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Music History The Classical period The biggest change occurred in the development of orchestral music. Although opera and vocal music (both sacred and secular) were still being written, orchestral literature was written and performed on a much broader basis and became established as a genre of its own. Classical 1750-1820 MAIN CONCEPTS •homophony •defined phrases •simplicity •Alberti bass VOCABULARY •dynamics •cadences •woodwinds The Blue Boy (Thomas Gainsborough) Brandenburg Gate, Berlin The Classical Period can be described best as music that is structured, in contrast with the highly ornamented music of the Baroque. The defining concept of the Baroque was ornamented; in contrast to that, the Classical period was defined by simplicity and order. Compositional techniques were also changing. Homophony was the most common compositional technique: a single melody is accompanied by chordal accompaniment. Music focused on variety; dynamics (using crescendo, diminuendo and sforzando), along with frequent changes of key, 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 defined phrases and clearly marked cadences (phrase/section endings). This trend can be directly correlated with changes taking place in the instrumental world. Clarinets, flutes, oboes, and bassoons became permanent members of the orchestra in their own woodwind section. Simultaneously, composers stopped using the harpsichord in the orchestral setting. The development of the piano (or fortepiano) forever impacted keyboard music. Early piano music was light in texture, often with Alberti bass accompaniment (named for composer Domenico Alberti), which featured a broken chord progression. The flexibility of the instrument led to further developments as the period progressed. The main instrumental forms were the sonata, trio, string quartet, symphony, concerto, serenade and divertimento. In addition, the sonata form developed and became the most important design; it was used as the basis for large-scale works. Goddess of Mercy Temple, Malaysia Notable Historical Events Notable Composers The Enlightenment Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) One of the foremost composers of the classical period. A child prodigy violinist, Mozart was prolific and wrote thousands of works. Despite his success, he died a pauper at the age of only 37 and was buried in an unmarked grave. Works: Symphony No. 40 in G minor, Requiem, The Magic Flute. •1751 Benjamin Franklin discovers powers of lightning •1756-63 Seven Years’ War •1776: Declaration of Independence •1793: Invention of the cotton gin by Eli Whitney •1793: Louvre Palace opens as an art museum •1796: Edward Jenner invents the vaccine for smallpox Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) Austrian composer Haydn is best known for his string quartets and symphonies. Works: Nelson Mass, Surprise Symphony, The Creation. Period Artists & Writers •Voltaire: Candide •Austen: Sense & Sensibility; Emma •Lavoisier: Elements of Chemistry •Burns: Poems including O my love’s like a red, red rose and Auld Lang Syne Winter Palace, St. Petersburg Ludwig van Beethoven (ca. 1659-1695) Beethoven is considered by many to be the composer who provided the bridge from the Classical Period to the Romantic Period. A composer who was completely deaf by the time he wrote his greatest work, the Choral Symphony (Symphony No. 9). Works: Missa Solemnis, Symphony No. 5, Symphony No. 9, Moonlight Sonata, Für Elise. The Death of Marat (Jacques-Louis David) MAIN INSTRUMENTAL FORMS •sonata •trio •string quartet •symphony •concerto •serenade •divertimento