10/12/2018

1

The

Classical Period

In Tune With Music

Classical Music Influence

Classical and Romantic Period music and composers

continue to influence today’s pop culture.

From heavy metal, to drumming, to popular music and

even into cartoons….

Mozart’s Blue Rondo Alla TurkClassical Period: 1730-1820

THE OVERLAP...

Even though the Baroque Period is said to have ended with

Bach’s Death in 1750, the Classical Period began to emerge

in 1730.

Top Classical Era Composers:

Gluck, Mozart, Haydn, Schubert.

10/12/2018

2

Important Historical Events during the

Classical Period

1770 - First New York Performance of Handel’s Messiah

1773 - Boston Tea Party

1775-1783 - American Revolutionary War

1789 - Beginning French Revolution

1792 - White House Construction begins

1795 - Paris Conservatory Founded

Other Important Events

•1760 - Industrial Revolution begins

•1763 - Watts invents the first steam powered engine

•1769 - Watt's steam engine patented

•1775 - Electric battery invented by Volta

•1788 - Steamboat invented by John Fitch

•1796 - First vaccination

•1821 - Electric motor and generator invented by Faraday

Boston Tea Party

-A Protest on Taxation!

-English Parliament raised taxes with

the Tea Act of 1773

-Samuel Adams and the Sons of

Liberty boarded the ships in Boston

Harbor and dumped over 342 chest of

tea overboard.

-This Event would push the Americas and England closer to war.

-What did they dress as?

The Revolutionary War - 1775-1783

-Also known as the U.S. War of

Independence

-Skirmish between Lobster Back and

Minutemen at Lexington and Concord

would be known as “The Shot Heard

Around the World!” 1775

-The British Surrendered in Yorktown,

Virginia 1781, although it wouldn’t be

until 1783 until the fighting had ended

entirely.

10/12/2018

3

Paris Conservatory

Started in 1795, it was the first formal college of music, dance, and

drama in the world.

Up until then, music students were taught privately by musicians.

Now functions as the gateway to the upper echelons in classical music.

Today, only the best of the best in the world attend.

Paris Conservatory

Architecture of the Classical Period

Often called “Neoclassicism” - were made of wood, stone, or marble.

Revival of ancient Greek and Roman architecture. Most buildings had

very exquisite designs carved into them, but unlike Baroque period,

was not “fake”.

What distinguishes the classical architecture from any other era is that

the designs were very elegant and symmetrical right down to the

base. Another difference is the use of plants and animals in the

carvings.

Architecture of the Classical Period

Classical period was in search of “truth”, so shunned the architecture

of the Baroque period. No more Trompe L’oeil...

Baroque period emphasized illusion and the idea of being untruthful.

Classical period was against that.

The emergence of Archaeology - an interest in studying the past - lead

to a new attitude and interest in past architecture.

Modern influences on classical architecture include the United States

Capitol Buildings, the Pantheon in Rome, and the Parthenon in Greece.

10/12/2018

4

Examples of Classical Architecture

Parthenon in Greece Pantheon in Rome

US Capitol Building

Ionic, Doric and Corinthian Architecture

Doric - simplest and most prominent

form of architecture. (the male form)

Ionic - more slender and appealing,

appears to have scrolls. (the female

form)

Corinthian - leafy and more ornate, also

less popular.

Doric Architecture Example Ionic Architecture Example

10/12/2018

5

Corinthian Architecture Example Classical Art and Music

Classical art had the following traits:

•Sharp

•Simple

•Calm

This style of art also applies to the music of the era. Music was soft,

clean, and elegant.

An increased use of crescendos, decrescendos and sforzandos.

•Elegant

•Orderly

Classical Period Musical Styles

Graceful and detailed elaboration and ornamentation.

Melodies became light and flowing, and had shorter, simpler phrases.

Accompaniment moved with the melody instead of being behind it.

More use of Dance Rhythms.

Variety and Contrast became important along with changes of mood.

Harpsichord gave way to the new Piano halfway through the period.

Classical Period Musical Styles

Styles: Gallant and Sentimental

French/Italians preferred the Gallant style. A shift to more simple

music that could be enjoyed by middle class AND aristocracy.

Germans preferred the Sentimental style. This style of music reflected

feelings and situations experienced in daily life.

Both the Gallant and Sentimental styles favored simpler harmony and

clearer tonality.

