Classical Music

1770-1820

1750-1770 = ???

Active but often “nameless” period – sometimes known as “Pre-Classical” or GALLANT STYLE or Rococo

C.P.E. Bach – more famous than his dad (J.S.)

Overview

The SYMPHONY emerges

CHAMBER MUSIC emerges

OPERA continues & evolves

Three major composers:� HAYDN� MOZART� BEETHOVEN

LIFE-TIME-LINES

BEETHOVEN 1770-1827

MOZART 1756-1791

HAYDN 1732-1809

1770

1820

The Classical Style

• CLARITY
• REGULAR PHRASES
• CONTRAST BECOMES STRUCTURAL, EVEN NARRATIVE
• MOTIFIC RATHER THAN MELODIC
• MOTIFIC MATERIAL IS “WORKED OUT”

Haydn

Listening example

Haydn -- first movement from Sonata in C Major, No. 50

-- clarity of texture

-- contrast of mood within one movement

-- piano sonata (3-movement work for solo� piano)

-- short motific ideas rather than long melodies

-- sonata form

The string quartet – a chamber music ensemble

-- The string quartet as an ensemble is made up of 2 violins, viola and cello.

-- The string quartet as a musical genre is a multi-movement work similar to the symphony in that it usually has 4 movements, usually � I. sonata form – fast� II. slow – lyrical, often variation form� III. medium tempo dance movement� IV. fast – rondo (ABACA) form

Listening example

Haydn -- first movement from String Quartet in C Major, Opus 76 No. 3, "Emperor"

-- clarity of texture

-- four-part texture with different roles or personalities for each part, as if the music was a conversation among four people

-- short motific ideas rather than long melodies

-- sonata form, single theme

Haydn

Don’t write this down:

104 symphonies

60 Piano sonatas

68 String quartets

25 Operas (10 lost)

Masses & oratorios

THE POINT: plenty of chances to� experiment with form

Esterháza

A private laboratory for Haydn and his development of classical forms

- 30 years of support, isolated but not cut-off from the world . . . 2 operas & 2 concerts every week, almost daily chamber music, his own 25-member orchestra

A digression: the social status of the artist

Velasquez proudly wearing a mark of distinction

Haydn a (very glorified) servant

Beethoven fancied himself to be independent – an entrepreneur

Sonata Form

tonic

theme� 1

theme �2

theme �2

exposition

The Classical Style

• CLARITY
• REGULAR PHRASES
• CONTRAST BECOMES STRUCTURAL, EVEN NARRATIVE
• MOTIFIC RATHER THAN MELODIC
• MOTIFIC MATERIAL IS “WORKED OUT”

Mozart listening example

1^st movement from�Symphony No. 40 in G minor

Minor key

Sonata form – very clear

motific

p. 314-16 in text

Sonata Form

tonic

theme� 1

theme �2

theme �2

exposition

Mozart

Only 35 years on the planet

Mozart

40+ symphonies

string quartets

piano sonatas

27 piano concertos

masses

20 operas

Mozart listening example

first movement from Symphony No. 35 in D Major, K. 385, "Haffner"

-- begins with a huge leap; there is a variety of articulations and textures

-- clarity of texture and clarity of musical ideas

-- sonata form: the modulation to the second theme/key is complete at about 1:30; the development section starts at about 2:34; the recapitulation begins at about 3:29.

-- major key

-- the development section plays with the contrast of minor keys to the home key of the piece, which is major

Mozart listening example

-- finale from Act II of The Marriage of Figaro

-- an ensemble scene (six voices)

-- contrasting emotions presented simultaneously (compare that to the Baroque ideal aesthetic of Affect, one mood or emotion per piece)

1786

Mozart and opera

Da Ponte – librettist

-- all voice ranges used (instead of the Baroque’s treble + bass preference)

-- ensembles (groups of solo voices) now contrasted with arias and recitative

-- several operas about contemporary characters, not mythological figures or ancient history from Rome or Greece (although he did a few of those, too)

-- biting social commentary: the decadent aristocracy is compared to the normal, happy, healthy lust and love of the common folk

-- recitative still used

-- some in German with spoken dialogue

The Classical Style

• CLARITY
• REGULAR PHRASES
• CONTRAST BECOMES STRUCTURAL, EVEN NARRATIVE
• MOTIFIC RATHER THAN MELODIC
• MOTIFIC MATERIAL IS “WORKED OUT”

SUMMARY – 18^TH CENTURY

• IDEAS – Enlightenment & rationalist Criticism
• ART – 3 genres: Rococo, Neo-Classical, Bourgeois� (Genre)
• MUSIC – Genres such as the SYMPHONY and the STRING QUARTET emerge, all emphasizing CLARITY of musical ideas and the organization of CONTRAST, as exemplified by SONATA FORM
• key composers: HAYDN, MOZART & early Beethoven

NOT

VS.

HEART vs. HEAD

EMOTION vs. INTELLECT

IT’S ALL EMOTIONS – �IT IS A QUESTION OF WHAT KINDS OF EMOTIONS

Turkish rondo

MOZART

3^RD movement of a PIANO SONATA

EXOTICISM – a romantic trait to come

BALANCED, CLEAR PHRASES 🡪 CLASSICAL