CLASSICAL MUSIC

CHARACTERISTICS
MUSICAL STYLES
CLASSICAL COMPOSERS
OBJECTIVES
 Describes musical elements of given
Classical Period pieces;
 Explains the performance practice (setting,
composition, role of composers/
performers, and audience) during Classical
Period.
 Relates Classical music to other art forms
and its history within the era
 Evaluates music and music performance
using guided rubrics.
MUSICAL TIMELINE OF
WESTERN MUSIC
476-1475 1475- 1600-1750 1750- 1820- 1900-
999 years 1600 150 years 1820 1900 2000-
125 years 70 80 years Present
years
M R B Classical R M
E E A O O
D N R M D
I A O A E
E I Q N R
V S U T N
A S E I
L A C
N Haydn
C Vivaldi Mozart Paganini
Perotin E Handel Beethoven Berlioz
Adam dela Halle Palestrina Bach Chopin
Machaut Desprez Lizt
Hildegard Weelkes Wagner
Tchaikovsky
CLASSICAL ERA (1750-1820)
 The classical era, also called “Age of Reason”
 because reason and individualism rather than
tradition were emphasized in this period.
 Significant changes in musical forms and styles
were made.
 Europe began to move toward a new style in
architecture, literature, and the arts, known as
Classicism
 Important historical events that occurred in the
West during this era were the French Revolution
and the Napoleonic Wars, the American
Declaration of Independence in 1776 and the
American Revolution.
CHARACTERISTICS
TEXTURE Usually homophonic; Simpler than
Baroque
MELODIES typically short; easy to sing but with
sophistication
HARMONY simpler than Baroque; uses primary
chords (tonic, subdominant and
dominant)
DYNAMICS & dynamic markings are widely used such
INSTRUMENTATION as forte (loud) and piano (soft)
Bartolomeo Cristofori- pianoforte
FORM defined, organised and precised;
ABA structure
IMPROVISATION Alberti Bass － a broken chord figure
ALBERTI BASS
 a special type of broken
chord accompaniment where
the chord is played in this
order: lowest note highest
note - middle note - highest
note then repeats the
pattern to create a smooth,
sustained, flowing sound
ALBERTI BASS
MUSICAL STYLES
 SONATA
 CANTATA
 CONCERTO
 OPERA BUFFA
 OPERA SERIA
 SINGSPIEL
 CHAMBER MUSIC
 SYMPHONY
SONATA
 Is a large instrumental composition made up of
several movements or sections. The first movement
of section of a sonata is written in a form called
sonata-allegro form or first movement form.
 Exposition － where the basic theme is presented in
the tonic key; modulation also takes place for the
subordinate theme from the tonic key to the
dominant key; it concludes in a theme called codetta.
 Development － where the main theme is developed
in different ways; the theme may be treated in
differen keys, registers, textures and timbres
 Recapitulation － where the themes in the exposition
are restated in the tonic key but not exactly the same
CANTATA
achoral composition with
instrumental
accompaniment, typically
in several movements.
CONCERTO
 Is a major instrumental composition combining
the virtuosity of the instrumental soloist and
the various textures and expressiveness of the
orchestra.
 The soloist and the orchestra are equally
important creating a balanced dialogue
between the two.
 The piano is frequently used as the solo
instrument. Other solo instruments like violin,
cello, horn, clarinet, trumpet and bassoon can
also be employed. It is composed of three
movement following fast-slow-fast structure.
OPERA BUFFA
 opera in Italy that is
full of fun and
frivolity
(Katunggakan)
OPERA SERIA
- an opera based on a
serious plot that usually
revolves around
mythological beings
such as gods and
goddesses
SINGSPIEL
 18thcentury German
musical comedy featuring
songs and ensembles
interspersed with
dialogue.
CHAMBER MUSIC
 Is designed in such a way that it is performed
in a small room or in a palace, unlike the
symphony or concerto which is performed in a
public concert hall.
 It is composed for small ensembles consisting
of only two or nine players and usually only
one instrument to a part.
 The most important chamber music ensemble
is the string quartet. Its music is written for 2
violins, 1 viola, and 1 cello. It is usually
composed of four movements: 1. Fast,2. slow,
3. minuet or scherzo and 4. fast.
SYMPHONY
 Performing the symphony can last from 20-45
minutes.
 The typical sequence of symphony are as follows:
 Firstmovement- fast and vigorous; in sonata form;
usually in duple meter
 Second movement- slow tempo; can be in sonata
form, rondo or theme and variation structure
 Third movement- dance-like movement; can be in
minuet or scherzo form
 Fourth movement- brilliant, lively and fast
movement; often either in sonata form or sonata-
rondo form.
MUSICAL STYLES
1750-1820
 SONATA 70 years

