MUSIC APPRECIATION

Class #6

The “Classical” Period

1750 – 1800

“C”lassical vs. “c”lassical

Pompeii (0079-1748)

www2.pompeiisites.org/

Herculaneum

Principal Driving Thoughts

Equality Balance

Symmetry Logic Restraint Form Clarity Simplicity

The Age of Enlightenment

Rationalism Education

Secularism Religion < Science

Utilitarianism Laws

Enlightened Despotism

Habsburg Empire France

Marie Antoinette Austria

Josef II"Everything for the people, nothing by the people."

Classical Philosophers

Rationalists "I think, therefore I am."

Empiricalism Science

“Tabula rasa” Politics

Revolution

Education!

John Locke

"I think I may say that of all the men we meet with, nine parts of ten are what they are, good or evil, useful or not, by their education.“

Implications?

Change Improvement Questions

Writers

Francois-Marie Voltaire Candide (1759)

“The Best of All Possible Worlds” Political sarcasm Religious ridicule

Scandal Banned

The Middle Class

Income + Education leisure time

Available music public concerts, concert series

printing skill level

Music of The Classical periodFranz Josef Haydn

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Ludwig van Beethoven (1/3?)

Classical music “ideal”

UniversalEntertainingExpressiveSimplePleasingAccessible

Franz Josef Haydn (1732-1809)

“Papa” Haydn

Father of Classical Music Forms

Symphony“Chamber Music”

String Quartet (83!)

Benevolent and generous

Form

Sonata (“Sonata Allegro”)

1. Allegro2. Adagio (Andante)

(Optional 3rd movement: Allegro)

3. Allegro

Form within a form

Exposition

Development

Recapitulation

Chamber Music

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: “Four rational people in polite conversation.”

“Chamber” = room

Musicians Two up to…

Amateurs (?!) Difficulty level

“The Joke”

String Quartet Op. 33 No. 2 IV. Presto

Patronage System

Civilian employmentGuaranteed income Artistic freedom

Esterhazy family castle (#1)

Employment

Composition Chamber Music Symphonies Opera Ballet

Rehearsals Performances Travel

Two representative selections “Surprise Symphony”

1791

“The Creation” 1798

“Surprise!”

The “London” Symphonies 1791-1795

Orchestration Flute, Oboe, Bassoon French horn, Trumpet Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass Timpani

Theme and Variations

Theme Two parts Simple Hummable Folk song?

Variations

Four variations1. Ossia (Countermelody)

Laughter?

2. Key changeC Major to c minor

3. RhythmFaster?

4. Tutti

“The Creation”

Messiah performance “He (Handel) is the master of us all.”

Libretto Genesis Psalms John Milton: Paradise Lost

Baron Gottfried von Swieten

Librarian Patron Translator

Editor? Producer

Inspiration

“I was never so devout as when I was at work on The Creation. I fell on my knees each day and begged God to give the strength to finish the work.”

Time line 1796-98

Premiere

Schwarzenberg Palace Government Royalty Composers

Special police crowd control

120 instrumentalists and 60 singers

Performances

Success! London (English) Europe

Paris -- Napoleon Russia United States

Final Vienna performance

Composition

Soloists Soprano, Tenor, Bass

Chorus SATB

Full Orchestra Harpsichord and fortepiano

Roles

Soprano Angel Gabriel Eve

Tenor Uriel (God of Light)

Bass Angel Raphael Adam

Chorus

Narrative End of each day Interaction with the characters

Tone Poem

Fully orchestrated “Program Music” Symphonic Poem

Orchestral prelude

William Herschel Astronomer Composer

Nebular Hypothesis Chaos into order Darkness into light

Musical “creation”

Void Harmony Melody Dissonance

Order Unique Harmonies Dynamics Instrumental combinations

Angel Raphael

And God made the firmament, And divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were able the firmament: and it was so.

Then howling winds raged the blast of the tempest;

The clouds then were driven like chaff in the wind,The lightnings slashed the heavens asunder,And crashing thunder resounded on high.From waters rose at His command the all-

refreshing rain, the devastating hail, the light and flaky snow.

Uriel

And God said, “let there be lights in the firmament of heaven to divide the day from the night, to give their light upon the earth; and let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and for years. He made the stars also.

Uriel

In shining splendor, radiant now the sun bestrides the sky; a wondrous, joyful bridegroom, a giant proud and glad, he runs his ordered course. With softer steps and wistful shimmer, steals the moon through still enshadowed night. The boundless vaults of heaven’s domain shine with unnumbered magnitude of stars. And the sons of God rejoiced in the fourth day in chorus divine, praising God’s great might, and saying:

Later life…

Austria/Hungarian National Anthem String Quartet in C Major Op. 76 No. 3

"Kaiser“ 2. Poco adagio: cantabile

Friendships and students Mozart Beethoven