Transcript Renaissance
Gott im Himmel! Today I am a classic composer January 1750 Sun Mon Tues Wed Thur Fri Sat 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Classical clas-si-cal / ‘klas-i-kəl According to Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary: 1. of or relating to the ancient Greek and Roman world and esp. to its literature, art, architecture, or ideals 2. versed in the classics 3. of or relating to music of the late 18th and early 19th centuries characterized by an emphasis on simplicity, objectivity and proportion Classical 1750 - 1820 Social, political and economic conditions led many countries to abolish monarchies Reason, tolerance, hope, knowledge and justice replaced power, repression, despair, ignorance, and political abuse Classical 1750 - 1820 Classicists believe in universal values which led to statements such as “When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another. . . “ The freedoms and rights that we enjoy and take for granted today grew out of the convictions and beliefs of the late 1700’s. The dominance of any group or person by another was not tolerated. “We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. . . Classical 1750 - 1820 “Thomas Jefferson may be considered the prototype of the classical man: intelligent and well educated, he was a linguist, scientist, mathematician, architect, musician and statesman.” Classical History 1750 1751 1752 1756 1757 1757 1759 1761 1762 1762 1764 1766 1770 1776 1777 1778 Over a million people live in colonial America The Minuet becomes Europe’s fashionable dance Benjamin Franklin flies a kite during a thunderstorm to prove that lightning is electricity. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is born Whale oil street lamps, designed by Benjamin Franklin, are installed on a few streets in Philadelphia. First public concert in Philadelphia Händel dies Haydn is appointed Kapellmeister to Prince Paul Esterhazy Benjamin Franklin improves the harmonica turning it into a viable musical instrument Mozart (age 6) tours Europe as a musical prodigy Mozart (age 8) writes his first symphony British Parliament repeals the Stamp Act after American colonists stop buying British goods in protest against the taxes. Ludwig van Beethoven is born On July 4TH the Continental Congress approves the Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson. United States Congress adopts the American flag of thirteen alternating red and white stripes and thirteen white stars on a blue background. Beethoven is presented by his father as being a six year old prodigy. (He’s eight.) Classical History 1783 1789 1790 1791 1793 1794 1797 1803 1804 1808 1809 1813 1814 1818 The American Revolution officially ends when the United States and Britain sign the Treaty of Paris. George Washington becomes the first president of the United States. First musical competition in America The Bill of Rights becomes part of the United States Constitution. Eli Whitney invents his cotton gin. After more than a hundred years, white-powdered hair goes out of fashion for men. John Chapman, known as "Johnny Appleseed," begins planting apple seeds along the Ohio Valley. The United States more than doubles its size after buying over 820,000 square miles of land from the French government. It is known as the Louisiana Purchase,. Meriwether Lewis and William Clark begin their exploration of the vast Northwest territory, traveling from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean. The United States prohibits the importation of Africans for enslavement. Felix Mendelssohn is born Giuseppe Verdi and Richard Wagner are born Francis Scott Key writes poem, “Defense of Fort McHenry,” later set to music of “Anacreon in Heaven” to become U.S. National Anthem Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht is written (Silent Night) Classical Art Two Old People Eating Francisco de Goya 1746 - 1828 Classical artistic characteristics Art looks to ancient Greece and Rome for inspiration. Classical Art Classical artistic characteristics Art looks to ancient Greece and Rome for inspiration. Death of Socrates, Jacques-Louis David 1748 - 1825 Classical Art Voltaire, Jean-Antoine Houdon 1741 - 1828 The images of Franklin on the fifty-cent piece, Jefferson on the nickel, and Washington on the quarter were all created by Jean-Antoine Houdon, making his art known to more Americans than any other. Unfortunately, most Americans don’t know who he is Classical Architecture U.S. Capital Building, Washinton D.C., 1793 – 1830 Thornton-Latrobe-Bulfinch Classical Architecture Monticello, Charlottesville VA 1768 - 1782 Thomas Jefferson Classical Architecture The White House Washington, D.C. 1793 – 1801 James Hoban Classical Music Wolfgang Mozart 1756 - 1791 Musical Characteristics of the Classic Era Form: Classicists found beauty in order and symmetry of design, and clearly organized their music. Although Mozart died young at age 35, he left behind an impressive body of work that includes Masses, Sonatas, Operas, Chamber music, Concertos and dance music. He was buried in a common grave before his second child was born. Classical Music Franz Joseph Haydn 1732 - 1809 Musical Characteristics of the Classical Era Texture: Homophony became the predominant texture. Melodies were generally placed on the top line while the other lines were given less melodic interest. Haydn was the last composer to thrive under the patronage system. While working for the Esterhazy family, Haydn wrote over 100 symphonies, 52 piano sonatas, 13 operas and numerous other compositions. Classical Music Ludwig Van Beethoven 1770 - 1827 Musical Characteristics of the Classical Era Timbre: Instrumental music dominated during the Classical period, and orchestral music was particularly important Beethoven bridged the late classic period with the early romantic. His celebrated deafness occurred late in his life and is reflected in his music as his later music takes on a more cerebral quality. Classical Authors Thomas Jefferson 1743 - 1826 Thomas Jefferson’s most famous piece of writing is arguably the Declaration of Independence. If the colonies had not been successful in separating themselves from England, this document alone would have been enough to put Jefferson to death for treason. Classical Jane Austen 1775 - 1817 Authors Her novels are highly prized not only for their light irony, humor, and depiction of contemporary English country life, but also for their underlying serious qualities. They include Pride and Prejudice, Love and Friendship, Lady Susan, and many others. Classical Authors Jonathan Swift 1667 - 1745 Gulliver's Travels was published in 1726. Though it is often labeled a children's book, it is also a great satire of the times. It demonstrates Swift's desire to encourage people to read deeper and not take things for granted. Readers who paid attention could match all of Gulliver's tall tales with current events and long-term societal problems.