The Classical Era (1750-1820)
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The Classical Era (1750-1820) • The Enlightenment: – Reason & philosophy > social & religious establishment – Middle class > Aristocracy • Wars with the purpose of revolution – French Revolution • Napoleon becomes Emperor by involvement, not birthright. • Turning away from the elaborate, & extravagant
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The Classical Era (1750-1820). The Enlightenment: Reason & philosophy > social & religious establishment Middle class > Aristocracy Wars with the purpose of revolution French Revolution Napoleon becomes Emperor by involvement, not birthright. Turning away from the elaborate, & extravagant. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Transcript of The Classical Era (1750-1820)
The Classical Era(1750-1820)
• The Enlightenment:– Reason & philosophy > social & religious establishment– Middle class > Aristocracy
• Wars with the purpose of revolution– French Revolution
• Napoleon becomes Emperor by involvement, not birthright.
• Turning away from the elaborate, & extravagant
Classical Music• Simpler, lighter and clearer than Baroque• Emphasis on grace, elegance and beauty• Orchestra grows in size and instrumentation• Concentration on new homophonic forms:
– Symphony, Concerto, String Quartet, Sonata
Functional Harmony• Two main elements:
– TONIC (I) Acts like a resting place, feels like ‘home base’
– DOMINANT (V) Wants to pull back to the tonic. Feels full of tension and unease.
Sonata Form
• The Classical Era’s most popular form• Used in Symphonies, Concertos, String
Quartets, Sonatas. – When used, Sonata form is almost always
seen in the first movement and in a moderate to quick tempo.
Sonata Form
• Introduction• Exposition – first appearance of themes• Development – themes are developed• Recapitulation – Exposition is recapped• Coda – Short ending
• Exposition – two themes are introduced:– Theme A (in the tonic key)– Theme B (in the dominant key)– The Exposition is played twice
• Development– One or both of the themes are developed– No set or typical length
• Recapitulation– Restatement of the Exposition (no repeat)– Both themes played in the tonic
Sonata Form
Optional Elements
• Coda – Literally translating to ‘tail’, a brief passage at the end of the work serving as a finale.
• Cadenza – Usually found in concertos or sonatas, an improvised unaccompanied solo.
Franz Joseph Haydn(1732-1809)
• Early musical training at age 6 as a choirboy, harpsichordist and violinist
• Age 17, began freelancing career– Worked as teacher, accompanist and street
musician– Self-taught on composition
• Successful compositions brought fame and notoriety.
• 1761: Kapellmeister to the Esterhazy family– Composer, performer, conductor, etc.
• Popular and influential– Close friend to Mozart– Beethoven traveled to study with him
• Developed genres of Symphony and String Quartet– As a composer helped elevate both to higher
musical statuses• Quirky composer, light and sarcastic wit
– Surprise Symphony– Farewell Symphony
Franz Joseph Haydn(1732-1809)