10/12/2018

6

Classical Period Musical Forms

Opera -

Comic Opera was the style preferred in the Classical period, also

known as Light Opera. It tackles less delicate subject matters, and has

a happy ending.

In this style, the dialogue is often spoken, not sung (like a musical).

Classical Period Musical Forms

Other Musical Forms-

Overture - Has three sections, a fast intro, a slow middle section and a

fast ending. Played as an “intro” to the rest of the concert.

Symphony - Has 3-4 movements. The beginning is moderately fast,

next section is slow with a minuet and then a very fast conclusion.

Sonata allegro - this is one of the most important music forms of this

period. This type of music is written for a solo instrument or a solo

instrument with accompaniment; having three or four movements,

each complete in itself.

Quiz #1

1) What 2 events in American history happened at the same

time as the Classical Period?

2) What was the first school of music?

3) In Architecture, what is this period sometimes called?

4) What is the Gallant and Sentimental Opera Styles? And

who used them?

5) Other than Opera, what is the 3 other musical forms

introduced in the Classical Period?

Franz Joseph Haydn

10/12/2018

7

Franz Joseph Haydn

Voice was so impressive, he was recruited at age 5 to sing in St.

Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna.

Choir director wanted him to be a castrato, but his father said NO, so

was cut from the choir when his voice changed.

After that, taught violin and keyboard. And started an apprenticeship

with Nicola Porpora.

Appointed Court musician for the influential Esterházy family.

Popularity grew within the family and outside in the world.

Who does

this look

like?

Franz Joseph Haydn

Very isolated, and so was forced to

become very original.

Was finally let go after 30 years of

service, to go to London.

Heard and loved the British National

Anthem, so composed one for

Germany and Austria.

Franz Joseph Haydn

“Deutschland Uber Alles” German National Anthem

10/12/2018

8

Franz Joseph Haydn

Influenced Mozart and was

Beethoven’s teacher.

Loved playing practical jokes and even

wrote a string quartet with fake

endings to psych out the audience!

Later in life, went back to work part

time with the Esterházy family. Was a

public figure now, so when wasn’t

composing, was out in the public eye.

Franz Joseph Haydn

His brother, Michael, was the “well-

behaved child”, and was the one that

the family thought would be successful

- Franz was the practical joker.

While in London, it is said that he made

as much money as in 20 years with the

Esterhazy family.

Franz Joseph Haydn

When Napoleon invaded Vienna, he

respected the composer so much, he

put 2 sentries to guard a frail Haydn so

he wouldn’t be harmed.

Mozart and Haydn had a great mutual

respect, and often invited each other

to their concerts. Haydn loved

Mozart’s music so much that he used

Mozart’s Requiem Mass at his funeral.

Haydn - Symphony 94 “Surprise”

10/12/2018

9

Wolfgang “Amadeus” Mozart

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Born – January 27, 1756

Born in Salzburg but spent most of his time

living in Vienna, Austria

Mozart showed prestigious ability early in life

At the age of five he began composing music

and performing for European royalty. At 17,

he was engaged as a court musician for the

Archbishop in Salzburg.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

He later left Salzburg in search of better

opportunities, choosing to stay in Vienna,

where his most famous writings were

written.

Mozart’s father was a well known and

respected violin teacher, and also

composed a little.

The Magic Flute was Mozart’s last opera,

premiering about 3 months before his death

on Sept. 30, 1791. Mozart conducted it, and

the Librettist was a lead character.

Mozart’s Requiem Mass was left unfinished in

1791 at the time of his death. He wrote it

with the belief that it was for himself. It was

commissioned by an anonymous nobleman,

who intended to pass off the work as his own.

The “Amadeus” movie portrays this as Salieri.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

10/12/2018

10

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Mozart had an incredible ability to

remember music. At the age of 14, he

travelled to Rome and heard the Miserere

by the composer Allegri and wrote it all

down from memory that night.

There is a statue of Mozart in Vienna that

is over 150 years old. It was unveiled in

front of Mozart’s sons.

Mozart’s Style and Influence

•Johann Hummel was Mozart’s greatest influence because of his

overall style. Mozart appreciated Hummel’s style and adopted it for

his own.

•Mozart altered Hummel’s pattern and was later adopted by Ludwig

Van Beethoven.

