The Classic Era

1750-1820

Age of Elegance

In this time things were not as “fussy” with lots and lots of details. Music was simpler. The form (or plan) for music was very symmetrical. The idea of everything being balanced was very important. Audiences at concerts knew what to expect in the music they were listening to.

Age of Elegance

• The “Form” or pattern of music was very important

– There were very strict rules for composers

– The idea of balance was the rule

• Phrases would have equal numbers of measures

• Sections of pieces would be equally long

Patronage System

• Royalty and the very rich would have their own personal orchestras, musicians and composers. They hired musicians full time to live at their estates and work for them.

• Prince Esterhazy - Haydn’s patron

Franz Joseph Haydn

• 1732-1809 (lived to be 77)

• Nickname - “Papa” Haydn

• Very religious man

• Lots of instrumental music

• Oratorios (religious)

• He had a strong sense

of humor and used it in his

music.

The “Surprise Symphony”

People would go to concerts that would last for hours. Haydn wrote this work as a way to play a joke on the audience. It starts off very gently and softly and then all of a sudden has a big, extremely loud chord, designed to startle the audience and make them jump. The next short video talks about the very first time this work was ever done.

The next video is a performance by a small orchestra (called a chamber orchestra) of the “surprise” part of the symphony. The “surprise” moment happens about 40 seconds into the performance. With this small group, it is not quite as big a “jump” as it is with a large orchestra. See if you can identify the moment.

The “Farewell” Symphony

Prince Esterhazy had more than one castle, scattered around the country. Whenever he traveled to stay in a different castle, Haydn and the orchestra musicians would go with him. This means that they would be away from their families. