The Classical Style (1750-1820) Background

belief in progress reason, not custom or tradition, was the best

guide for human conduct middle-class vs. aristocracy American & French Revolutions

changes in visual art rococo: light colors, curved lines, graceful

ornaments neo-classical: firm lines, clear structure, moralistic

subject matter

The Classical Style (1750-1820) Changes in music

Preclassical period (ca.1730-1770) - transitional Carl Phillip Emanuel Bach (1714-1788) Johann Christian Bach (1735-1782) style galant: concentration on simplicity and clarity

Classical term borrowed from visual art

refers to influence of Greek and Roman models no such reference in music

Characteristics of Classical Style Contrast of mood Flexibility of rhythm Basically homophonic texture Balanced, symmetrical, tuneful melodies Dynamics and the Piano End of Basso Continuo The Classical Orchestra

Strings - 1st/2nd violin, viola, cello, double bass Woodwinds - flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon (2 each) Brass - 2 French horns, 2 trumpets Percussion - 2 timpani

Classical Forms Instrumental compositions

4 movements that contrast in tempo and character 1. Fast 2. Slow 3. Dance-related 4. Fast

symphony string quartet sonata

Contrasting themes in movements

Balance within larger structure of movement

Composer, Patron, and Public in the Classical Period Social Trends and Classical Composition

Effects on musicians More people with more $ Middle Class influence

public concerts pieces for amateur musicians comic opera familiar tunes in “serious” music

Vienna seat of Holy Roman Empire one of the music centers of Europe aristocrat winter quarters outdoor music

Sonata Form Exposition (may be preceded by Introduction)

First theme in tonic key Bridge - modulation to new key Second (contrasting) theme in new key Closing section in key of second theme

Development new treatment of themes; modulations to different keys /

retransition Recapitulation

First theme in tonic key Bridge Second theme in tonic (or parallel major) key Closing section in tonic / (may be followed by a coda)

Classical Forms Theme and Variations

theme repeated over and over with alterations melody, rhythm, harmony, accompaniment, dynamics, or tone color each time

A(theme) - A’(variation 1) - A’’ (variation2) - … use of countermelody

Minuet and Trio often used as 3rd movt. / 3/4 usually in mod.tempo

Minuet Trio Minuet

A B A

||:a:||:ba’:|| ||:c:||:dc’:|| aba’ da capo scherzo - faster than minuet

Classical Forms Rondo

as an independent piece or a movement often serves as a finale A B A C A (B A) sonata-rondo

B A - development - A B A

Symphony 4 movements - FSDF - attributes of each movement

Concerto 3 movements - FSF double exposition cadenza

Classical Chamber Music Characteristics

designed for intimate setting of a room (chamber) 2-9 musicians, with one player to a part lighter sound than orchestral music musicians work as a team no conductor

Types String Quartet

2 violins, viola, cello usually 4 mvts. - FSDF or FDSF

Sonata for Violin and Piano Piano Trio (violin, cello, piano) String Quintet (2 violins, 2 violas, cello)

Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) Background

Born in Rohrau, Austria musical background until age 6 - folk songs and peasant

dances sent to a relative to receive basic music lessons age 8 - choirboy at St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna

had no composition or instrumental lessons upon his voice change - dismissed from St. Stephen’s

barely stays alive by teaching lessons for 8 years also took odd jobs

Haydn’s talent gradually noticed by aristocracy music director for court of a Bohemian count age 29 (1761) - enters service of Esterházy family

Haydn and the Esterházy Family 1761-1790 - most of Haydn’s music composed for the

Esterházy’s, richest and most powerful Hungarian noble family Eszterháza - family’s palace in Hungary

opera house, theater, 2 concert halls, 126 guest rooms

Haydn’s responsibilities as musical director compose all music requested by patron conduct 25-member orchestra coach singers oversee instrument conditions and music library two concerts and two opera performances weekly daily chamber music

150 pieces with baryton part for Nicholas Esterházy

Joseph Haydn Advantages and disadvantages of patronage Personal characteristics of Haydn

good-humored and unselfish cared about personal interests of his musicians

early 1780’s - met Mozart, became close friends Haydn’s popularity grows while serving the