•Mozart’s overall style had the form of being clear, balanced, and

transparent

Mozart’s Style and Influence

4 Famous writings were:

1) The Magic Flute

2) Ein Kline Nachtmusik

3) Don Giovanni

4) Requiem

Queen of the Night aria from the Magic

Flute

10/12/2018

11

Eine Kleine Nachtmusik Catalogue aria from Don Giovanni

After Donna Elvira confronts Don

Giovanni, who had betrayed her,

Leporello (bass) tells her that she

should forget him, and then

produces a book of the Don's

feminine conquests:

640 in Italy, 231 in Germany, 100

in France, 91 in Turkey, and 1003

in Spain.

Dies Irae from the Requiem Mozart’s Style and Influence

His father, Leopold (1719–1787), was from Augsburg and was deputy

Kapellmeister to the court orchestra of the Archbishop of Salzburg, a

minor composer, and an experienced teacher.

In the year of Mozart's birth, his father published a violin textbook,

Versuch einer gründlichen Violinschule, which achieved success.

10/12/2018

12

Childhood in music...

The baptismal record gives his name in Latinized form as Joannes

Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart.

He wrote his first concerto at age 4

He wrote his first symphony at age 7.

He wrote his first full scale opera at age 12.

Generally called himself “Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart” - Amadeus

translates to “the Love of God”.

Used more in this era than in Baroque.

Added Bass sound to the treble of the Trumpets and violins of the

orchestra.

Since orchestras were small in the Baroque period (with 20-30 players

at most), the classical period Orchestras were a little bigger (25-35

players) - adding a little timpani providing bass tones worked well.

Timpani

Haydn and Mozart made use of a few idiophones (such as bells,

rattles, and snare drums) in their works.

Idiophone - an instrument in which the main part of the instrument is

what is producing sound.

Other Percussion... Bugs Bunny as Leopold Mozart...

10/12/2018

13

Quiz #2

1) What are the 4 main musical forms of the Classical

Period?

2) Which composer loved practical jokes and used musical

jokes to fake out his audiences?

3) Napoleon put guards outside of which composer’s

residence so he would not be harmed in the assault?

4) What composition did Mozart believe he was writing for his

own death?

5) Which composer called himself the “love of God?”

Ludwig van Beethoven

Classical

Music

MemeB.

Beethoven -

Hard Rock of the 19th Century

10/12/2018

14

Beethoven -

Hard Rock of the 19th Century Ludwig van Beethoven

He reinvented the symphony, reshaped string quartets,

and redefined piano sonatas - but there's much more to

learn about Ludwig van Beethoven: the man who changed

music forever.

Beethoven

Born in Bonn, Germany.

Baptized on Dec. 17, 1770.

Probably born the day before.

Mozart was 14.

Pictured: “Beethoven-

Haus Museum” - his

birthplace.

Beethoven

Father told him he was born in 1772 - to make his child

prodigy seem younger, and make his story more fantastic.

Learned violin. Would rather improvise (make up music as

you play without reading music) than read music.

Beethoven’s first composition (age 12) was in C minor (not

used at that time) and was incredibly difficult.

10/12/2018

15

Beethoven

Kept a diary when he moved to Vienna in 1792 - shortly

after Mozart’s death - giving insight into his personality.

Studied music with Haydn and others (including Salieri).

1793, began to play in the salons of nobility, establishing

himself as a piano virtuoso.

Beethoven

1796, age 25 began to notice he was going deaf.

Began to communicate by conversation books - asked

friends to write down what they wanted to say, so he

could respond.

Beethoven - Symphony #1

1800 - first symphony performed at

Burgtheater in Vienna (pictured).

Symphonies before him were

lighthearted.

Symphony #1 intro took a step

further - considered a joke -

because the first chords aren’t in

the right key!

Beethoven Symphony #1 - Intro

It doesn’t get to the right key

until about 1:45 into the

symphony...

10/12/2018

16

Beethoven - Heiligenstadt Testament

Despite his increasing deafness, by 1802 Beethoven was

almost at breaking point. On a retreat to Heiligenstadt, just

outside Vienna, he wrote:

“I would have ended my life – it was only my art that held

me back. Ah, it seemed to me impossible to leave the world

until I had brought forth all that I felt was within me.”

It’s known as the ‘Heiligenstadt Testament’, and was

published in 1828.

Beethoven’s 3 Periods of Music

Early Period

1770 - 1802 - Music was more simple, he was still learning

Middle Period

1802 - 1815 - Music was more emotional - after Heiligenstadt

Testament

Late Period

1815 - 1827 - Discovery of Bach’s music influenced Beethoven’s music,

music was more intelligent

Music was written in 3

stylistic periods:

Early Period - 1770-1802 -

1st 2 symphonies, 6 string

quartets, Piano Concerto 1

& 2, and about 12 Piano

Sonatas - Including the

famous Pathétique Sonata.

