THE CLASSICAL PERIOD
1750-1820
I. Age of Enlightenment
A. Faith in the power of reason began to undermine the authority of the nobility and clergy.
II. Classicism
A. A rejection of the highly complex texture and elaborate
ornamentation of the Baroque.
B. Qualities of refinement balance and order were idealized – like ancient Greece.
III. Three Revolutions
A. American Revolution
B. French Revolution
Dealt with individual freedom and the limiting of the power of the aristocracy.
C. Industrial Revolution
Invention of the steam engine, power loom, and cotton gin helped to industrialize Europe,
stimulate manufacturing and commerce, and gain wealth and influence for the middle class.
IV. Music
A. Composers began the period still dependent on the patronage of the nobility.
B. By 1800, however, they were writing mainly for the public in the newly
opened concert halls.
ROCOCO or STYLE GALANT
(1730-1770)
I. Polyphonic texture disappears, replaced by simplicity and clarity.
II. Tuneful melodies and simple harmonies.
III. Contrasts in mood and themes.
IV. Important composers:
A. Carl Philip Emanuel Bach
B. Johann Christian Bach
C. Francois Couperin
CLASSIC PERIOD - 1770-1820
Called the Vennese Classical Period because the major composers (Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven) lived and
worked in or near Vienna.
I. Melody and tonality were dominant
II. Melody was divided into short, clearly defined phrases
III. Simple chord structures
IV. Rhythm was clearly defined and regular
V. Tone Color
A. Orchestra divided into 4 sections (strings predominant, woodwinds and
brass in pairs and percussion. No harpsichord)
B. Piano becomes the principal keyboard instrument.
MAJOR MUSICAL FORMS
SMALL FORMS = AB ABA (2 & 3 part forms)
Theme & Variations = A, A1, A2, A3
Rondo = A, B, A, C, A, D, A
Minuet & Trio = A, B, C
LARGE FORMS = 4 movements (Symphony)
String Quartet
Large Forms = 3 Movements
Sonata; Solo instrument & Piano
Concerto; Solo instrument & Orchestra
SONATA ALLEGRO FORM
Enabled classical composers to add contrast within a composition.
Compares to a classical play in three (3) acts.
Act I– Introduction of characters and hints of action.
Act II– Conflict between characters as plot unfolds.
Act III- Conflict resolved.
EXPOSITION DEVELOPMENT RECAPITULATION
Introduction (optional)
Themes of the exposition are Theme 1 (bridge)
Theme I (usually bridge)
reworked and expanded by
Bridge Theme II (same key as Theme I)
compositional devices like
Theme II (contrasting key)
fragmentation, modulation, Closing Theme (optional)
Closing Theme (optional)
sequence…
Codetta (optional) Coda
THREE MAIN CLASSICAL COMPOSERS
Franz Joseph Haydn Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
1732-1809 1756-1791
In 1761 he entered the service of Prince A child genius as a performer and composer. At age 6,
Esterhazy of Hungary, where he remained for he toured Europe, performing for many heads of
almost 30 years. Although he had state. He composed his first symphony at age 8, and a
considerable freedom in writing music for the full opera at 12. He disliked being treated as a
Prince, he was still treated like a servant. He servant, so at age 25, he resigned his position at the
developed the forms for the String Quartet palace of the Archbishop of Salzburg and moved to
(83) and the Symphony (110) as well as other Vienna to become an independent composer. After
types of music. some initial success, he fell upon hard times and died
poor. Mozart composed 40 symphonies, several
operas, and music for almost every type of ensemble.
Ludwig von Beethoven
1770-1827
The 3rd greatest classical composer, who became the first to earn a living from the sale of his
compositions. He regarded himself an equal of the nobility and wrote compositions that had only one
stimulus, his own creative urge. This led Beethoven to become one of the first “Romantic” composers.
Instead of compressing his musical ideas to fit in the established forms, he expanded the forms. He
became deaf later in life, but still continued to compose music.
1st period (1792-1802) His works reflect the classic structure used by Haydn and Mozart.
38 piano sonatas, 2 symphonies and 3 piano concertos
2nd period (1802-1815) Suffered problems with hearing due to typhoid (1800). Family life was
unstable which led to irritability.
“Fidelio” (opera) and “Eroica” (symphony)
3rd period ( 1815-1827) Completely deaf, yet wrote many great compositions, including the
“Chorale” Symphony, Mass in D, piano sonatas and string quartets