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The Classical Style (1750-1820)

The Classical Style (1750-1820). Background belief in progress reason, not custom or tradition, was the best guide for human conduct middle-class vs. aristocracy American & French Revolutions changes in visual art rococo: light colors, curved lines, graceful ornaments

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The Classical Style (1750-1820)

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  1. The Classical Style (1750-1820) • Background • belief in progress • reason, not custom or tradition, was the best guide for human conduct • middle-class vs. aristocracy • American & French Revolutions • changes in visual art • rococo: light colors, curved lines, graceful ornaments • neo-classical: firm lines, clear structure, moralistic subject matter

  2. The Classical Style (1750-1820) • Changes in music • Preclassical period (ca.1730-1770) - transitional • Carl Phillip Emanuel Bach (1714-1788) • Johann Christian Bach (1735-1782) • style galant: concentration on simplicity and clarity • Classical • term borrowed from visual art • refers to influence of Greek and Roman models • no such reference in music

  3. Characteristics of Classical Style • Contrast of mood • Flexibility of rhythm • Basically homophonic texture • Balanced, symmetrical, tuneful melodies • Dynamics and the Piano • End of Basso Continuo • The Classical Orchestra • Strings - 1st/2nd violin, viola, cello, double bass • Woodwinds - flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon (2 each) • Brass - 2 French horns, 2 trumpets • Percussion - 2 timpani

  4. Classical Forms • Instrumental compositions • 4 movements that contrast in tempo and character • 1. Fast • 2. Slow • 3. Dance-related • 4. Fast • symphony • string quartet • sonata • Contrasting themes in movements • Balance within larger structure of movement

  5. Composer, Patron, and Public in the Classical Period • Social Trends and Classical Composition • Effects on musicians • More people with more $ • Middle Class influence • public concerts • pieces for amateur musicians • comic opera • familiar tunes in “serious” music • Vienna • seat of Holy Roman Empire • one of the music centers of Europe • aristocrat winter quarters • outdoor music

  6. Sonata Form • Exposition (may be preceded by Introduction) • First theme in tonic key • Bridge - modulation to new key • Second (contrasting) theme in new key • Closing section in key of second theme • Development • new treatment of themes; modulations to different keys / retransition • Recapitulation • First theme in tonic key • Bridge • Second theme in tonic (or parallel major) key • Closing section in tonic / (may be followed by a coda)

  7. Classical Forms • Theme and Variations • theme repeated over and over with alterations melody, rhythm, harmony, accompaniment, dynamics, or tone color each time • A(theme) - A’(variation 1) - A’’ (variation2) - … • use of countermelody • Minuet and Trio • often used as 3rd movt. / 3/4 usually in mod.tempo Minuet Trio Minuet A B A ||:a:||:ba’:|| ||:c:||:dc’:|| aba’ • da capo • scherzo - faster than minuet

  8. Classical Forms • Rondo • as an independent piece or a movement • often serves as a finale • A B A C A (B A) • sonata-rondo • B A - development - A B A • Symphony • 4 movements - FSDF - attributes of each movement • Concerto • 3 movements - FSF • double exposition • cadenza

  9. Classical Chamber Music • Characteristics • designed for intimate setting of a room (chamber) • 2-9 musicians, with one player to a part • lighter sound than orchestral music • musicians work as a team • no conductor • Types • String Quartet • 2 violins, viola, cello • usually 4 mvts. - FSDF or FDSF • Sonata for Violin and Piano • Piano Trio (violin, cello, piano) • String Quintet (2 violins, 2 violas, cello)

  10. Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) • Background • Born in Rohrau, Austria • musical background until age 6 - folk songs and peasant dances • sent to a relative to receive basic music lessons • age 8 - choirboy at St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna • had no composition or instrumental lessons • upon his voice change - dismissed from St. Stephen’s • barely stays alive by teaching lessons for 8 years • also took odd jobs • Haydn’s talent gradually noticed by aristocracy • music director for court of a Bohemian count • age 29 (1761) - enters service of Esterházy family

  11. Haydn and the Esterházy Family • 1761-1790 - most of Haydn’s music composed for the Esterházy’s, richest and most powerful Hungarian noble family • Eszterháza - family’s palace in Hungary • opera house, theater, 2 concert halls, 126 guest rooms • Haydn’s responsibilities as musical director • compose all music requested by patron • conduct 25-member orchestra • coach singers • oversee instrument conditions and music library • two concerts and two opera performances weekly • daily chamber music • 150 pieces with baryton part for Nicholas Esterházy