Beethoven - Three Compositional Periods

‘Heroic’ Middle Period - music

is more emotional after his

personal crisis. (1802-1815)

Symphony #3, the last 3 Piano

Concertos, 5 string quartets,

his only opera “Fidelio”, piano

sonatas including - Moonlight,

Waldstein, and Appassionata.

Beethoven - Three Compositional Periods

Moonlight Sonata from “Immortal Beloved”

10/12/2018

17

The Secret behind the name...

It’s one of Beethoven’s great piano works, but he never

knew the piece as the ‘Moonlight’ Sonata. He simply called

it “Piano Sonata No. 14”, and it wasn’t given its poetic

nickname until 1832, five years after Beethoven’s death.

German poet Ludwig Rellstab said the first movement

“sounded like moonlight shining upon Lake Lucerne”, and

the name stuck.

Eroica Symphony - tidbit

Beethoven admired the ideals of the French Revolution,

so he dedicated his third symphony to Napoleon

Bonaparte… until Napoleon declared himself emperor.

Beethoven then sprung into a rage, scrubbed out

Napoleon’s name from the front page of the

manuscript. Some modern reproductions of the original

title page have scrubbed out Napoleon’s name to

create a hole for authenticity’s sake!

Symphony Eroica (No. 3)

Quiz #3

1) Why is Beethoven called the “Man who changed music

forever?”

1) What does improvise mean?

1) Who was Beethoven’s main teacher?

1) Which period of Beethoven’s career was more emotional?

1) To what historical figure did Beethoven originally dedicate

his 3rd symphony?

10/12/2018

18

Late Period - While the onset of his deafness may have

launched Beethoven’s more emotional “Middle Period,” the

beginning of the rediscovery and cataloguing of Bach’s music

ended up leading to the masterworks of Beethoven’s “Late

Period.”

Beethoven sent music on a new dynamic, with instrumental

and emotional extremes that would define the Romantic era

of music in the 19th Century.

Beethoven - Three Compositional PeriodsBeethoven’s Late Period

From 1815 to his death in 1827.

Biggest characteristic of his late period is that he

takes a theme and uses it to its full potential. That

means he morphs and changes it as much as

possible. He was also the ultimate fusion composer,

as he fused Baroque and Classical ideas together.

Beethoven’s 5th Symphony

Beethoven’s impressive piano writing and ambitious

symphonies made quick splashes, and by the time he

was onto his Fifth Symphony in 1808, heads of state

at peace accords in Vienna would schedule their

meetings around Beethoven performances so as to

not miss them.

Beethoven’s 5th

10/12/2018

19

Fidelio - his ONLY Opera

If a job’s worth doing, it’s worth doing properly. He may

have only composed one opera, but Beethoven poured

blood, sweat, and tears into revising and improving it. He

reworked the whole opera over a ten year period, giving us

the two act version performed today – the older version is

sometimes known as Leonore.

The Ninth symphony is BIG in many ways. When Mozart and Haydn were

composing their symphonies, symphonies generally ran about 15 minutes

long. Mozart and Haydn's late symphonies generally run less than 30

minutes long. Beginning with his Third Symphony, Beethoven began to

extend the size and the form of the symphony, the Third taking about 40-

45 minutes, an unheard of length at that time, and one that created

resistance. The Ninth Symphony is about an hour and ten minutes longer

than the Third.

It's a complete concert, meaning, there's no room for second works on

the program.

Beethoven’s 9th

Music with orchestra and choir was nothing new at that time, but the

way it was used was different. First of all, there is no singing until the

Finale in the 4th Movement. Now I want you to pause and imagine this

for a moment, because, as we know, this is a very long symphony, with

three very long movements, totally instrumental, before we get to the

finale. For the first forty-five minutes of any live performance you

attend, you'll see all these people in robes standing in the back, behind

the orchestra... And standing... and standing... Doing nothing. Not a

peep! If you get to attend a live performance, judge for yourself how this

adds to the suspense.

Beethoven’s 9th - The Choral Symphony

You could call it apocalyptic or volcanic. This is a kind of aggressive

Beethoven we are familiar with from the Fifth Symphony, but it is more

grown-up, more subtle, with far more detail. The first movement alone

runs about 15 minutes, compared to his Fifth Symphony’s first movement

of about 6 minutes. It's in a minor key, D minor, making the Ninth and

the Fifth Symphonies the only two minor-key symphonies by Beethoven.

