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The Classical Period

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TheClassical Period

How to use this presentation

• Read through all the information on each page. • When you see the loudspeaker icon click on it to hear

a musical example of the concept described in the slide. Make sure you listen to the entire example.

• Move between pages by clicking the arrows on the bottom left of each page. Do not click the ‘RETURN TO CHART ’links until you have gone through the whole presentation.

• Towards the end of the presentation you will find a chart with shortcuts to each of the topics covered. Once revised follow the link at the bottom of the last page of the section to return to the chart.

• If you have Internet access you will be able to use the page at the end of the presentation which has hyperlinks to various useful websites that will help with your study of this and other topics…..Use them!

The Classical Period

We usually think of Classical music as music which is not ‘pop’; but to musicians,

Classical with a capital ‘C’ means something much more precise. It refers to

music written approximately between 1750 and 1825.

Example of the

Classical style

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The Classical Period contd.

• Around 1750 composers began to react against the contrapuntal, ornamented style associated with the Baroque period (approximately 1600 – 1750)

• They started to develop a style which was lighter and more homophonic in texture. This became known as the Classical Styleand lasted until roughly 1825.

Example of the Classical style

Characteristics of the Classical Style

• Usually homophonic in texture, often with a melody and chordal accompaniment.

• Polished and elegant character with a perfect balance between expressiveness and structure.

• Shorter melodies than the Baroque period with clear cut phrases and definite cadences.

• The use of a number of themes and emotions within a piece. Baroque music tends to have one mood throughout.

Example of the Classical style

Characteristics of the Classical Style contd.

• Changes of harmony became slower. e.g. Baroque composers often change chord every beat, whereas Classical composers like Mozart and Haydn often leave the same chord for up to 4 bars.

• The harpsichord is replaced by the piano with not as much use of continuo in orchestral music. Classical piano music was often light and thin in texture; and a prominent accompanying feature was often the Alberti Bass.

XHARPSICHORD

PIANO

INExample of Classical Piano music

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The Classical OrchestraThe Classical orchestra, which had started to take

shape during the Baroque period now began to grow. The harpsichord continuo is not used as

much; and the woodwind section expands.

The Classical Orchestra contd.Strings

violins, violas, cellos, double basses

Woodwind

1-2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons

Brass

2 trumpets, 2 horns

Percussion

2 kettle drums

Example of the Classical Orchestra

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Form in the Classical period

Form in the Classical Period took shape in various ways including:

• Binary Form

• Ternary Form

• Minuet and Trio

• Sonata Form

• Theme and Variations

• Rondo Form

Binary FormMusic in Binary Form consists of music with

two different sections (AB). (Like a piece of cheese on toast)

Example of Binary Form

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Ternary FormMusic in Ternary Form consists of three sections (ABA) where the first and third

sections are the same. (Like a sandwich with only one filling)

Example of Ternary Form

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Minuet and Trio• The Minuet is a graceful French dance with

3 beats in a bar.

• The Minuet originated in the Baroque period. In the Classical period a second

minuet called a Trio was added to lengthen the composition.

• The Minuet and Trio is in ternary form.A

MINUET

A

MINUETB

TRIO

Example of a Minuet and Trio

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Sonata Form• As we have already discovered, the Classical composers loved precision and order, and writing

pieces to particular plans or patterns.

• The Classical composers already had binary and ternary form to work on, and they developed these

into a larger form called Sonata Form which consisted of 3 sections.

Exposition

The main tune or subjects are

played for the 1st time. There

are usually two subjects.

Development

The composer develops or

changes the subjects in

different ways with frequent

modulations.

Recapitulation

The subjects are played

again with the 2nd

subject in the tonic key.

Example of Sonata Form

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Theme and Variation• Theme and Variation Form is one of the oldest

musical forms and has remained a favourite form up to the present day. Composers such as Haydn and Mozart used this form during the Classical period.

