Music of the Classical Period (1750 -1827)

Classical Period is also called the Age of Reason. The period was marked by the rise of the lower and middle class in a democratic spirit asserted itself in the French Revolution and the Napoleonic ar. !n music" the term classical refers to the period which e#tends roughly from the death of $.%. &ach in '()* to the deaths of &eethoven in '+,(. &ecause cultural life was dominated by the aristocracy" the art was subservient to the ruling class and became elegant" formali-ed" restrained and impersonal. .any composers were employed to the aristocratic establishment rather than the churches as had been common in the past. Classical concepts include restraint" clarity" ob/ectivity" balance and conformity which resulted in an impersonal and relatively unemotional style. Lesson 1 Classical Style Classical music can be described as elegant" graceful and refined. The beat was light and tempo was moderate" with fre0uent use of ritardando and accelerando. The crescendo1 decrescendo and homophonic te#tures are ideas than can be found in the compositions of this period. Classical melodies were tuneful and easy to remember2 even the long instrumental compositions were often folklike. Phrases were very regular and of the same length. Tonality was firmly established and accompaniments to melody were usually the primary chords. Lesson 2 Sonata Alle ro !or" !t is a large form that is very often used as the first movement of symphonies and solo sonatas. !t is a large ternary structure consisting of three main sections. A# $%&osition 1 the section where the themes are stated2 contains the principal themes2 in the simple classical structure" there are only two or three themes3 Principal Theme 1 in the tonic key %ubordinate Theme1 in a related key such as the dominant or relative ma/or Closing Theme 1 also called codetta2 serves to bring the e#position to a close '# (e)elo&"ent 1 themes are developing2 one or both the themes may be developed often by modulating the new keys. C# *eca&itulation 1 a restatement of the e#position2 all three sections in original tonic key Principal Theme %ubordinate Theme Closing Theme

Lesson + Mo,art and the Sonata -olf an A"adeus Mo,art 4'()51'(6'7" Austrian composer who was considered by many as the greatest musical genius of all time. 8e was a child prodigy and was already composing music and playing the violin and harpsichord at the age of five. At the age of thirteen" he had written sonatas" concertos" symphonies" religious

works" an opera buffa and the 9peretta :&astien and &astienne;. .o-art<s music is clear" delicate and simple. %onata came from an !talian word sonare meaning to sound. !t is musical composition for one or more instruments. The term also refers to the musical form typical of the first movements of '+th1century sonatas and related genres. %ince the mid1'+th century" the term sonata has generally been used for works in a three1 or four1movement format for one or two instruments" as in the piano sonata 4for solo piano7 or violin sonata 4for violin with a keyboard instrument7. Mo,art.s !a"ous -or/s0 Concerto for 9boe and 9rchestra in C .a/or" =. >'? Concerto no. ,' in C .a/or" =. ?5(
Concerto no. > in @ .a/or" =. ,'5 Cos fan tutte Don Giovanni %onata no.'' in A ma/or =>>' The Magic Flute The .arriage of Figaro

Lesson 1 2aydn and the Sy"&hony !ran, 3ose&h 2aydn 4'(>, 1 '+*67 was born in the village of Rohrau" Austria on .arch >'" '(>,. At '(" he started to teach himself to compose music by studying the works of other composers. 8e served as Airector of .usic to the Bsterha-y family for >* years. 8e was best known for his symphonies and he had composed over a hundred of these. 8e developed the symphony into a long form for a large orchestra. %ymphony came from the @reek words syn, meaning :together"; and phn, meaning :sound;2 hence symphony is :a sounding

together.; !t is defined as a sonata for orchestra and has four movements3 !. Fast and Cively 1 sonata allegro form2 usually in duple meter !!. %low 1 andante2 sonata form 4A&A7 rondo form !!!.Fast 1 minuet dance style2 triple meter !D. Fast and @ay 1 sonata form or rondo form2 usually in duple meter 2aydn.s !a"ous -or/s0 %ymphony no. 6? in @ ma/or 4%urprise %ymphony7

8aydnEs %tring Fuartet No. 5, in C .a/or ( mperor!

The Creation %ymphony No. ?) 4 Fare"ell7 %ymphony No. '*? in A .a/or (#ondon!

5 4he Classical Lesson Concerto A concerto is a sonata for a solo instrumental and orchestra. The solo instrument can be piano" violin" trumpet" or any instrument. !t is composed of three movements3 !. Fast 1 in sonata allegro form with e#positions of the orchestra and then by the soloist !!. %low 1 sometimes the caden-a 4an elaborate solo passage of virtuoso playing or singing near the end of a section or piece7 is in the second movement !!!.Fast Lesson 5 4he Music of 'eetho)en Lud6i )an 'eetho)en 4'((* 1 '+,(7 was born in &onn" a city in west central @ermany. 8e was a talented pianist and composer and was recogni-ed as the :Prince of all Composers;. Bven if he began to go deaf in the year '(65" he was still determined to composed music.

'eetho)en.s !a"ous -or/s0 Fuartet in @ .a/or" op. '+ no. , Third %ymphony 4 roica7 Piano %onata in C .a/or 4$aldstein7 Piano Concerto no. ? in @ .a/or" op. )+ %ymphony No. 6 4Choral7 %ymphony no.) in C minor" op. 5( Moonlight %onata The %cale Lesson 7 4he Classical 7&era The term opera usually implies a heroic and tragic drama. This was formerly called opera seria 4serious opera7 or grand opera. This kind of opera employs mythological characters. Another kind of opera is the comic opera. There are several kinds of operas3 the opera comi0ue 4France7" opera buffa 4!taly7" ballad opera 4'+th century Bnglish comic opera7" and singspiel 4@ermany7. These operas make use of spoken dialogue and the music is less profound.