Esterházy’s 1790 - Nicholas dies - Haydn free to go to London

Salomon / London symphonies servant to celebrity

Joseph Haydn

1795 - returns to Vienna new agreement with Nicholas Esterházy II one mass composed each year (6 written)

wrote two oratorios The Creation The Seasons

1809 - dies at age 77 during time of Napoleon’s occupation of Vienna memorial service of Viennese with French

generals and an honor guard of French soldiers

Haydn’s Music pioneer in development of symphony and string

quartet use of folk tunes / original folk-like melodies master of theme development musical “jokes” 104 symphonies

many known by nicknames 68 string quartets

may have invented the string quartet Other works - piano sonatas, piano trios,

divertimentos, concertos, operas, masses.

Haydn’s Music Symphony No. 94 (“Surprise”)

key, form, tempo, notable features of each movement

Trumpet Concerto in E-flat Major

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) born in Salzburg, Austria age 6 - playing the harpsichord and violin,

improvising fugues, writing minuets, sight-reading perfectly

compositions as a child age 8 - 1st symphony age 11 - 1st oratorio age 12 - 1st opera

Leopold Mozart (father) shows off his son age 6-15 - Mozart tours Europe almost half the time

Empress Maria Theresa of Austria Louis XV of France George III of England

Mozart Visit to Sistine Chapel age 15 - return to Salzburg - under patronage of

Prince-Archbishop Colloredo only given subordinate seat in orchestra

lack of initiative insubordinate / requests for dismissal 1781 (age 25) - goes to Vienna to be free-lance

musician concerts attended by the emperor and nobility married Constanze Weber friendship with Haydn

Mozart 1786 - Vienna loves The Marriage of Figaro 1787 - Vienna dislikes Don Giovanni

Leopold dies during the composition of D.G. Mozart’s popularity deteriorates 1791 -

The Magic Flute Requiem

commissioned by Count Walsegg “strange” messenger thought he was writing his own Requiem

dies of rheumatic fever - December 5, 1791

Mozart’s Music More than 600 compositions

“K.” = Köchel number Mozart’s output catalogued by Ludwig von

Köchel Most notable ~

concertos operas (mostly comic) piano sonatas Requiem

Mozart’s Music Don Giovanni

unique blend of comic and serious opera characters / plot

Act I: Introduction Act I: Leporello’s catalogue aria Act I: Duet (Don and Zerlina)

Symphony No. 40, K.550 key, form, tempo, notable features of each

movement Piano Concerto No. 23 in A Major – 1st mvt Requiem – Dies irae

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) Background

born in Bonn, Germany into a family of musicians

Johann (father) comes home from tavern late and makes Ludwig practice at the keyboard until morning

age 16 – improvises for Mozart in Vienna mother dies, father becomes an alcoholic age 18 – becomes legal guardian of two

younger brothers

Beethoven 1792 (almost age 22) – studies with

Haydn in Vienna Haydn neglects Beethoven / secretly goes to

another teacher 1st 7 years in Vienna very productive rebels against social convention age 29 – 1st signs of deafness appear 1803-04 – 3rd Symphony dedication

Bonaparte ---- becomes ---- Eroica

Beethoven self-educated drifter in romantic relations earns money through publishing

never in the service of aristocracy 1809 – paid by three Austrian nobles to stay in Vienna

age 44 – stops playing piano in public, but continues to conduct

1815 – Casper dies becomes coguardian of nephew, Karl 5-year custody battle

Karl attempts suicide / Beethoven shattered

Beethoven’s Music expands range of pitch and dynamics works and reworks music during composition expands forms (i.e. 50-minute 3rd Symphony) continuity between contrasting movements

resemblance of themes in separate movements movements linked w/o pause

expands sonata form development section develops themes in coda

scherzo preferred over minuet larger instrumentation for orchestra uses choir in 9th Symphony

Beethoven’s Music Piano Sonata in C minor, Op. 13

(“Pathétique”) key, form, tempo, notable features of each

movement Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67

key, form, tempo, notable features of each movement