Ah, la musica!

A Brief History of Music: 1600-1827

Today’s objectives: 1. Understand how art reflects the society in which it is created (through classical music) 2. Learn why Beethoven is the most influential person in the history of Western music (or is he?) 3. Work together to create a class poster that showcases music from our lives 4. Learn to love classical music… NO!!!

Music can be divided into three styles during this period:

Baroque (begins 1600) Classical (begins 1750) Romantic (begins 1805)

Before 1600, most music was paid and written for by the Church

Baroque (1600 to 1750) • Portuguese word barroco, “meaning a pearl of

irregular shape and/or colour” • Baroque era coincides with the Scientific

Revolution and the Age of Reason Sir Isaac

Newton John Locke

Newton believed that underneath the complexity and visible chaos of the universe there existed systematic order

God was seen as a great watchmaker, and the universe as God’s own watch

So, why is grass green? It depends who you ask!

So, baroque design is complexity layered over top of order, logic, and control For example…

Baroque façade in Ecuador

A musical example: Toccata and Fugue in D minor

by Johann Sebastian Bach (probably written before 1708)

Bach (1685-1750)

Classical (begins 1750) • Classical music mirrored the

Enlightenment (1730-1780)

Voltaire Franklin Jefferson

New middle class had something else that was new: free time!

Middle class wanted a “music for the people,” music that was easier to listen to than Baroque, or even better…..

Something you could sing along to!

Classical Architecture

Mozart (1756-1791) • Child prodigy • Piano and violin virtuoso • A unique writing style:

“copying out”

Bach vs. Mozart

Romantic Music (begins 1805)

Inspired by the French Revolution

(new ideas = new music)

A new formula: Enlightenment (individualism)

+ French Revolution (rapid change)

+ Napoleonic Wars (upheaval)

“My art is for me, not for you. What I feel, see, and hear is important!

My art will express what I feel, what I see, what I hear. Take it or leave it!”

Beethoven (1771–1827) • Tough father-son

relationship • Began going deaf just as

his career was taking off • An isolated social misfit • Hopes dashed by the

“Heroic” Napoleon

…not that Mozart had it all that easy

• Father blamed him for the death of his mother (which Mozart witnessed)

• Had six children, but four of them died before their 2nd birthday!

• At times destitute due to French Revolution

So, where’s the emotion?

Piano Sonata no. 8

Piano Sonata no. 14, “Moonlight”

Beethoven “was a revolutionary man living at a revolutionary time, and…he was, without a doubt, the single most disruptive and influential composer in the history of Western music” -Robert Greenberg

Pearl Jam - Black “I know some day you’ll have a beautiful life, I know you’ll be a star in somebody else’s sky. But why, why, why can’t it be mine?”