Download Lesson 3: Classical Period Historical Events

Lesson 3: Classical Period Historical Events
In the middle of the 18th century, Europe began to move toward a new style in
architecture, literature, and the arts, generally known as Classicism, which sought to
emulate the ideals of Classical antiquity and especially those of Classical Greece. The
Classical Period is from 1750 - 1820. While still tightly linked to the court culture and
absolutism, with its formality and emphasis on order and hierarchy, the new style was
also a cleaner style—one that favored clearer divisions between parts, brighter contrasts
and colors, and 1)_________ rather than complexity, and the typical 2)____________
size increased.
The remarkable development of ideas in "natural philosophy" had established itself in
the public consciousness with Newton's physics taken as a paradigm: structures should
be 3)____________ and be both well-articulated and 4)____________. This taste for
structural clarity worked its way into the world of music, moving away from the layered
polyphony of the Baroque period, towards a style where a melody over a subordinate
harmony—a combination called 5)___________—was preferred. This meant that the
playing of 6)____________, even if they interrupted the melodic smoothness of a single
part, became a much more prevalent feature of music. This, in turn, made the tonal
structure of works more audible.
The new style was also pushed forward by changes in the economic order and in social
structure. As the 18th century progressed, the 7)___________ became the 8)__________
patrons of 9)__________ music, and there was a rise in the public taste for comic
10)_____________. This led to changes in the way music was performed, the most
crucial of which was the move to standard 11)___________ groups and the reduction in
the importance of the 12)________________—the harmonic fill beneath the music,
often played by several instruments.
Lesson 4: Classical Period Music
Classical music has a 13)_______, clearer texture than Baroque music and is less complex. It is mainly
homophonic — 14)____________ above chordal accompaniment but counterpoint is by no means
forgotten, especially later in the period.
Variety and contrast within a piece became more pronounced than before. Variety of keys,
15)_____________, rhythms and dynamics, along with frequent changes of mood and timbre were
more commonplace in the Classical period than they had been in the Baroque. Melodies tended to be
shorter than those of Baroque music, with clear-cut 16)___________ and clearly marked cadences. The
Orchestra increased in size and range; the 17)_______________ continuo fell out of use, and the
woodwind became a self-contained section. As a solo instrument, the harpsichord was replaced by the
18)_________ (or fortepiano). Early piano music was light in texture, but it later became richer, more
sonorous and more powerful.
Importance was given to 19)___________ music—the main kinds were sonata, string quartet,
symphony and concerto. Sonata form developed and became the most 20)____________ form. It was
used to build up the first movement of most large-scale works, but also other movements and single
pieces (such as overtures.)
The best known composers from this period are Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and
Ludwig van Beethoven.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Mozart was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical era. Mozart showed prodigious ability
from his earliest childhood. Already competent on 21)______ and violin, he composed from the age of
five and performed before European royalty.
Joseph Hayden
Haydn was an Austrian composer, one of the most prolific and prominent composers of the Classical
period. He is often called the "Father of the 22)_________" and "Father of the String Quartet" because
of his important contributions to these forms.
Ludwig van Beethoven
A crucial figure in Western music, he is one of the most 23)______ & influential of all composers. He
is best known for 9 24)__________, 5 concertos, 32 piano sonatas, & 16 string quartets. By 26, he
began to lose his hearing, which, over time became profound and stopped him from
25)___________________.