Copy of Music in the Classical Period

Christoph Willibad Gluck

1714 - 1762

During this Period, COMIC OPERA was introduced. It is a satire which is light and easy to understand, that is why it became popular tho the masses.

• Opera composer
• 2 July 1714 – 15 November 1787
• Gluck brought about the practical reform of opera's dramaturgical practices that many intellectuals had been campaigning for over the years.
• created simple melodies, depicting the message of a scene in an opera.

Christoph Willibad Gluck

There was not much change in the classical opera as compared to the instrumental form, for the simple reason that homophonic texture is used in the opera. At the beginning of the classical period, people still patronize the opera series from Naples,Italy. But in 1720, musicians felt the need to lessen the grandeur and ornamentation of the opera. In 1762, in his work Orfeo ed Eurifice, Christoph Willibald Gluck created simple melodies, depicting the message of a scene in an opera.

The Opera

Although it was already performed for some time, CHAMBER MUSIC took its form as it is known today only during the classical period-a sonata form performed by a small group of instruments wherein one instrument plays one part of the music. The most popular combinations of instruments were those known TRIO FOR STRINGS, composed of violin, viola, and cello; and TRIO FOR PIANO, composed of violin, viola and piano

Music for a Small Group of Instruments

Joseph Haydn is a contemporary and friend of Mozart, wrote 104 symphonies. The last 12 of these are known as the LONDON SYMPHONIES, having been written on the occasion of two visits to London in the 1970's with the "SURPRISE SYMPHONY" as one of the more popular. He is also accredited to the development of string quartet. He will be remembered for

his outstanding church music,

famous oratories like

THE CREATION.

Symphony no. 104 is Haydn's popular composition with four movements.

The first movement starts with a solemn introduction in the key of D minor. The opening has a stable unison idea consisting of D (tonic) and A (dominant) in short rhythm. It has a Dramatic beginning. The opening theme is repeated three times; the second me it is heard in the key of F major and related D minor. In between, there is a section with a short rhythm.

• It was also during this period that symphony developed to its fullest and the piano, then a new instrument, began to capture the interest of the composers

The second movement is beautiful but slow in the key of G major, which is counter to the key and spirit of the first movement. The totality is a combination of A-B-A and theme and variation. The middle section is in the key of G minor and related major, B.

• The use of simple chords I, IV, V, and VI was encouraged of the use of the Alberti bass accompaniment, modulation to related minor keys, or change to subdominant or dominant keys. Music of the period had balance of structure and was generally homophonic in structure.

• Composers of this period showed great concern for form, especially the sonata.

• The melody was clear and phrases were regular. The theme was the basis of expanding the composition.

• Music during this period was objevtive. It represented the classical spirit of simplicity in style.

The exposition starts with the first theme played by the string instruments. The section marked X is a motive which is a greatly used to enhance the section. The second section starts with the first theme in A major. The Exposition has a strong cadence in the key of A major, dominant, and it is repeated.

• The term "classic" is borrowed from a period in ancient Greece when clear-cut structure was emphasized and emotional display was frowned upon.

The concerto is a sonata for a solo instrument and symphony orchestra. It is designed to show off the virtuosity of the soloist.

Concerto

Mozart was one of the most outstanding musical geniuses that ever lived. At the age of four, he was not only reading notes but making up tunes of his own. At the age of six, he and his sister Nannerl played before kings and queens and roral families all over Europe and England. His music possesses the simplicity, naivete, grace and charm all hearers love even to this day.

• 27 January 1756 – 5 December 1791
• one of the first classical composers
• while still a child, already competent in keyboard and violin
• Major works :Requiem, Nozze di Figaro, Don Giovanni, and Die Zauberflote, clarinet concerto, string quartets, late piano concerti, and the later symphonies.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

1756 - 1791

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

The final movement is in sonata-allegro form. The principal theme is lifted from traditional material. The whole movement seems to be a happy dance.

The third movement is a minuet and trio in

compound ternary. The theme of the

minuet is a rough melody in D major.

The movement adheres to the typical form.

The sections are repeated and the keys are patterned after the following:

Musical

Forms

"Classic"

• Sonata form (also known as sonata-allegro or first movement form) is used in the first movement of extended compositions having several movements. The form is based on two principal themes which appear in three large sections called EXPOSITION, DEVELOPMENT, and RECAPITULATION.

Sonata-Allegro Form

RECAPITULATION allows the piece to end on the tonic as it began. There may or may not be a coda (literally, "tail") after the RECAPITULATION.

In the development section, the two themes are developed in any way the composer chooses.

While in the RECAPITULATION, the exposition is resatated with one important change: theme B is now heard in the same key as theme A.

Exposition has two principal themes and usually several subordinate themes

Symphony

The SYMPHONY is a sonata for the entire symphony orchestra. Traditionally, the first movement of a symphony is labeled sonata-allegro, but the second and fourth movements are labeled only by tempo. A sonata with a minuet added is the model of the classical Symphony.

Franz Joseph Haydn

I. Exposition

Principal Theme Second principal theme Final Theme

II. Development

Variation of theme

III. Recapitulation

Principal Theme Second Principal theme Final Theme

• Father of the String Quartet
• Father of the Symphony
• March 31, 1732 - May 31, 1809
• Instrumental in the development of chamber music such as the piano trio.
• Lives in Austria
• Wrote 104 symphonies
• Born in Rohrau, Austria
• He was six when his parents realized that he was gifted in music, and thought that he will not have serious musical training in Rohrau, so they accepted the proposal of Johann Matthias Frankh that he will be apprenticed in Frankh's home to train as a musician.

Franz Joseph Haydn

(1732- 1809)

Music in the Classical Period

(1750 - 1820)