Musical Styles in 18th Century

1
Musical Styles in 18th Century

• Plurality of styles
• Era of overlap
• Function of geography (south to north)

1800
1700
Classical
Baroque
2
Terminology (Chapter 11)

• Classic / Classical- general term for the
  era- also specific to Vienna, c. 1780s-1820s
• Galant ( new, chic, up-to-date)-
  mid-18th century (1720s-80s)- style emerging
  from Southern Italy
• Rococo (from rocaille rock work)-
  mid-18th century (1720s-80s)- ornate French
  keyboard style (Couperin, et al.)
• Empfindsamkeit (Sensitive Style)- North German
  (CPE Bach)

3
The Art of the Natural

• Begins c. 1720s-30s
• Affect (Baroque artificial) (ex. JSB, p. 299)
• Imitation of Nature (Classical
  Enlightenment)(ex. Billings, p. 300)(ex. WAM
  letter, p. 301)
• Genius vs. Technique (chart, p. 300)(ex. JH, p.
  300-01)

4
Elements of Classical Style

• Homophony
• Periodicity-regularity of phrases- Antecedent /
  Consequent
• Harmonic Rhythm slows
• Harmony simplifies
• Standard Forms Sonata-allegro, Rondo, Ternary,
  Theme Variations, etc.

5
Classical Form Listen

• Ex. W.A. Mozart, Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, 3rd mvt
• Two Possible plansA B or A BA (better)
• Repeats help distinguish each half A BA
  
• BINARY
• Larger forms often built of smaller units

6
Form of the First Movement (described by H.C.
Koch, 1787)

• (first part)
• Exposition (A) I ? V
• (second part)
• Development (B) Recapitulation (A) V
  ? V I ?
  I
• (also called Sonata or Sonata Allegro form)
• remember relation to Binary a ba

7
Early Symphonies(not in textbook)

• c. mid-1740s/50s, Milan
• Origins in opera overtures (fast-slow-fast plan)
• Played independently or emulated as independent
  pieces (no operas)
• 1st mvt plan described by H.C. Koch (1793)
• EX. - String Orchestra 'Presto from Sinfonia in
  F' Sammartini - YouTube
• EX. - YouTube - GB SAMMARTINI Symphony for 2
  violins, viola continuo in D major - Ensemble
  415 (complete)

Giovanni BattistaSammartini (c. 1700-1775)
8
G M Monn, Symphony in B, 1st mvt(Anth 99)

• Viennese Composer
• Transitional - mixes Baroque w/ Classical
• 1st mvt S-A w/ clear2nd theme
• Known for first 4-mvt symphony (most have 3)
• Compare to Kochs model

Georg Matthias Monn(1717-1750)