Classical Period 1750-1820

1. Classical Period1750-1820 Order Symmetry Balance

2. Abstract Music • Symphony • Concerto • Chamber Music (String Quartet) • Sonata

3. Viennese School Composers • Mozart • Haydn • Beethoven • Schubert

4. Patronage system • Composers were dependent on employers (kings, princes, queens)

5. Later . . . . • With the Revolutions . . . • Social/Political changes began . . .

6. Review of Beethoven (1770-1827) • Deaf • Sketchbook • Supreme architect • Classical TRANSITIONAL to Romantic • Traits • Strong dynamic contrasts • Sudden accents • Developments bigger • Coda (tail) expanded • SUBSTITUTED SCHERZO for MINUET • Longer 4th movements

7. His Music • Symphonies (how many) • Fifth symphony – most famous • First movement built on a ___-note motive • Form of first movement? • Third movement was what?

8. The Moonlight Sonata • Sonata for Piano • P. 187 • Movement I not in typical form • Modified Song

9. The Eighteenth-Century Concerto • Comes from the word “consort” (partnership) • Contains 3 movements • Fast • Slow • Fast • Classical concerto commonly featured solo instrument with orchestra • Most popular instruments • Violin • Piano

10. Concerto – Other Features • Cadenza • Improvisatory “show-off” time for the soloist • Comes near the end of the movement • Orchestra falls silent • Double Exposition • Orchestra – Introduces themes • Soloist – Restates themes

11. Mozart and the Concerto • Played a crucial role in the development of the piano concerto • Written primarily for his own use • Piano Concerto in G Major, K. 453 • 1784 • 3 movements • I. Allegro • II. Andante • III. Allegretto: Theme and variations

12. Beethoven and the Concerto • Wrote 5 piano concertos • Violin Concerto in D Major (1806) (p. 288) • I. Allegro ma non troppo (Concerto form; 7-part Rondo Form ABACABA • II. Larghetto (Variation form) • III. Allegro (Rondo form)

13. The Classical Sonata . . . An instrumental work written for one or two instruments, consisting of 3 or 4 contrasting movements. The movements followed the basic same multi-movement structure as the symphony, string quartet and concerto. • Written for either for a solo instrument (piano) or for a duo (violin and piano—equal partners with an equal say) • Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven wrote music influenced by the Turkish Janissary or military band. (Mozart’s Rondo alla Turca) • Beethoven’s Pathetique

14. Mozart’s Piano Sonata in A major, K. 331 • 1783 • 3 movements, but acts like a four-movement work without the first movement • Third Movement • Rondo form • Influence of the Turkish Janissary band (p. 294)

15. Beethoven’s Pathetique, Op. 13 • One of the most famous • Pathos • 1798 • Three movements • I. Grave, Allegro di molto e con brio • Sonata-allegro form • II. Adagio cantabile (ABACA) • III. Rondo (ABACABA)

16. Sacred Choral Music • Mass (church music) • Requiem Mass (church music) • Oratorio – Large-scale dramatic work, of a religious nature, performed by solo voices, chorus and orchestra; no costumes, acting or scenery

17. Haydn’s The Creation • From Genesis and Milton’s Paradise Lost • Recitatives, solos and ensemble numbers are assigned to three archangels – Gabriel, Uriel, and Raphael, and to Adam and Eve • (Description on p. 303)