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Classical Era

Classical Era. Classicism Defined. The period of the ancient Greeks and Romans A standard (enduring) Genre of music Time period. 1750-1820. Architecture. Recalled ancient classical U.S. Capital Monticello. Music of the Classical Era. Began: death of Bach Ended: Beethoven (mid-life).

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Classical Era

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  1. Classical Era

  2. Classicism Defined • The period of the ancient Greeks and Romans • A standard (enduring) • Genre of music • Time period 1750-1820

  3. Architecture • Recalled ancient classical • U.S. Capital • Monticello

  4. Music of the Classical Era • Began: death of Bach • Ended: Beethoven (mid-life)

  5. Classical Thinking • Reason was supreme • Sought the perfect society • Enlightenment • Beauty • Rules were valuable

  6. Music of the Classical Era • Written for middle class • Non-sophisticated Listener • Simple and Melodic Themes • Large Room • Movements have beginning, middle, end • Easier to play

  7. LIFE-TIME-LINES BEETHOVEN 1770-1827 MOZART 1756-1789 HAYDN 1732-1809 1770 1820

  8. Joseph Haydn • Father figure to Mozart and Beethoven • Worked for Prince Esterhazy • Father of the symphony • Included jokes in his symphonies • Wrote in most genres • Freely gave time and advice • Relationship with Mozart

  9. “I write my music in order that the weary and worn or the men burdened with affairs might enjoy a few minutes of solace and refreshment.” — Haydn

  10. Haydn? • Haydn was a traditionalist first. • Haydn believed that ISOLATION forces one to be come an original. • He was isolated in the Esterhazy Palace for most of his career. His music is original. • Beethoven will realize this pathos later in in career.

  11. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart1756-1791 • Born in Salzburg • 7th child of Leopola and Anna Maria • only he and sister Nannerl survived infancy

  12. The Mozart Family

  13. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart • Began composing before age 5 • Life of depression and creativity • In Salzburg • Court composer • Vienna • Friendship with Haydn • Struggle for money

  14. Mozart played for kings and queens. This portrait of him was painted in 1762, when he was six years old. Children during Mozart’s time dressed just like adults. He just finished playing for Empress Maria Theresa of Austria.

  15. As Mozart grew older, his reputation spread. Not only was he a gifted musician, but he could also compose his own music. Mozart at 14, 1770.

  16. Mozart’s Music • Simple melodies • Contrasting moods • Rich orchestration • Perfected the serenade

  17. Able to hear complete pieces in his head • Capability for output • 10 years: • 8 Symphonies • 17 Piano Concertos • 6 Operas • Clarinet quartet and quintet • Requiem Mass • 11 String Quartets • 5 String Quintets • Many Individual Works

  18. “Though it be long, the work is complete and finished in my mind. I take out of the bag of my memory what has previously been collected into it. For this reason the committing to paper is done quickly enough.” — Mozart

  19. “What a delight this is I cannot tell — all this producing takes place in a pleasing, lively dream.” — Mozart

  20. Mozart was 35 years old when he died in 1791. In his short life he wrote over 600 compositions. This portrait, painted after Mozart’s death, is said to look the most like him. It was painted in 1819.

  21. Ludwig Van Beethoven • 1770-1827. • Born in Bonn. • Died in Vienna.

  22. Young adulthood • Beethoven went to Vienna, Austria to learn more about composing when he was 17; played for Mozart • He had to return home when his mother died, and help raise his brothers. • Returned to Austria, studied with Haydn • Became a “rock star” at improvisation (‘duels’) • Helped make the piano popular

  23. “I carry my thoughts within me long, often very long before I write them down. As I know what I want, the fundamental idea never deserts me. It mounts, it grows in stature. I hear, I see the picture in its whole extent standing all of a piece before my spirit, and there remains for me only the task of writing it down.” -Beethoven

  24. Beethoven’s Music • Was the transition from the Classical to the Romantic Period • Famous works • 3rd Symphony (Eroica) • 5th Symphony (Fate) • 9th Symphony (Ode to Joy) • Moonlight Sonata • Sonata Appassionata • Sonata Pathetique

