Chapter 7 Pp Outline

UNDERSTANDING MUSIC CHAPTER 7

The Classical Era: 1750-1800 “Music is an invisible dance” -Jean Paul, novelist”

From Absolutism to Enlightenment to Revolution 5 -Louis XIV 6 Enlightenment 7 Vienna- the center of culture 8 French Revolution (1789-94 9 The rise of the role of women in society 10 ….in the meantime, what do you suppose was going on in the U.S.A. during this time????

The Musical Public 11 Public concerts and 12 Music publishing 13 Professional musicians starting to become “free agents.” 14 Music itself becoming less “complicated” sounding- the move from polyphony to homophony, for example.

Some General Characteristics of Music 15 Music that is “easy on the ears”: 16 Balance, symmetry and brevity17 Simple harmonies-Alberti bass

Genres of Classical Music Opera Opera Seria Comic Opera(a.k.a. opera comique (France), opera buffa (Italy), and Singspiel (Germany) Singspiel -spoken recitative.

Symphony 

Originally from the overture or “sinfonia” of an opera



The instruments of the early Classical Orchestra

Chamber Music (specifically the String Quartet) –

Consists of 2 violins, viola and cello

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Sonata

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Specifically for solo piano or solo instrument AND piano

Re: the Piano From harpsichord to fortepiano to piano (as we know it today)

Convention in Classic Music Just as dress code and manners were strictly standardized, so was music, especially with regard to form 18 Sonata-allegro form 19 Aria 20 Minuet/trio 21 Rondo

The Sonata Form (a.k.a Sonata-Allegro form or 1st movement form) Form was used not only in sonatas but in symphonies, string quartets, and other types of chamber music 22 Exposition 23 Development 24 Recapitulation

Exposition 25 The “A” theme- begins in the tonic key 26 Bridge-modulates to dominant 27 The “B” theme -a contrasting melody in the dominant key 28 Closing section-establishes dominant harmony with a final cadence

Development a section of harmonic (and even melodic) instability

Recapitulation Same music as the exposition EXCEPT the “B” theme stays in the tonic key. Refer to your text, p. 173, for the overall graphic design of the sonata form.

Second Movement- the Aria Form Yudkin’s description for second movement of a sonata, symphony or chamber work, usually in an A B A form, similar to opera arias. __________________________________________

Second movements are predominantly SLOW in tempo in the Classical Period

The Minuet-Trio Form (remember me from Chapter 3?!) Present only in a FOUR movement form (like symphony, quartet, etc.) as the THIRD movement. The Minuet-Trio is: 29 Always in ¾ time 30 Moderate in tempo 31 Ternary in form 32 Uses contrasting music in the trio section (refer to textbook p. 174 for a graphic illustration of the form)

The Rondo -oftentimes in 3 or 4 movement sonatas, symphonies, etc. this is the form of the last movement and is fast in tempo Form- characterized by the repeat of the main theme (the “A” theme) For instance, ABACABA (Sometimes ABACADACABA) _________________________ Other forms of the last movement can be a sonata form or perhaps a binary form of sorts. Last movements ARE ALWAYS FAST in tempo!

Summary of Movement Structure In a FOUR movement structure of a Classical Sonata, Symphony or Chamber work, the movements usually happen in this format: 33 1st movement -Sonata Form (FAST) 34 2nd movement - Aria, theme and variation or binary form (SLOW) 35 3rd movement –Minuet –Trio form

36 4th movement - Rondo, sonata or other binary form (FAST)

The Classic Masters

Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) 37 Austrian born composer 38 Early studies as a choirboy at St. Stephen in Vienna 39 Employed at the court of Nikolaus Esterházy for most of his career 40 Huge output of music (100+ symphonies, almost 70 string quartets, 50 keyboard sonatas) 41 Renowned throughout Europe

Haydn’s Music Although mostly known for his string quartets and symphonies, he wrote incredible vocal works, namely his oratorio, The Creation. Later in his career, he starts experimenting with more subtle and somber affects, for instance, the use of minor keys and sudden changes of dynamics. Sometimes, he would play musical jokes in his compositions. One of the most famous ones is the second movement of the Surprise Symphony. (What is the joke? It is a SURPRISE!)

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1792) 42 Austrian born composer 43 Child prodigy 44 Did not keep a regular employer like Haydn 45 Did not manage money well 46 Died at the age of 35 47 Composed in all genres but is arguably most famous for his piano

concertos and operas

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1792) Some of his best known works 48 Operas (Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni, the Magic Flute) 49 Concertos (namely his Piano Concertos 20+ of them) 50 Sonatas (mostly solo piano) 51 Symphonies (40+ of them the last 10 most frequently performed) 52 Chamber works (String quartets mostly)