Vocal Music in the Classical Era

by Elliott Jones of Santa Ana College

for Kaleidoscope Open Course Initiative shared under a Creative Commons Attribution License

Choral Genres Mass

Haydn’s Mass in D Minor (Lord Nelson) Mozart’s Mass in C Minor Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis

Requiem Mozart’s Requiem

Oratorio Haydn’s The Creation and The Seasons

Sacred Concert Music Sacred genres such as Mass and Requiem

move from the church to the concert hall These forms provided convenient and

familiar frameworks for composition Example: Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis was

intended as a concert piece

Classical Opera

Classical Opera Opera houses were center of innovation Opera was most important genre Opera reached the widest audience

Opera Seria Dominant form of early Classical period Similar to Baroque opera Mythological and historical subject matter Designed for aristocracy Always in Italian

Comic Opera Eclipsed Opera Seria over time More realistic depictions of life Sung in language of audience Lively, down-to-earth plots More ensemble (duets, trios, chorus) Farcical situations and humorous dialogue New character: the buffo

The Buffo Comic character Spoke to the audience at times Often a rather earthy character Bass voice

Comic Opera Across Europe Ballad Opera (England) Zingspiel (Germany) Opera Comique (France) Opera Buffa (Italy)

Mozart and Opera Mozart was the master of Classical opera He had keen theatrical instincts Haydn’s operas were largely unsuccessful Beethoven only wrote one opera Mozart was especially skilled at writing

exciting vocal ensembles

Listening Example Title: Overture to Don Giovanni Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Genre: Opera

Notes on Overture to Don Gio. Slow sinister introduction presents music

from the dark ending of the opera Change to fast tempo marks beginning of

exposition – two themes Recapitulation “fades” as music moves

directly into opening vocal ensemble

Listening Example Title: “Notte e giorno fatticar” DG Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Genre: Opera

Notes on Notte e giorno fatticar Begins with brief aria by Leporello Ensemble follows as more characters enter:

Donna Anna Don Giovanni Commandant

No recitative Sudden changes of emotion

Listening Example Title: “La ci darem la mano” DG Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Genre: Opera

Notes on La ci darem la mano Begins with simple recitative Duet follows as Don Giovanni and Zerlina

sing (aria style) to each other More consistent emotion Very famous duet