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TIME PERIODS
BAROQUE (1600-1750)
The baroque period was characterized by energy and movement. There was a great deal
of ornamentation, meaning extra notes and trills were added to decorate the melodic line.
This mirrored the architecture and art of the period. Baroque composers and performers
tried to represent passions in their work and to move their audiences with these displays
of passion.
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Bach enjoyed a rather uneventful life. He was somewhat popular as
an organist, but there were several other musicians living at the same
time who were more widely known in Europe. He held the position
of organist at several churches, and took great pride in his work. He
composed every form common during the Baroque period except
opera. Bach would have been surprised and shocked, if he had
known that his name and his works would be respected and
esteemed more than any other composer 200 years after his death.
Toccata and fugue in d minor (Kurt Ison, Sydney Town
Hall.
Edited and produced by Christopher Hayles, 2002.)
Kyrie, b minor masse (Gewandhausorchester Leipzig
Herbert Blomstedt)
CLASSICAL (1750-1800)
Mozart and Haydn, are two examples of classical composers. Mozart, in particular, has
written music that has never gone out of style. This period was also called the period of
enlightenment. It was an end to superstitions and a beginning to the age of reason.
The music of this period was clean and clear. Gone were all the overwhelming
displays of ornamentation.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Mozart showed so much talent as a child, that his father gave up all other pursuits in
order to teach him. He toured extensively as a performer from age 6 to 15. He was a
virtuoso on the clavier and also played the violin and organ. He produced his first
minuets at the age of 6, his first symphony by age 9 and his first oratorio at age 11. In all,
he has more than 600 compositions listed. He composed every type of composition
popular at his time. His most famous operas are, perhaps, The Magic Flute, Don
Giovanni and The Marriage of Figaro.
Symphony 40 (Javier Morales Philharmonic of jalisco, Mexico)
Finale, Marriage of Figaro (Act 4 -5: 'Pace, pace mio dolce tesoro' - finale &
curtain calls Mozart's opera 'The Marriage of Figaro' from the Met (Nov 1999).
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Beethoven came on the scene in a favorable period of history. Haydn and Mozart had
developed a style that had possibilities of growth. There was tremendous upheaval in the
world with the French revolution, the American Revolution, the rise of Napoleon and the
works of great artists, such as Goethe. Beethoven thrived on the upheaval, and
indeed, his genius and his music is unthinkable without the force of revolution.
He is neither classic nor romantic, but towers above them all, bridging the two
centuries.
Fifth Symphony (Arturo Toscanini Telecast March 22, 1952 from
Carnegie Hall, New York City)
Fidelio (wer ein holdes Weib errungen) 1963, Arthur Rother,
conducting the Deutsches Oper Berlin. James King & Christa Ludwig
ROMANTIC (1800-1900)
The nineteenth century saw the preoccupation with rationality evolve into a deep interest
in dreams, contemplation and the infinite. Its name comes from the literary genre, the
romance. All the arts sought to see past the physical world into the world of the infinite.
Orchestras were bigger than before, and often displayed extremes within one piece of
music.
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Brahms responded to the general tendency of his time. His symphonies show a
childlike freshness and the youthful energy of Romanticism. However, he was
always concerned with form and wanted to avoid empty displays.
4th Symphony (Carlos Kleiber conducts Brahms Symphony No.4 (1st
mov./ first part), with the Bavarian State Orchestra)
(comment from youtube)
I was wounded during world war two and when I got out of the hospital I somehow
landed up in a wonderful Belgian Home and they played this piece, I was transformed,
uplifted, warmed, temporarily at peace. I play this often. I am 87 years old and plan to
hear more Brahms before I die.
Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)
In Italy, today, Verdi represents opera. Many shop owners, taxi drivers etc, can sing
Verdi arias. Verdi became wealthy writing a string of successful opera. His heroes,
heroines and subject matter struck a chord of nationalism. His operas even provoked
political demonstrations. When independence was gained in Italy, Verdi was declared an
honorary member of the new parliament. When he died at age 88, Italy declared a
national day of mourning.
Anvil Chorus from Il Trovatore (Chorus of the Hungarian State Opera House)
IMPRESSIONISM (1870-1900)
This term first applied to a school of French painting, its chief representative is Claude
Monet. In relation to music, the word is defined in the Webster’s dictionary as “A style of
composition designed to create descriptive impressions by evoking moods through rich
and varied harmonies and timbres”. It does not seek to express a feeling or tell a story,
but to evoke a mood.
Claude Debussy (1862-1918)
Impressionism was the most conspicuous and influential development in French music of
the late nineteenth century, and this form was embodied in one composer, Claude
Debussy. The chief element of this language was color, and Debussy achieved this color
through harmony.
Afternoon of a Faun (A celebrated performance conducted by Leopold
Stokowski with the London Symphony Orchestra, Royal Festival Hall, London,
14 June 1972.)
Beau Soir (Barbra Streisand performs "Beau Soir" from her 1976 album
"Classical Barbra")
TWENTIETH CENTURY
There were three main directions in the music of the twentieth century: post-romantic,
neo-classicism and 12 tone. These were often mingled in one way or another, and were
also affected by new idioms, such as jazz and the advent of radio and recordings which
disseminated the music to a much wider audience.
Aaron Copland (1900-1990)
Copland represented the mainstream approach to American
music. Folk music and jazz were some of the influences on
his work. For instance, portions of his work Appalachian
Spring sounds like country fiddling. Most of all, he wanted to
sound American.
The Promise of Living (from Tender Land)
Arnold Schoenberg (1874-1951)
Between 1905 and 1912, Schoenberg moved into something commonly called atonality.
Atonal means literally, not tonal. The composer tries to avoid a tonal center. There is
some disagreement if this can actually be achieved. However, this is the term that has
stuck. He developed a system of composing on 12 tones. The twelve tones are in a row or
series. They can be used in any order the composer wishes, but a tone cannot be repeated
until all 12 have been used.
Herzgewaechse
Yudkin, Jeremy. (2010). Understanding Music. Boston University: Prentice Hall.
Grout, Donald J. (1960). A History of Western Music. New York: W. W. Norton & Co.