They both begin predominantly dark in character, but they end

triumphantly.

Beethoven’s 9th

10/12/2018

20

The Ninth symphony begins sounding as if it was an orchestra still tuning

up! The sound is deliberately non-committal -- we don't have a key for

the music for the first minute because we only have two notes being

played. No chords. Just a very soft, quivering sense of expectation with

neither the darkness of a minor key, nor the brightness of a major key. It

is incomplete. And it is out of this chaos that the music swells to a

crescendo, FINALLY establishing on a key (D minor), with a shattering

statement of the first theme. The first movement is truly an expression

of cruelty.

Beethoven’s 9th - 1st Movement Beethoven’s 9th - 1st movement

There are a number of issues at play in this symphony.

Politically, He dissed the royal family in public, and it wasn't

the first time, either. Yet Beethoven was able to get away

with saying things like, "The Emperor should be hanged!" at a

time when other people were disappearing into dungeons for

saying the same thing. He really did say that, and on the

record. In fact, it's believed the Ode to “Joy” was originally

meant to be an Ode to “Freedom.”

Beethoven’s 9th - 2nd Movement

The personal angle deals with Beethoven’s madness. He was

seen by the public as the “crazy, genius composer-guy” and

being recognized as such gave him more leeway to be

inappropriate. In truth, Beethoven always makes it to the

top of lists of "Famous Bipolar Celebrities of History."

If you go to Google and type “ripe for the madhouse”,

Beethoven’s name comes up...

Beethoven’s 9th - 2nd Movement

10/12/2018

21

Franz Haydn - also a well

known Classical

composer, and teacher

of Beethoven had this to

say about him:

Beethoven’s 9th - 2nd Movement

The 2nd movement is linked backwards to the first, by

continuing to use the opening motive, but it is also linked

forward, into the next movements as well.

Thinking about it’s form, it is a Scherzo form, but also has

elements of the Sonata-Allegro form in it. This movement is

also very fugal (uses a fugue style borrowed from the

Baroque Period).

Beethoven’s 9th - 2nd Movement

The beginning continues the cruelty from the first

movement.

The middle showcases a glimpse of what’s to come in the

angelic “Trio” section.

The ending brings back the recurring theme from the

beginning of the 2nd movement.

Beethoven’s 9th - 2nd Movement Beethoven’s 9th - 2nd Movement

10/12/2018

22

Beethoven’s 9th - Choral Finale

Symphony No. 9 is often

nicknamed the ‘choral’

symphony, because the finale

that features a choir. Using

singers in a symphony was a

wild idea at the time, but it

seems to have paid off –

Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony

changed the face of classical

music forever, and continues to

inspire listeners and composers

to this day!

He is the first composer to make a living only composing.

Mozart tried, but was unsuccessful (spent too much!)

Just like Beethoven’s birth, the words at the time of his death

are also a bit of a mystery. It’s often thought his last words

were ‘applaud friends, the comedy is ended’ (in Latin!) but his

parting gift to the world was far less cerebral. After a publisher

bought Beethoven 12 bottles of wine as a gift, the dying

composer’s final words were: ‘Pity, pity, too late!’

Beethoven - facts

Pictured - Beethoven’s

Grave in Vienna, Austria

It is very large,

depicting how much

people loved his music

even then.

Beethoven - facts

FUN FACT: Beethoven is credited with fully embracing the expanding

range of the piano in his sonatas and concertos, and for inadvertently

popularizing steel-framed keyboards, as he would often leave a stream of

broken wooden pianos on stages wherever he performed.

The emotional depth, expanded orchestration, and immense length of his

works (for his time) were all hallmarks of what would come to be known

as the Romantic era, yet all of Beethoven’s works were rooted in a

Classical era aesthetic of clear form and function – just through a much

more emotional (and unpredictable) filter.

Beethoven - Influence on Classical

10/12/2018

23

Quiz #4

1) Why was the Ode to “Joy” originally supposed to have

been Ode to “Freedom?”

1) What is the name of Beethoven’s only Opera?

1) Why was Beethoven allowed to get away with saying

things against the government when no one else could?

1) What is the main characteristic of his “Late Period?”

1) Why is Beethoven’s 9th considered the choral symphony?