Classical Period

1750 – 1820

What does Classical Mean? Identify with antiquity; especially ancient Greece Era with style traits “Classical” / “Coke” Balance Restraint Symmetry Clarity Purity of line Purity of Form

Classical Period Time Line 1760 – Industrial Revolution begins 1769 – Watt’s steam engine patented 1771 – 1st ed. of Encyclopedia Britannica 1775 – Electric battery invented – Volta 1776 – Declaration of Independence 1787 – French Revolution 1788 – Steamboat invented - Fitch

Classical Period Timeline cont.

1789 – Washington elected 1st president 1791 – Bill of Rights 1803 – Louisiana Purchase 1804 – Napoleon crowned emperor War of 1812 1819 – 1st steamship crosses Atlantic 1821 – Electric motor - Farraday

Scientific AchievementsOxygen discoveredHydrogen discoveredElectromagnetic induction

discoveredUltraviolet rays discovered

InventionsSteam engineCotton ginElectric MotorsGenerators

The Enlightenment “Age of Reason” Voltaire – supremacy of the intellect Rousseau – emphasized emotions Absolute monarchy is dangerous Against orthodox Christianity Greatly affected beginning of U.S.

The Enlightenment in Early America

Jefferson, Washington, Franklin, Paine Natural law Inherent freedoms Human rights Equality of humankind Self-determination “civil religion”

Musical Characteristics Homophonic style predominates Symmetrical & short phrases Simple, “singable” melodic structure Basso continuo disappears Emergence of piano as main keyboard

instrument Ornamentation much simpler

Musical Characteristics, continued

Forms Orchestra standardized (size & scoring) Slower harmonic rhythm More dynamics and score markings Limited rhythmic change Greater variety of mood within movements

Aspects Affecting Classical Music

Cosmopolitan Age sought one international style

Humanitarian Age social reforms universal brotherhood

Popularization Age rise of public concerts Beginnings of music journalism and periodicals First music histories written

Franz Joseph Haydn 1732 – 1809 “Father of the

Symphony” String Quartets All of his life in

patronage Masses Oratorios

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart 1756 – 1791 Prodigy Symphony Piano Concerto Opera Requiem Over 600

compositions

Ludwig van Beethoven 1770 – 1827 Symphonies Piano Sonatas Paved the way into the

Romantic period Deafness Composed with great

difficulty