent piece, Jefferson on the
nickel, and Washington on the
quarter were all created by
Jean-Antoine Houdon, making
his art known to more
Americans than any other.
Unfortunately, most Americans
don’t know who he is
Classical
Architecture
U.S. Capital Building,
Washinton D.C.,
1793 – 1830
Thornton-Latrobe-Bulfinch
Classical
Architecture
Monticello,
Charlottesville VA
1768 - 1782
Thomas Jefferson
Classical
Architecture
The White House
Washington, D.C.
1793 – 1801
James Hoban
Classical
Music
Wolfgang Mozart
1756 - 1791
Musical Characteristics of the
Classic Era
Form: Classicists found beauty
in order and symmetry of
design, and clearly organized
their music.
Although Mozart died young at age 35, he
left behind an impressive body of work that
includes Masses, Sonatas, Operas, Chamber
music, Concertos and dance music. He was
buried in a common grave before his second
child was born.
Classical
Music
Franz Joseph Haydn
1732 - 1809
Musical Characteristics
of the Classical Era
Texture: Homophony became
the predominant texture.
Melodies were generally
placed on the top line while
the other lines were given
less melodic interest.
Haydn was the last composer to thrive
under the patronage system. While working
for the Esterhazy family, Haydn wrote over
100 symphonies, 52 piano sonatas, 13
operas and numerous other compositions.
Classical
Music
Ludwig Van Beethoven
1770 - 1827
Musical Characteristics
of the Classical Era
Timbre: Instrumental music
dominated during the
Classical period, and
orchestral music was
particularly important
Beethoven bridged the late classic period
with the early romantic. His celebrated
deafness occurred late in his life and is
reflected in his music as his later music
takes on a more cerebral quality.
Classical
Authors
Thomas Jefferson
1743 - 1826
Thomas Jefferson’s most famous
piece of writing is arguably the
Declaration of Independence. If
the colonies had not been
successful in separating
themselves from England, this
document alone would have been
enough to put Jefferson to death
for treason.
Classical
Jane Austen
1775 - 1817
Authors
Her novels are highly prized not
only for their light irony, humor,
and depiction of contemporary
English country life, but also for
their underlying serious qualities.
They include Pride and Prejudice,
Love and Friendship, Lady Susan,
and many others.
Classical
Authors
Jonathan Swift
1667 - 1745
Gulliver's Travels was published in 1726.
Though it is often labeled a children's book,
it is also a great satire of the times. It
demonstrates Swift's desire to encourage
people to read deeper and not take things
for granted. Readers who paid attention
could match all of Gulliver's tall tales with
current events and long-term societal
problems.