Classical Music1750-1820

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”

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 movementsan instrumental piece for

one or two instruments (solo plus sometimes piano)

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 wantedpredictable forms, to knowwhat to expect

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

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

A A B A Coda

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:• Overture—the instrumental

opening• Aria—the solo song• Recitative—the sung

narrative• Libretto—the text

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

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

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)