Transcript Music of the Enlightenment

Music of the
Enlightenment
“Today there is but one music in
all of Europe.”
–Michel Paul de Chabanon
Sonata Form
The evolution of music in
the Enlightenment
3 main parts of the
Sonata Form
 Exposition—where
presented
themes are
 Development—where
themes
are treated in new ways
 Recapitulation—where the
themes return
Classical
Symphony
The continued evolution of music
in the Enlightenment
The Classical Symphony
Latin symphonia, “a sounding
together”
–meaning, a symphony is a longer, more
developed musical composition that
usually lasts between twenty and fortyfive minutes
 from
symphonies contain movements
which vary in theme and tempo
 Classical
Types of movements:
1. & 4. Allegro—In a quick, lively
tempo.
 Usually begins and ends a symphony,
but may be proceeded by the adagio
2. Adagio—In a slow tempo.
3. Andante (andante moderato)—In a
moderately slow tempo.
3. Minuet—A slow, stately pattern
dance in 3/4 time.
The Classical Orchestra
 Approximately
30 string violin, cello,
and viola players
 Also, 2 players each for the oboe,
flute, bassoon, horns, trumpets,
kettledrums, and clarinet
– Beethoven often increased this demand
for instruments and also added extra
ones like the piccolo and trombone.
Franz Josef Haydn (1732-1809)
 Began
writing symphonies in 1757
(7 years after the death of Bach
and the marked end of the
Baroque music age)
 Wrote
104 symphonies (possibly
more) in about 50 years
–(Yikes! More than 2 a year! Eat
your heart out John Williams!)
Symphony No. 94 in G Major,
“Surprise” (1792)
The 2nd movement, the andante, is the
most well-known movement for it’s
simple, charming theme and the
dramatic musical surprise.
The movement is in a theme and
variations form (AA’A’’A’’’A’’’’)
Symphony No. 104 in
D Major, (1795)
 Listen
to:
 “London symphony”
–Written for performance in London
–Folk dance character
–Bagpipe-like drone
 Finale movement
–Allegro
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
(1756-1791)
 Wrote
41 symphonies
 Wrote in other genres: opera,
keyboard works, choral works
 Melody writer
 Died at the age of 35
 Always financially insecure
 Listen to parts of
Piano Concerto in A Minor
Ludwig Van Beethoven
(1770-1827)
Crossover
composer
– Part of the Classical period & the
Romantic
Deaf
at the end of his life
“Immortal Beloved”
–Story of Beethoven

Wanted to expand the classical symphonic
form to accommodate greater emotional
character.
– This expansion of the classical symphony style
is what helped lead the music of the EP into the
Romantic period. Mozart helped with this as
well in his later symphonies.
The typical classical symphony has
movements with contrasting and unrelated
themes.
 Beethoven’s works differ because he used
more of a similar theme throughout the
entire symphony to give it more emotional
unity.

 Beethoven’s
works are more dramatic
with more dynamics to make more
emotional effect.
– Listen to selection from Symphony No. 5
 Beethoven described it as “fate knocking at
the door”
 The work was first performed on 22 December
1808, at an enormous concert typical of the age which also saw the first performance of the
'Pastoral' symphony, the fourth piano concerto, the
Choral Fantasia and parts of the C major Mass.
 Established the pattern of what later became known
as the "finale symphony"
 Listen
to Finale of Symphony No. 9
–Last movement of the symphony
–Beethoven included vocals to create
drama
–Very well-known to the general public