Transcript Classical 1 - midworld productions

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THE CLASSICAL PERIOD (1750-1820)
CP BACH & JC BACH
Pioneers of pre-classical period (1730-1770)
shift to simplicity, clarity, and balance in
musically style
• most equate Classical Music title to anything
non-pop / rock / jazz because of three greats
are the most known & regarded
• Three greats of this period are
• MOZART, HAYDN, and BEETHOVEN
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CLASSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Contrast & Mood
Baroque has unity of mood but classical……
Great variety and contrast receive emphasis in
a single piece
Contrast may come in the movement or within
a theme it’s self
Contrast may come slowly or quickly
Classical composer always impart ……
logic and unity to the change
• CLASSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
• Rhythm
• Baroque rhythms are usually uniform from the
beginning to end but classical….
• Can change suddenly or swiftly
• Will have unexpected pauses & syncopations
• Frequent changes from long to short notes
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CLASSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Texture
Most classical is basically HOMOPHONIC
This reflects simplistic movement from
composers
• However texture is still as unpredictable as the
mood and rhythm and will unexpectedly
change
• CLASSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
• Melody
• Classical melodies are among the most tuneful
and easy to remember
• invention of THE HOOK
• Even highly complex themes will have a
popular or folk song basis
• Some barrowed folk melodies
• Most were original with pop sense in mind
• CLASSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
• Melody
• Classical melodies usually are made of 2
phrases
• The first phrase ends in half cadence
• The second phrase ends in a full cadence
• This makes them sound balanced and
symmetrical
• Usually even numbered phrase too
• This is unlike Baroque melodies that tend to
be more elaborate
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CLASSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Dynamics & the Piano
Baroque favor terraced dynamics
Classical favors gradual dynamics
(Descresendo & Cresendo)
• This desire leads to replacement of the
Harpsichord with the Piano which can do this
type of dynamic
• Piano invented in 1700 but takes nearly 75
years for it to “catch on”
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CLASSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
The End of Basso Continuo
This practice is gradually abandoned
2 reasons
1. more music written for amateurs who had
not mastered art of improvising
• 2. composers want more control and don’t
trust the performer as much
• THE CLASSICAL ORCHESTRA
• A standard group of four sections evolved
unlike Baroque which could vary
• Sections
• 1. STRINGS = 1st violins, 2nd violins, violas,
cellos, double basses
• 2. WOODWINDS = 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2
clarinets, 2 bassoon
• 3. BRASS = 2 French horns, 2 trumpets
• 4. PERCUSSIONS = 2 timpani
• THE CLASSICAL ORCHESTRA
• TROMBONES sometimes used too but
not standard
• More musicians during this period
• Composers took advantage in order to
contrast tone colors more
• Each section has a specific role but could
have the melody passed throughout each
• THE CLASSICAL ORCHESTRA
• Section roles
• Strings
• (melody and most important)
• Woodwinds
• (contrasting colors and solos)
• Brass
• (power and harmony filler)
• Percussion
• ( for rhythmic bite and emphasis)
• *Youtube = Karajan orchestra
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The Classical Period and the World(1750-1820)
Violent political & Social upheaval
The American & French Revolutions
The rise of Democracy
The decline of the aristocracy
Musicians strongly affected by this
Slow emancipation of the composer
The decline of works for hire
three masters examples-in timeline order
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The Classical Period and the World(1750-1820)
Haydn
Wealthy aristocrat hires
Contract of employment as skilled servant
(not unlike what a gardener would sign)
Wore a uniform
Composed music to order for court
Warned to live cleanly
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The Classical Period and the World(1750-1820)
MOZART
Born just 24 years after Haydn
Starts as court musician
Cant bear being a servant
Tries luck in Vienna as independent freelance
musician
• Has some minor freelance success
• Dies in debt
• The Classical Period and the World(1750-1820)
• BEETHOVEN
• A few years after Mozart’s death is able to
freelance in Vienna successfully
• Success due to emerging Middle Class
market for music
• The Classical Period and the World(1750-1820)
• THE Emerging MIDDLE CLASS
• Hungry for aristocratic luxuries such as theater
and music
• Court concerts closed to public
• Middle class would organize public concerts to
hear same works
• Middle Class wanted more…..
• Music lessons
• Instruments
• Printed music
• The Classical Period and the World(1750-1820)
• Emerging MIDDLE CLASS
• Composers wrote pieces aimed at amateur
musicians
• Comic opera to appeal to broader (non
aristocratic) audience
• Popular & folk tunes as themes in major works
(symphonies, ect..)
• Three masters all wrote dance pieces for public
balls in Vienna
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The Classical Period and the World(1750-1820)
VIENNA
The city had great love of music
Demand for new works make it a good choice for
the three masters
• The three masters all born in other city’s
• Eventually all are drawn to Vienna
• At the time, 4th largest city in Europe in 1800
with over 250,000 people
• The Classical Period and the World(1750-1820)
• VIENNA
• Haydn & Mozart were contemporary’s and
friendly
• Beethoven was a student of both
• Aristocratic and royal courts spent winter’s in
Vienna
• Mixed orchestras of nobles, pro musicians,&
wealthy middle class
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The Classical Period and the World(1750-1820)
VIENNA
Lots of outdoor informal concerts
Specific pieces called Serenades written
especially for this
• Truly was the place to be at the time for the Arts