Leaders overturned reign of King Louis XVI and was executed by guillotine.

Leaders forbid class distinctions and existence of aristocracy

Leaders outlawed formal, second-person French language (“monsieur” outlawed)

Revolution government established a board of censorship for the arts:› A) those artists who worked

within their rules were highly successful

› B) successful artists supplied the new arts required by the state

Many of the ideas of the French Revolution were not established because it had just ended as the Classical Era was beginning.

Revolution government established a board of censorship for the arts:› A) those artists who worked within their rules

were highly successful› B) successful artists supplied the new arts

required by the state

Many of the ideas of the French Revolution were not established because it had just ended as the Classical Era was beginning.

Declaration of Independence› an important expression of new ideas

All men are equal System of government with checks and balances Impossible for a dictator to take control New middle class was the basis of society Freedom of culture Was definitely not perfect but was a good start

and was improved upon throughout the Classical period.

The industrial Revolution was just beginning during this period.

This allowed for new limits to scientific thought

Encyclopedias were first written during this time

“Clear prose and scientific investigation are valued above the excesses of poetic fancy…”

Music reflected this idea of clear, scientific expression in its form.

The focus in the ‘arts’ was imitation of the Greek Classical style of reason and logic› Architecture – White House in Washington

(pillars and globe roofs)› Literature

Metre in poetry Expository prose favoured Middle class is the subject

› Visual Arts Still-life and dramatic portraits

The Classical period refers to the period of Music history that was dominated by Viennese composers.

Vienna became the musical capital of Europe and remained so for about 100 years.

Since the Enlightenment dealswith Balance and Logic, composers tried to have Perfect Order in their music.

Music was supposed to meet the listener at their level, so that they didn’t have to make an effort to understand it.

Composers valued SIMPLICITY over COMPLEXITY.

Balance and form (Greek influence)› Composers stressed symetrical melodies› Followed “traditional” harmonic progressions› Favoured well-balanced forms for their music:

Sonata-allegro form Divertimento or serenade Concerto String quartet symphony

Romantic influences› Sturm und Drang (Storm and Stress)

German movement emphasizing drama and emotion

Forerunner of Romanticism within Classical style

› Lyricism› Dynamic shifts occur more as surprises

As with the Baroque Period, the middle class could now support the arts.

This was beginning to influence composers – they could now afford to support a new market for writers, artists and musicians which led to public concerts.

Music printing increased and music journalism began.

Composers were now writing to reach out to the people rather than the select group of people who headed to the church or the nobility themselves.

Musical amateurs sought and obtained instruction from professional musicians, or published tutor books; Music making was an essential part of neighbourhood life.

Patrons supported the livelihood of the musicians

Metronome was invented

Very structured and controlled. Music was to be tuneful and simple, not too loud or too soft. Nothing too extreme.

Composers sought balance and contrast which was achieved through their use of form.

More extensive dynamics – greater control of crescendos and decrescendos.

Highly structured phrases

During the Baroque period, there was a focus on mood (the Affections). Now, there was a development of the Major/minor system.

Less continuo parts, harpsichord, counterpoint and fugues.

The Sonata form evolved during this period. ABA form was the most important musical form used during the Classical period.

Mozart developed the use of subtle and slight changes of instruments, orchestration, and tone colour to express or highlight psychological or emotional states and dramatic shifts.

This is something that you will see in the Symphony which is a HUGE musical work in 4 movements.

The concerto, string quartet, and piano sonata were also developed during this time.

And the modern symphony orchestra was born.

Patronage› The composer was hired by the court of a king

or prince to write music for events and private entertainment,

› Or the composer was hired by a church to write music for services.

› This often meant other responsibilities than just composing (Directing, performing, caring for uniforms and wigs, etc.)

Public Concert Halls (freelance work)› The composer could have works performed at

public concerts and opera houses› The new middle class was not established well

enough to make this a sole means of income. (for example – Mozart).