  12. Joseph Haydn • Advantages and disadvantages of patronage • Personal characteristics of Haydn • good-humored and unselfish • cared about personal interests of his musicians • early 1780’s - met Mozart, became close friends • Haydn’s popularity grows while serving the Esterházy’s • 1790 - Nicholas dies - Haydn free to go to London • Salomon / London symphonies • servant to celebrity

  13. Joseph Haydn • 1795 - returns to Vienna • new agreement with Nicholas Esterházy II • one mass composed each year (6 written) • wrote two oratorios • The Creation • The Seasons • 1809 - dies at age 77 • during time of Napoleon’s occupation of Vienna • memorial service of Viennese with French generals and an honor guard of French soldiers

  14. Haydn’s Music • pioneer in development of symphony and string quartet • use of folk tunes / original folk-like melodies • master of theme development • musical “jokes” • 104 symphonies • many known by nicknames • 68 string quartets • may have invented the string quartet • Other works - piano sonatas, piano trios, divertimentos, concertos, operas, masses.

  15. Haydn’s Music • Symphony No. 94 (“Surprise”) • key, form, tempo, notable features of each movement • Trumpet Concerto in E-flat Major

  16. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) • born in Salzburg, Austria • age 6 - playing the harpsichord and violin, improvising fugues, writing minuets, sight-reading perfectly • compositions as a child • age 8 - 1st symphony • age 11 - 1st oratorio • age 12 - 1st opera • Leopold Mozart (father) shows off his son • age 6-15 - Mozart tours Europe almost half the time • Empress Maria Theresa of Austria • Louis XV of France • George III of England

  17. Mozart • Visit to Sistine Chapel • age 15 - return to Salzburg - under patronage of Prince-Archbishop Colloredo • only given subordinate seat in orchestra • lack of initiative • insubordinate / requests for dismissal • 1781 (age 25) - goes to Vienna to be free-lance musician • concerts attended by the emperor and nobility • married Constanze Weber • friendship with Haydn

  18. Mozart • 1786 - Vienna loves The Marriage of Figaro • 1787 - Vienna dislikes Don Giovanni • Leopold dies during the composition of D.G. • Mozart’s popularity deteriorates • 1791 - • The Magic Flute • Requiem • commissioned by Count Walsegg • “strange” messenger • thought he was writing his own Requiem • dies of rheumatic fever - December 5, 1791

  19. Mozart’s Music • More than 600 compositions • “K.” = Köchel number • Mozart’s output catalogued by Ludwig von Köchel • Most notable ~ • concertos • operas (mostly comic) • piano sonatas • Requiem

  20. Mozart’s Music • Don Giovanni • unique blend of comic and serious opera • characters / plot • Act I: Introduction • Act I: Leporello’s catalogue aria • Act I: Duet (Don and Zerlina) • Symphony No. 40, K.550 • key, form, tempo, notable features of each movement • Piano Concerto No. 23 in A Major – 1st mvt • Requiem – Dies irae

  21. Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) • Background • born in Bonn, Germany into a family of musicians • Johann (father) comes home from tavern late and makes Ludwig practice at the keyboard until morning • age 16 – improvises for Mozart in Vienna • mother dies, father becomes an alcoholic • age 18 – becomes legal guardian of two younger brothers

  22. Beethoven • 1792 (almost age 22) – studies with Haydn in Vienna • Haydn neglects Beethoven / secretly goes to another teacher • 1st 7 years in Vienna very productive • rebels against social convention • age 29 – 1st signs of deafness appear • 1803-04 – 3rd Symphony dedication • Bonaparte ---- becomes ---- Eroica

  23. Beethoven • self-educated • drifter in romantic relations • earns money through publishing • never in the service of aristocracy • 1809 – paid by three Austrian nobles to stay in Vienna • age 44 – stops playing piano in public, but continues to conduct • 1815 – Casper dies • becomes coguardian of nephew, Karl • 5-year custody battle • Karl attempts suicide / Beethoven shattered

  24. Beethoven’s Music • expands range of pitch and dynamics • works and reworks music during composition • expands forms (i.e. 50-minute 3rd Symphony) • continuity between contrasting movements • resemblance of themes in separate movements • movements linked w/o pause • expands sonata form • development section • develops themes in coda • scherzo preferred over minuet • larger instrumentation for orchestra • uses choir in 9th Symphony

  25. Beethoven’s Music • Piano Sonata in C minor, Op. 13 (“Pathétique”) • key, form, tempo, notable features of each movement • Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67 • key, form, tempo, notable features of each movement

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