THE CLASSICAL ERA

1750 – 1825No, I don’t remember what it was like back then.

The History of the Classical Era The spirit of classicism seeks order, poise

and serenity. a. Classicists were more apt to be objective

in their approach, to see life as a whole, i.e. the big picture. Romanticists in the period following classicism, however, viewed the world according to their own feelings.

b. Classicists believed in the power of the art itself.

The History (cont.)

A Shift of Power.a. 1789-99: The French Revolution created a

transfer of power from the aristocracy to the middle class whose wealth was based on a rapidly expanding capitalism. b. 1775 – 1781: The American Revolution created

a transfer of power from England over the “new world”, or what became know as the United

States with the Declaration of Independence.

The History (cont.)

c. The Industrial Revolution made the shift of

wealth possible.1) James Watts - steam engine -

1760’s2) James Hargreaves - spinning

jenny - 1760’s

3) Eli Whitney - cotton gin - 1790’s

4) Ben Franklin – bifocal glasses – 1700s

The History (cont.)

Greek and Roman city states were viewed as having rebelled against tyrants, and, so, were seen as roll models for the occurring rebellions.

1770s literature (authors of the Sturm und Drang

movement). a. Goethe, Wolfgang von - Sorrows of Young

Werther b. Schiller, Fredrich von - The Robbers

  Old world was dying while a new world emerged.

The patronage system

The Patronage System

The center of musical life was the palace. Composers were paid to work for a specific patron and had the luxury to spend their entire time composing and presenting or performing their music. Social events created a steady demand for new works. Haydn was served well by this, Mozart was not.

Women and men found places as singers (women) or teachers of the nobility.

Performances?

The rise of the concert hall with public concerts gave composers a new venue of performance. Mozart and Haydn played their own piano concertos.

What are the key points of the music of this era? Harmony of the classical era based

on the diatonic scale (7 tones) and the major-minor system.

Meter usually stays the same throughout an entire movement.

Compositions were dignified, emotionally restrained, and marked by great clarity.

Key points (cont.)

Most famous composers of the classical era: Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert. It is generally thought that the brilliance of these composers has not been surpassed.

WHY?

Mozart, Haydn, Schubert, and Beethoven

1. First composers to fully explore the major-

minor system. 2. First to perfect a large form of

absolute instrumental music that would

explore all possibilities. 3. First to explore and perfect the

sonata, concerto, and symphony forms.

Mozart, Haydn, Schubert, and Beethoven

4. Haydn included folk elements in his

compositions. 5. Mozart included the elegance

of court dances in his compositions. 6 . Beethoven replaced the

minuet with rousing scherzos in his

symphonies.THE END