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Chapter 12: Classical Style. The Classical Era (1750-1820). Proportion, balance, and formal correctness The Enlightenment. The Democratization of Classical Music: Public Concerts. Performances gradually moved from the palace to the concert hall Supported by the middle class.
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The Classical Era (1750-1820) • Proportion, balance, and formal correctness • The Enlightenment
The Democratization of Classical Music:Public Concerts • Performances gradually moved from the palace to the concert hall • Supported by the middle class
The Rise of Popular Opera • Comic Opera: Expressed middle class values; satire of pompous and incompetent aristocrats • Also called Opera buffa
The Advent of the Piano • Invented in Italy around 1700 • Replaced the harpsichord • Could play more than one dynamic level • Originally named the pianoforte
Elements of Classical Style • Melody: Tuneful, catchy, singable melodies • Simple and short with balanced phrases • Antecedent and Consequent phrases • Example from Mozart’s Piano Concerto in C major (1785)
Elements of Classical Style • Harmony: Harmonic rhythm much more fluid and flexible than in the Baroque music • Alberti Bass: Spreads out pitches of a chord to provide a steady steam of sound