Classical Music

The Classical Style

Malaspina Great Books

From Baroque to Classical

• High Baroque• 1700-1750

• Albinoni (1671-1750)• Handel (1685-1759)• J. S. Bach (1685-1750)

• Classical• 1750-1820

• Haydn (1732-1809)• Mozart (1756-1791)

• Beethoven (1770-1827)

Baroque vs. Classical

• Baroque

• Counterpoint• Ornamentation• Binary Form• Constant Feeling• Little Modulation

• Classical

• Homophonic texture• Less Ornament• Sonata Form• Range of Feelings• Modulation Central

Musical Examples: Baroque

Albinoni (#3): Oboe Concerto Op.9 no. 5 Allegro Handel (#5) : Organ Concerto Op. 4 No. 4 AllegroJ.S. Bach (#6): Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 Allegro assai

Albinoni Handel J.S. Bach

Baroque vs. Classical

• Counterpoint• Ornamentation• Binary Form• Constant Feeling• Little Modulation

• Homophonic texture• Less Ornament• Sonata Form• Range of Feelings• Modulation Central

Classical Style

A new understanding of music at the theoretical level (tonality) leading to unique expressions (i.e. original phrasings): a kind of dramatic journey through a sequence of musical keys, outward and back from the tonic.

A new vehicle for this new style called the sonata

Musical Scales

• 1 C D G • 2 D E A • 3 E F# B• 4 F G C• 5 G A D• 6 A B E• 7 B C# F#

• TONIC• SUPERTONIC• MEDIANT• SUBDOMINANT• DOMINANT• SUBMEDIANT• LEADING TONE

Tonic & Dominant (G major)

Tonic (G)

The first note of the major and minor scales, and the chords and keys rooted on that note.

Dominant (D)

The fifth note of the major and minor scales, and the chords and keys rooted on that note.

Sonata Form: (2 Tonal Parts)

• 1. Exposition: a theme or group of themes in the tonic (G) followed by a modulation of those themes to the dominant (D) and a second theme or second group of themes.

• 2. Development & Recapitulation: a repetition of the exposition followed by fragmentations and recombinations of the themes in various keys, ending with a return to the tonic (G) and a recapitulation of exposition – this time with the second group of themes in the tonic (G).

Musical Examples: Classical

Haydn Mozart Beethoven

Haydn (#9): Trumpet Concerto Finale Allegro (4:31)Mozart (#10): Piano Concerto K 622: Adagio (10:29)Beethoven (#14): Piano Concerto 5 Op.73: Rondo Allegro (10:09)