Origins of the Symphony

The Baroque Period (1600-1750)

•Birth of opera.

•Very dramatic period.

•Extreme contrasts. [romantic]

•Employment opportunities for musicians were either in courts, churches or opera houses.

•The first use of Orchestra was in the Baroque period

•It was used to accompany opera performances in Italty

• Introduction to Italian opera

• the overture was called Sinfonia

•3 movements orchestra only

•purpose was to quiet audience

•Italian opera overture FSF.

•Usually, the sinfonia was the last thing written by the composer. It had very little musical value.

•When orchestral concerts became popular, the repertoire for the orchestra came from the sinfonia.

•Composers began writing for orchestra using the established form.

Rococo/Preclassic period (1725-1775)

•The precursor of the Classical period

•“Ugly Duckling” period

•Age of sensibility. Desired music to be simple and expressive of natural feeling.

•Tried to avoid the Baroque styles of music.

6 Features of Baroque Music

• Doctrine of Affections

• Unity of Mood

• Constant melody (repeated motives with few cadences)

• Constant rhythm

• Terraced Dynamics

• Polyphonic Texture

• Chords and the basso continuo

Baroque vs. Classical

•In Baroque, the musical interest is split between the two outermost voices

•In Classical, it is singly in the highest voice, with everything else serving as supporting harmony.

•The Harmonic rhythm is slower in the Classical Period

Johann Stamitz (1717-1757)

• 1. Violin Teacher - taught string players for Mannheim Orchestra (Germany)

• 2. Conductor - Conducted the string players he taught in Mannheim Orchestra. He conducted with very much control over the group, as they knew his style. They were all his students.

• “Mannheim Steamroller” - the great crescendo that Mannheim Orchestra played

• 3. Composer - wrote music for orchestras to play

• Stamitz took the Italian Sinfonia (FSF) and altered it

• Added dance-like movement after second movement (FSDF)

• Changed the name to Symphony

• This form became established and standardized by later composers of the Classical period, notably Haydn.

• Added second theme in the Exposition

Composers

• Music was written because it was their job.

• They had to compose on a regular basis for particular events or people.

• Composers developed formulas to ease compositional burdens.

•The symphony has its origins in the Baroque period, but the development occurs mainly throughout the eighteenth century (the Classical Period).

Classical Period1750-1825

• The eighteenth century is known as the Age of Enlightenment,

• a time when the middle class becomes important

• learning is focused on that which is natural, able to be observed, and makes sense

•Music is thought of a luxury, but a luxury that anyone could enjoy.

• It was not to be too complex, or emotional, or adventurous.

• It should be simple, pleasing to the ear, and have regular cadences and phrases.

•Symmetry, balance, logic, etc.