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CLASSICAL MUSIC
Background information
Classical and classic both come from the latin word classicus,
meaning a citizen of the highest class. We use these words in
connection with anything we consider to be top class, first rate and
of lasting value.
We consider the style of ancient Greece and Rome as ‘classical’
meaning a style which places an importance on grace and
simplicity, beauty of line and shape, balance and proportion, order
and control.
As far as music is concerned, the word ‘classical’ may be used in
two different ways. People sometimes speak in a general way of
‘classical music’ when they think of music being divided into two
categories of ‘classical’ and ‘pop’
To a musician however, ‘Classical’ with a capital ‘C’ refers more
specifically to the music composed between 1750 & 1820.
COMPOSERS
STAMITZ
1717-1757
GLUCK
1714-1787
C.P.E. BACH 1714-1788
J.C. BACH
1735-1782
HAYDN
1732-1809
MOZART
1756-1791
BEETHOVEN 1770-1827
CLASSICAL ORCHESTRA
The orchestra which started to take shape in the baroque period
started to grow. The harpsichord continuo fell out of use as
composers started to use more wind instruments.
The woodwind section soon became an established section of the
orchestra.
2 kettle drums, trumpets and french horns also gained a place in
the orchestra.
TEXTURE
Baroque music had been mainly polyphonic.
The texture of music in the Classical period tends to be lighter,
clearer, less complicated and basically homophonic.
(counterpoint or polyphony wasn’t totally forgotten.)
INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC
During the classical period, instrumental music became more
important than vocal.
The PIANO became very popular. It offered many exciting
possibilities of expression.
Contrasts of soft (p) and loud (f) and everything in between.
– pp p mp mf f ff
Crescendos and diminuendos
Legato and staccato
Cantabile (singing style right hand against a quieter
accompaniment in the left)
ALBERTI BASS
A favourite kind of accompaniment pattern often used by classical
composers became known as the ‘Alberti bass’
This consisted of simple broken chords repeated in the left hand.
INSTRUMENTAL FORMS
SONATA FORM
SYMPHONY
CONCERTO
SONATA
SONATA FORM
In the Classical period , most 1st movements were written in sonata
form. Sonata form consisted of 3 main sections.
EXPOSITION – The composer ‘exposes’ or states his musical
material.
DEVELOPMENT – The composer ‘develops’ or explores the
musical possibilities of his ideas presented in the exposition.
RECAPITULATION – The composer now ‘recapitulates’ or
repeats in a slightly different way the exposition.
CODA – The composer then rounds off the movement with a coda
(ending)
SONATA
SONATA was the name a Classical composer gave to a work in
several movements for one or two instruments only.
Piano sonata (piano only)
Violin sonata (violin and piano accomp.)
3 instruments together was a TRIO
4 instruments together was a QUARTET
5 instruments together was a QUINTET
SYMPHONY
A symphony was in fact a sonata for the orchestra. There are 4
movements. Each movement being well contrasted in speed and
character.
1st movement – fairly fast in SONATA FORM
2nd movement – slower speed. More song like, often in TERNARY
form.(ABA) or VARIATIONS.
3rd movement – Haydn and Mozart wrote minuet and trios.
Beethoven wrote a SCHERZO (musical joke)
4th movement – (finale) at a fast speed. Rondo form (ABACA) or
SONATA FORM or a mixture of both called Sonata rondo form
and sometimes VARIATIONS.
CONCERTO
The classical concerto, featuring a solo instrument in competition
with the orchestra grew from the baroque concerto. There are 3
movements in a concerto –
(fairly fast: slow: fast)
1st movement – Modified sonata form. It begins with a double
exposition – one for the orchestra and one for the soloist.
The development and recapitulation sections are shared by both the
soloist and the orchestra.
Near the end of the recapitulation, the soloist plays a CADENZA (
a showy passage to show the brilliance of the players technique)
This was originally IMPROVISED but composers began to write
out the music they expected to hear played. The cadenza usually
ended with a TRILL which was the signal for the orchestra to reenter with the CODA.
Eg Mozart piano concerto in 1st mov.
2nd movement –corresponds to the second movement of the
symphony
Eg. 2nd mov larghetto–piano concerto in Mozart
3rd movement – (finale) corresponds to the fourth movement of
the symphony.
Eg. 3rd mov rondo – horn concerto in Eb Mozart
Rondo – A B A C A form.
Classical Period Vocal Music
The main vocal styles that had been popular in the baroque period
continued to be used in the Classical period.
It was partly the financial reward of commissions from the church
that attracted composers to write MASSES, ORATORIOS and
other sacred vocal works.
MASS
The Mass still contained the same basic 5 sections that had been
used previously.
(KYRIE, GLORIA, CREDO, SANCTUS and AGNUS DEI using
the Latin text.
They were however sub-divided into a far greater number of
musical pieces. Composers used recitatives, arias and choruses as
well as vocal duets, trios and quartets.
ORATORIO
Oratorios continued to be written with arias, (vocal duets, trios and
quartets) recitatives and choruses. Religious stories were used and
the text was in the vernacular language.
OPERA
Operas were brought to a new height during the classical period,
particularly in the hands of MOZART.
He wrote operas in the comic Italian style as well as those in his
native language.
Mozart’s operas demonstrate an outstanding integration of vocal
and instrumental elements. Arias, vocal duets, trios,quartets,
recitatives and choruses were combined with his unique symphonic
style. Overtures became an important component within the opera
and are performed as instrumental pieces now within their own
right.
SUMMARY
Lighter, clearer texture than baroque.
Less complicated
Mainly homophonic (still use of counterpoint)
Emphasis on grace and beauty, melody and form, expressiveness
and formal structure held in balance.
More variety and contrasts within a piece. (not a single mood all
the way through)
More use of keys, tunes, rhythms and dynamics. (crescendo and
sforzando)
Melodies shorter with clear cut phrases and clearly marked
cadences.
Orchestra increased in size and range.
Woodwind becomes a self-contained section
Harpsichord continuo falls out of use.
Harpsichord replaced by the piano.
Early piano music (Haydn and Mozart) thin in texture, often with
‘alberti bass’ accompaniment.
Later became richer and more powerful with Beethoven.
Importance given to instrumental music. Main kinds were:
SONATA
TRIO
STRING QUARTET
SYMPHONY
CONCERTO
SONATA FORM was the most important design of this period and
was used to build up the 1st movement of most large-scale works.
It was also used in other movements and single pieces (such as
OVERTURES)