 CANTATA Classical

 CONCERTO
 OPERA BUFFA
 OPERA SERIA Haydn
Mozart
 SINGSPIEL Beethoven

 CHAMBER MUSIC
 SYMPHONY
CLASSICAL COMPOSERS
 FranzJoseph Haydn
 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
 Ludwig van Beethoven
FRANZ JOSEPH HAYDN (1732-1809)
- One of the most prolific
and prominent composers of
the Classical period
- Austrian born on March 31,
1732
-died peacefully of old age
- Father of the Symphony
- Father of the String Quartet
- served as Kapellmeister or
music director of a small
orchestra of Count Morzin in
Bohemia and the palace of
Esterhazy family.
FRANZ JOSEPH HAYDN (1732-1809)
Major Compositions:
- ‘The Creation’ and ‘The
Season’
- The Surprise Symphony
- The Clock Symphony
- The Paris Symphony
- The London Symphony
- Sonata No. 37
WOLFGANG AMADEUS-MOZART
a child prodigy and an
(1756-1791)
influential composer of the
Classical period
- was baptized as Johannes
Chrysostomus Wolfgangus
Theophilus Mozart, born in
Salzburg, Austria on Jan. 27,
1756 to composer Leopold
Mozart and Anna Maria.
- at age 3, he began to play tunes
at the harpsichord and began to
write minuets at age 5
- at age 6, he was already
performing for royalties and
aristocrats with his sister
Nannerl.
WOLFGANG AMADEUSDied
MOZARTof severe miliary fever
(1756-1791)
streptococcal infection,
kidney failure, mercury
poisoning, syphilis,
rheumatic fever, scarlet
fever, chronic
glomerulonephritis,purpura
, trichinosis
Major Compositions:
- composed over 700 works.
- The Marriage of Figarro
- Don Giovanni
- Ein Kleine Nachtmusik
- The Magic Flute
DID YOU KNOW?
 Mozart composed his 12 bar variation
on “Ah! Vous dirai-je Maman” in 1780
at age 25
 In 1806, English poet Jane Taylor
wrote the poem “The Star” which
would go on to form the basis of the
lyrics for the lullaby.
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN (1770-
- was born in Bonn, Germany on
1827) Dec. 16, 1770
- was trained musically by his
father Johann, Franz Rovantini
(violin and viola), Tobias Pfieiffer
(piano), and Christian Gottlob
Neefe (composition)
- spent most of his life in Vienna
where he met Haydn and Mozart
- Vienna years were considered to
be learning years (began to notice
ringing in his ears during this
period- he was about 28 yrs old)
- Second period, his major pieces
became longer.
- Final years, became totally deaf
at age 44 or 45
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
His famous compositions
include 32 piano sonatas, 21
set of variations, 9 symphonies,
5 concertos for piano, 16 string
quartets and
choral music.
Died of hepatic cirrhosis,
syphilis to lead poisoning,
typhus
Famous works:
- Moonlight Sonata
- Symphony No.5
- Fṻr Elise and March of the
Turks
SO WHY ARE THEY CALLED
“CLASSICAL”?
 Works of Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven are still
popular today.
 Their compositions are now commonly used as music
to animated series of popular cartoon companies
such as Looney Toons, Warner Brothers, 20th
Century Fox, Pixar, etc.
 Music of the Classical Era is usually associated with
the nobility.
 During that time most of the members of the
nobility would financially support the musicians.
Music was played in the courts which make the
music of the classical era more familiar to the
nobility than the lower classes.
REFLECTION

What lesson can you

learn from the life of
each of the Classical
composers?