Classical Time

Period1750-1820

GRACE

CALM

EQUAL

SERENITY

CLARITY POISEORDER

How can we describe the Classical Time Period?

HOMEWORK: Define each of the above terms

Key Historical

Events

FRENCH REVOLUTION

transfer of power from aristocrats to middle class

Key Historical

Events

SCIENTIFICADVANCEMENT

Benjamin Franklin-electricity;

Edward Jenner-perfect vaccinations

Key Historical

Events

INTELLECTUALLIFE

First publication of Encyclopedias

Key Historical

Events

INDUSTRIALREVOLUTION

Important inventions: steam engine, spinning jenny, cotton gin

Key Historical

Events

AMERICANREVOLUTION

Freedom from Britain.

1776-Declaration of Independence

1. Lyrical melodies – elegant and lyrical, easy to sing, very clear2. Balance and Symmetry3. Diatonic harmony – rooted in a specific key4. Rhythm regularity – strong steady tempos

Patronage – support, encouragement, privilege or

financial aid that an organization or individual bestows to another

Musicians under the patronage system were similar to servants (may sound bad, but most people were servants to some ruler during this time)

Musicians would work for a patron. Would write music for any event they needed music for.

They would be paid for their skills This provided economic security to musicians

PATRONAGE SYSTEM

An extended musical composition scored for

orchestra Has 4 parts. Each part is called a movement.

Movement 1 – Upbeat, fast Movement 2 – slow Movement 3 – Minuet and Trio (Dance) Movement 4 – Fast

The symphony became very popular during Classical time period

Classical Symphony

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

Classical Composers

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

“People make a mistake who think

that my art has come easily to me.

Nobody has devoted so much time and thought to composition as I. There is not a famous master

whose music I have not studied over

and over.”

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

• Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart – full name

• Born in Salzburg, Austria.• Father was Leopold Mozart (violinist). • Extremely gifted child!• Composed “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” at age 4• Performed for royalty at age 6• Went on concert tour (Paris, London, and Munich) at

age 7• By age 13, he had written sonatas, concertos,

symphonies, religious works and several operas.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Unique talents• Very few rough drafts of his music exist• He would hear the music in his head and write it

down without having to make many changes.

“Though it be long, the work is complete and finished in my mind. I take out of the bag of my memory what has previously been collected into it. For this reason the committing to paper is done quickly enough.”

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

• Very spirited and STUBBORN• Did NOT work well under the patronage system• He once had a very wealthy and famous patron but

he had a very poor relationship with him• He did not like having to take orders• His patron dismissed him.

This opened the door for him to become a freelance musician.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

• At 25 years old, he was on his own.• He had a very difficult remaining life• He never received another good paying job• He spent much of his time composing for different

dances which were way below his level of genius

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

• He died shortly before his 36th birthday.• His death has spurred many scientific theories.

Some believe he had a fever. Some say heart disease. Most recently, they believe he died from trichinosis, which is a disease you catch from eating undercooked pork.

• No one knows for sure because they do not know where the remains of his body are.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

• More than 600 works• This is a lot considering he died at age 36

• Famous works1. Eine Kleine Nachtmusik

(A Little Night Music)2. Don Giovanni3. The Magic Flute4. The Marriage of Figaro

Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)

Born in Austria Beautiful singing voice as a child

which landed him a place as a choirboy at St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna

Was a choirboy until 16 year old and his voice changed

Then began to make a living by teaching and accompanying

At age 29, began working for a patron

Worked GREAT under patronage system. Stayed with the same family for 30 years

Became a very famous musician during his life

Surprise Symphony

Ludwig van Beethoven

• Born in Bonn, Germany

• Bad family life• Alcoholic father• He was forced to

take care of his family and 2 younger brothers

• Age 11, played organ in the court chapel

Ludwig van Beethoven

• Age 17, he was given the opportunity to go to Vienna where he played for Mozart.• “Keep an eye on

him ---he will make a noise in the world some day.” –Mozart

• He worked under a modified patronage system. Not attached to one specific court

• The first decade of his career was excellent!

Ludwig van Beethoven

• In his late 20s, he began to lose his hearing.

• This was shattering to his pride.• “How could I possibly admit

an infirmity in the one sense that should have been more perfect in me than in others. A sense I once possessed in highest perfection. Oh, I cannot do it!”

• He described it as a sense of apartness from other people

Ludwig van Beethoven

• In 1802, the doctors advised him to retire and he did.

• Very depressing for him• “But little more and I

would have put an end to my life. Only art….withheld me.”

• He realized the music is what gave him happiness in life.

• He came out of retirement and began writing music again despite his hearing loss

Ludwig van Beethoven

• He did eventually go completely deaf.

• This still not stop him from writing music

• Many of his greatest works were written when he was completely deaf.

• He died at age 57, completely deaf.

Ludwig van Beethoven

• What caused his deafness?• We still have a lock of his hair

and much research has been conducted to see if a cause can be found.

• There were extremely high traces of lead content in his body.

• Possibly because the china and pots they would drink from had lead in them.

• Today, we know that lead toxicity can cause serious health problems, many that are the same Beethoven had

Ludwig van Beethoven

• His works• He wrote 9 symphonies• Best known symphonies are

Symphony No. 5 and Symphony No. 9• Symphony No. 9 was

written after he was completely deaf• This was the first

symphony to incorporate vocal music