Classical Period
1750-1800 A.D.
The word Classical has strong connotations,
conjuring up the art and
philosophy of Ancient Greece and Rome
along with their ideals of
balance, proportion and disciplined expression.
The late Baroque
style
was polyphonically
complex and melodically ornate. The composers of
the early Classical period changed direction,
writing music that was much
simpler in texture.
It is in some ways ironic that two of J.S. Bach's
children, Carl Philipp Emanuel (C.P.E.)
and Johann Christian (J.C.), were
among the leaders of this new artistic
movement. Their father had been
the greatest master of the high Baroque
style, and it was his children who
made that style obsolete.
Homophony--music
in which melody
and accompaniment are
distinct--dominated the Classical style,
and new forms of composition
were developed to accommodate the transformation.
Sonata
form is by
far the most important of these forms,
and one that continued to evolve
throughout the Classical period. Although
Baroque composers also wrote
pieces called sonatas, the Classical sonata
was quite different.
The essence of the Classical sonata
is conflict. A highly simplified example
of such a conflict might be between two
themes of contrasting character.
This contrast would be intensified during
the course of the sonata, then
finally resolved. In some ways, there
is a resemblance to the skeleton of a
play: we meet characters, a conflict is
developed and finally a resolution
reached. Sonata form allowed composers
to give pure instrumental music
a recognizable dramatic shape. Every major
instrumental form of the
Classical era, including the string quartet,
symphony and concerto
was
molded on the dramatic structure of the
sonata.
One of the most important developments
of the Classical period is the
growth of the public concert. Although
the aristocracy would continue to
play a significant role in musical life,
it was now possible for composers
to
survive without being the employee of
one person or family. This also
meant that concerts were no longer limited
to palace drawing rooms.
Composers started organizing concerts
featuring their own music, and
often attracted large audiences. The increasing
popularity of the public
concert had a strong impact on the growth
of the orchestra. Although
chamber music and
solo works were played in the home or other intimate
settings, orchestral
concerts seemed to be naturally designed for big
public spaces. As a result, symphonic
music (including opera and
oratorio) became more extroverted in character.
Composers gradually
expanded the size of the orchestra
to accommodate this expanded
musical vision.
Sound
-Orchestra
that has about 50 people
-Trombone is introduced
-Piano replaces Lute, Harpsichord,
and Organ
-Opera
becomes popular
-Opera is forerunner to Musicals
Texture
-very clear
-mostly homophonic
-melody & accompaniment
-Alberti Bass
-Alberti did this
-outlines triads 1-5-3-5-1-5-3-5-1-5-3-5 etc.
Harmony
-Tonal System
-major minor stuff
-Slow harmonic rhythm (harmony
moves slow)
-All triads
and simple 7ths (Same as Baroque)
-Progression
is IV-V-I.
-This replaces ii-V-I
Melody
-is more lyrical than Baroque
-has smooth contour
-four bar and eight bar
phrases become popular
-question and answer is
used in melody
Rhythm
-simple rhythm
-very symmetric
-some simple syncopation
(not as much as Renaissance)
-Tempo changes used a lot
-Silence is used as an effect
Carl Philipp Emanuel (C.P.E.)
Bach (1714-1788)
Christoph Willibald Gluck
(1714-1787)
Johann Christian (J.C.)
Bach (1735-1782)
Franz Josef Haydn (1732-1809)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
(1756-1791)
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
- Early years
Form
-Sonata
-multi-movement form
-usually four movements
I. Allegro
-Written using the Sonata Allegro Process
A. Exposition
1. Theme I- (sometimes there’s an intro before this)
2. Transition
3. Theme II- usually lyrical and in a different key
B. Development- develop ideas from exposition
C. Recapitulation
1. Theme I (These are usually the same,
2. Transition, but sometimes varied)
3. Theme II- sometimes played in first key
D. Coda- end part
II. Adagio
III. Scherzo or Minuet
-A minuet is usually in 3
IV. Allegro
-can be written for any instrument
-usually piano or orchestra accompaniment
-Symphony
-a Sonata for orchestra (same as above)
-First movement also uses Sonata Allegro Process
-Overture
-the first movement of an Opera
-no voices
-played by pit orchestra
-plays some melodies from the whole piece
-Chamber
Music
-small groups
-Quartets
-Quintets
-elevator music of the 1700’s
-background
-played some dance music
-Solo
Concerto
-no Grosso concerto
-features a soloist
Miscellaneous
-Forms and melodies are
clearer
-Everything becomes distinct
-There’s symmetry
-The music was written for
the middle class.
-There’s a lot of tension
and release