Classical Music 1750-1820

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Classical Music1750-1820
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What makes music Classical?

• Dominance of the orchestra
• Clear and logical shape
• Balanced symmetrical
• Homophonic
• Heroic themes
• Element of surprise
• Mythology is in again
• Baroque improvisation and contrapuntal devices
  are out

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If you went to a Classical concert, you might
hearthese musical GENRES

• Concerto 3 movement orchestral piece for
  solo and tutti
• Symphony 4 movement orchestral piece using
  all instruments
• String Quartet 4 movements, 2 violins,
  viola and cello
• Sonata 3-4 movements
• an instrumental piece for one or two
  instruments (solo plus sometimes piano)

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4 Movements of the Symphony (and String Quartets)

• FAST -- Allegro
• SLOW -- Adagio or Andante (walking)
• DANCE FORM ¾ time ( minuet or scherzo)
• FAST Allegro
• Classical audiences wanted
• predictable forms, to know
• what to expect

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Sonata-Allegro Form

• Refers to the form of just one movement, the
  first---at allegro tempo
• Exposition (the A), introduces two themes, one
  in the tonic, one in dominant. The exposition is
  performed twice ( A A )
• Development (the B), fragments of the theme,
  dynamic tension
• Recapitulation (the A again), restating the
  themes, this time both in the tonic
• Coda, the Big Bang at the end

A A B A Coda
So what are tonic and dominant, again? Tonic
the 1st step The center tone of the piece
Dominant the 5th step For example, if the
tonic is C, the dominant is G ---the building
blocks of music
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What about opera?

• Public opera houses flourish opera is for the
  common man as well as for nobility (Volksoper vs
  Staatoper)
• Public opera often is lighter, comique
• Echoing rationalist sensibilities, action moves
  through conflicts and misunderstandings to an
  inevitable happy ending each individual has the
  power to help create a good, noble world
• Structure is symmetrical, alternating recitative
  and aria

• Parts of an opera
• Overturethe instrumental opening
• Ariathe solo song
• Recitativethe sung narrative
• Librettothe text

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Joseph Haydn1732-1809

• Father of both the symphony and string quartets
• Wrote the first modern symphony in 1759 composed
  104 symphonies in total
• Also wrote string quartets, oratorios, cantatas
• Prince Esterhazy (Hungarian) was main patron
• Created chamber quartets to keep up with
  popularity of sheet music and playing at home
• Incorporated element of surprise in most
  symphonies Clock (101), Drum Roll (103) Surprise
  (94)
• Affected by Sturm und Drang---urgency, strong
  emotions, sudden intense changes
• Created 2 famous oratorios at end of life The
  Seasons and Creation
• At end of life, put under house arrest by
  Napoleon

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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart1756-91

• Child prodigy tours Europe by age 6
• From Austria (Catholic, monarchy)
• plays for royalty but later supports himself,
• finding his own patrons
• and customers
• Writes first opera at 13
• Lives in Vienna, Land of the piano
• Is extremely fun-loving and irreverent
• Writes 41 symphonies, 20 piano concertos, string
  quartets
• Invents string quintets, adding one more viola
• Wrote several operas Idomeneo is first, serious
  opera based on Greek myth. Don Giovanni is both
  comic and serious. Magic Flute uses symbols of
  the free masons made for the public opera house
• Wrote his own requiem (funeral mass) at end of
  life

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Ludwig van Beethoven1770-1827

• Child prodigy, as well, but not quite
• as gifted as Mozart
• Went to Vienna to study and compose
• Never married but fell in love frequently
• Cranky and surly looses hearing by age 32
• Writes Heiligenstadt document to end his career
• Fond of minor tones to fit his mood
• Wrote 32 piano sonatas and 9 symphonies
• Wrote one opera, Fidelio, suggesting political
  oppression, justice, freedom, loyalty in marriage
• Famous symphonies 3rd (Eroica), 5th (in C minor
  dadadada...), 6th (Pastoral), 9th (Chorale, Ode
  to Joy, 5 movements, based on a poem by Schiller)