Orchestration:› Violin I› Violin II› Viola› Cello› Bass› 2 Timpani

Form:› 1st movement – Sonata Allegro form; fast, intense and

sometimes has a slow introduction› 2nd movement – ABA form; lyrical, slower, simpler› 3rd movement – Minuet and Trio (Time signature = ¾)› 4th movement – Rondo or Sonata Allegro; intense and

fast

› 2 Flutes› 2 Oboes› 2 Clarinets› 2 Bassoons› 2 French Horn› 2 Trumpets (sometimes)

3 Sections:› 1. Exposition - Tonic› 2. Development - Dominant› 3. Recapitulation - Tonic

Exposition› Theme 1 – Tonic key; Strong and

Aggressive› Transition – Modulation (change); “Bridge”› Theme 2 – related key: dominant, related

Major or minor; Lyrical to contrast 1st;

Development› Manipulation of previous themes, or parts

thereof, in different often remote keys.› “Developments are often heard as dramatic flights,

away from familiar keys and intense, perhaps contrapuntal motivic keys.”

› Usually ends on a strong dominant chord to prepare for the return to the dominant key

Recapitulation› Theme 1 – Tonic key› Theme 2 – No Modulation› Theme 3 – Tonic key› Theme 4 – Ending

A child prodigy, Mozart was composing and playing the piano before most children could write

He produced a massive amount of pieces

Mozart hated the patron system – SLAVERY!!

Gift for imitating the music he heard

Developed and popularized the piano sonata

Lived for only 35 years and died penniless

Symphony No. 40 in G minor, K. 550› 1st – Allegro Molto

Piano Concerto in A major, K. 488› 1st movement

Don Giovanni: Act 1, Scene 5› Ah, chi mi dice mai› Madamina! Il catalogo è questo› Considered opera buffa – comedic

opera

Kegelstatt Trio› 1st Movement – Andante› Written for viola, clarinet and piano

Born in Rohrau, an Austrian village near Vienna

Considered the father of the symphony. Hired to be the music director and composer for

the Bohemian Count Ferdinand Maximilian von Morzin.

Eventually, Haydn was asked to be the director of music for the Prince of Esterhàzy.

When he was dismissed, after 30 years of service, Haydn was given a generous, lifelong pension.

Haydn composed more than one hundred symphonies, developing the symphonic form to perfection, carefully defining and arranging the combination of instruments.

Symphony No. 104 – London› 4th movement› The last of his 12 London Symphonies› Written in D major

String Quartet, Op. 76, No. 3› 2nd movement› Quotes the melody from

Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser("God Save Emperor Francis"), an anthem Haydn wrote for Emperor Francis II.

› Nicknamed the “Emperor”

Born in Bonn, Germany

It is believed that Beethoven was abused and forced to practice.

He did receive lessons from both Mozart and Haydn.

Pianist, conductor and composer – known for his exceptional skill at improvisation

Friends with nobility but never had a patron or a steady job. He was the first to be a successful freelance composer.

Known the portrayal of his innermost feelings and love of nature is apparent within his music

Lost his hearing Beethoven became the link between

Classical and Romantic periods

Piano Sonata No. 8, Op 13 (Pathetique)› 3rd movement – Rondo: Allegro› Form: ABACABA› Written for his friend Karl von Lichnowsky› Shows a possible influence of Mozart and his music› Rolling octaves› In c minor› Brooding restlessness

Symphony No. 3 in E-flat, Op. 55› Erocia, 1st movement – Allegro con brio› Italian for Heroic› Originally, this piece was to be called the Bonaparte

Symphony. However, when Napoleon crowned himself emperor, Beethoven was furious. Beethoven scratched out the title so hard that he ripped through the paper.

› He then called it Eroica – “to celebrate the memory of a great man”.

Cadence › Tonic› Dominant› Subdominant

Piano concerto

Sonata form

Symphony