  25. Jacques Louis David Napoleon in his study

  26. Jacques Louis David Coronation of Napoleon

  27. Beethoven’s Deafness • “Though born with a fiery, active temperament I was soon to withdraw from society, to live a life alone. If at times I tried to forget all this, oh how harshly was I flung back by the doubly sad experience of my bad hearing. Yet it wasn’t possible for me to say to people, “Speak Louder, shout for I am deaf! Ah, how could I possibly admit to an infirmity in the one sense that ought to be more perfect in me than in others, a sense that I once possessed in the highest degree.”

  28. 1796/8: First signs of deafness • 1801: Complains of buzzing in ears in letter to Wegeler; Amenda • 1802: “Heiligenstadt testament” - Beethoven writes of his despair at worsening hearing • 1814: Further deterioration sets in. Last public appearence as pianist • 1816-18: Use of ear trumpets • 1818-27: Conversation books. (Conversation had to be written) • 1823: Almost totally deaf (left ear not as bad as right)

  29. “I am resolved to rise superior to every obstacle. With whom need I be afraid of measuring my own strength? I will take Fate by the throat. It shall not overcome me. O how beautiful it is to be alive—would that I could live a thousand times.” -Beethoven

  30. “How humiliated I have felt if somebody standing beside me heard the sound of a flute in the distance and I heard nothing...It is impossible for me to say to people, ‘Speak louder, for I am deaf.’ How would it be possible for me to admit to a weakness of the one sense that should be perfect to a higher degree in me than in theirs. So forgive me if you see me draw back from your company which I would so gladly share. I would have ended my life. It was only my art that held me back for it seemed impossible to leave the world until I have brought forth all that is within me.” — Beethoven

  31. He could hear the music inside his head….and he wasn’t bothered with other noises around him.He wrote some of his best music during this time.

  32. Patronage System • Exchange of artistic services for • A place to live • A Salary • Clothes • Rank in Society • Depends on the patron. • Servant to aristocratic patronage.

  33. Patronage: a Comparison • Haydn: patron was Prince Esterhazy • Mozart: tried to free lance • Beethoven: independent, of the new order of composers

  34. Patronage: a Comparison • Haydn: patron was Prince Esterhazy Esterhazy Palace Esterhazy Concert Hall

  35. “My prince was always satisfied with my works. I not only had the encouragement of constant approval, but as conductor of an orchestra, I could make experiments, observe what produced an effect and what weakened it, and was thus in a position to improve, alter, make additions, or omissions and be as bold as I pleased. I was cut off from the world. There was no one to confuse or torment me. I was forced to become original.” — Haydn

  36. Patronage: a Comparison • Mozart detested the patronage system (the artist was bound by the whim of the patron) • He didn’t get along with his patron (Prince-Archbishop of Salzburg) • Tried to be free lance (subscription concerts, operas, commissions, concert tours)

  37. “[My pay is] too much for what I do, too little for what I could do.” — Mozart

  38. Beethoven manipulated the patronage system so that he could live more freely. • Gave music lessons to wealthy families. • Sold music to many publishers. • Even when Napoleon was threatening the whole survival of continental Europeans, Beethoven had contacts with publishers in England who would continue to publish his music. • Invited into the homes of the aristocracy. • Treated as an equal to the aristocracy. • Demanded respect.

  39. Beethoven’s Contract “But as it has been demonstrated that only one when he is free from care as possible can devote himself to a single department of activity and create works of magnitude which are exalted and which ennoble art, the undersigned have decided to place Herr Ludwig van Beethoven in a position where the necessities of life shall not cause him embarrassment or clog his powerful genius.”

  40. Beethoven’s Contract • All Beethoven had to do was to declare Vienna his home.” • It is good to walk among the aristocracy, but first you must MAKE them respect you.”

  41. Ruminate on... • patronage and • Haydn • Mozart • Beethoven • why the French Revolution and industrialization led to the demise of patronage. • why less complex music is favored in classical culture.

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