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Music Composition Music History Lesson 6: The Classical Period (1730-­‐1820) What is “Classical Music”? •
People often get confused between “classical music” and the “classical period”. Classical Music is a term that is used very generally to describe traditional art music that arose out of Western (European) culture. It includes music from ancient times up to the present, and is often performed on standard orchestral or band instruments or sung with a “classical” or formal technique. The Classical Period is a short historical period ranging from 1730 to 1820 when composers once again became interested in the ideas of the ancient Greeks. Mozart, Haydn and later Beethoven were famous composers from this period. An enormous amount of music was written during this period. Composers were prolific in the Classical Period. Mozart wrote over 600 pieces in his short lifetime and Haydn wrote over 100 symphonies. What does music from The Classical Period sound like? •
Music in the classical period is much lighter in texture than music in The Baroque Period was. A single melody became the most important part, with the harmony supporting it. The harpsichord gave way to the pianoforte (now called the piano). The orchestra grew in size with more woodwinds and brass. Artists appreciated very much the clean lines of ancient Greek architecture, and this appeared in music with very clearly defined forms with highly contrasting sections. Listening Examples:
Gioachino Rossini Overture to the Barber of Seville
• During the Classical Period, there was a huge appetite for comic opera. This story, written by French playwright Pierre Beaumarchais, was controversial at the time because it depicted the noble-­‐class as sleazy, lustful buffoons. It, and the sequel The Marriage of Figaro, were banned in Austria because the Emperor thought it might stir up revolution. Musically, it was important because Rossini was one of the first composers to make full use of the crescendo. In fact, his long crescendos are affectionately called “The Rossini Crescendo.” Film: Amadeus based on the play by Peter Shaffer and directed by Milos
Foreman
This fictional story contains some truths about the life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-­‐1791), however it is mainly fictional. In the story, Antonio Salieri, a rival composer, is tortured by the belief that God has chosen Mozart, a conceited brat, as his muse and, out of envy, sets out to destroy him. There is evidence, from his letters, that Mozart’s personality was obnoxious. He was a musical genius who began composing at five years old. Someone did commission the Requiem Mass and he did die while writing it, believing he was writing his own requiem. Salieri was a real composer and contemporary, but there was no evidence to suggest he conspired to kill Mozart. He died young, at only 35 years old. A portrait of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart painted after his death by Barbara Krafft. What was life like for composers then? •
During the Classical Period, composers were employed by wealthy patrons, by opera houses and vaudevillian theatre companies, by the church and many of them taught private students. Their success depended very much on the opinions of royalty and the nobility. What was life like for average people during The Classical Period? • There were enormous differences between wealthy people and poor people. There was no social safety net (welfare or public health care) and poor people suffered greatly. Farmers’ crops did poorly and the cost of food rose – many people starved. Although there was a growing middle-­‐class, they were heavily taxed and grew resentful toward the clergy and aristocracy, who were not burdened by high taxes. This was worst in France, where common French people grew infuriated at the incompetence of their king and government and began a revolution to overpower the ruling class. After tremendous upheaval, King Louis XVI was executed at the guillotine, along with Queen Marie Antoinette and thousands of others, and a more libertarian government was put into place. Many human rights were put into law during this time and around the world, in French colonies, slaves were freed. Eventually, this government failed and was overthrown by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1799.