• The composer first presents a tune, called a Themein a simple way.

• Then he/she builds up the music by repeating the Theme as many times as he/she likes, but each time varying it – altering or disguising it in different ways.

Theme and Variation contd.Theme and Variation:

Theme Variation 1 Variation 3Variation 2

There are countless ways in which a theme may be varied:•Decorating the theme with ornaments•Changing the harmony•Changing the rhythm, time signature or tempo•Using inversion, augmentation and diminution•Using modulation (major or minor)•Changing the instrumentation•Using imitation or canon

Example of Theme and Variation Form

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Rondo Form

• A Rondo is a piece in which the same tune (theme) keeps coming back again and again and again …… and again!

• In between the main theme, there are contrasting sections.

• A simple way of remembering Rondo Form is to think of it as A B A C A etc.

A

Theme

B

Contrasting

Section

C

Contrasting

Section

A

Theme

A

Theme

etc.

Example of Rondo Form

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The Symphony

Having developed new forms for their compositions, the Classical composers decided to move on to greater things and began to put these new forms together to make bigger pieces. The

result was the Symphony.Example of the Classical Symphony

The Symphony contd.

• A Symphony is a large work for orchestra, usually in 4 movements (sections) with a break in between each. The movements contrast with each other in Form, Tempo and Character.

• In the Classical Period, the movements were normally Fast, Slow, Minuet and Trio, Fast.

The Symphony contd.

MOVEMENT 2

Slow

MOVEMENT 3

Minuet & Trio

MOVEMENT 4

Fast

MOVEMENT 1

Fast

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The Classical Concerto

The Classical Concertoused a solo instrument accompanied by an orchestra, and was written in 3 movements: Fast –Slow – Fast.

MOVEMENT 2

Slow

MOVEMENT 3

Fast

MOVEMENT 1

Fast

Example of the Classical Concerto

The Classical Concerto contd.• Towards the end of the first movement of the Concerto,

there would be a Cadenza. This is where the Soloist gets the opportunity to show off their ability or skill on the instrument.

• The Cadenza is unaccompanied, and sometimes improvised.

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Example of a Cadenza

Opera and Oratorio• As we know, the Baroque composers had already

established Opera and Oratorio.

• The Classical composers stamped their own style on these forms. Still using Arias, Recitatives and Choruses, the Classical composers’ Operas had lively characters and complicated plots.

Opera and Oratorio contd.

• Mozart and Haydn wrote many famous Operas and Oratorios.

• Famous operas by Mozart include:

• The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanniand the Cosi Fan Tutti.

Both their Operas and Oratorios used a bigger classical orchestra and had all of the characteristics of the Classical style.

MOZARTExample of Classical Opera

Opera and Oratorio contd.

In addition to the Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Bass voices that were used in opera during the Classical period Coloratura Soprano became popular with some composers. A Coloratura Soprano sang in a high and florid style that often featured lots of scales, runs and ornaments. These passages were sometimes written down by the composer but a gifted performer would often extemporise the passage.

Example of Coloratura Soprano

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Chamber Music

• Chamber Music is music written for a small group of solo musicians, and intended to be played in a room (chamber), rather than a large hall.

• The most popular type of chamber music is the String Quartet, and was especially popular during the Classical Period.

• The Classical composer Haydn enjoyed composing for String Quartet: he wrote 68 of them.

Example of Classical Chamber Music

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Classical Music ChartClick on the links below to go to that topic

Classical

Period

Classical

style

Classical

Orchestra

Binary

Form

Ternary

Form

Minuet

and Trio

Sonata

Form

Theme and

Variations

Rondo

Form

Symphony

Concerto Opera &

Oratorio

Coloratura Passion Chamber

Music

Can’t get enough…?

Click on the links below to visit these useful Websites

Liberton High School Music Department - Revision

Classical Music Education Sites

Essentials of Music - Medieval - 20th Century

TheClassical Period