Classical Period1750-1820
Order SymmetryBalance
Abstract Music
Symphony Concerto Chamber Music (String Quartet) Sonata
Viennese School Composers
Mozart Haydn Beethoven Schubert
Patronage system
Composers were dependent on employers (kings, princes, queens)
Later . . . .
With the Revolutions . . . Social/Political changes began . . .
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
His Music
Symphonies (how many) Fifth symphony – most famous
First movement built on a ___-note motive
Form of first movement? Third movement was what?
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
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
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
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)
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
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)
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)
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
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)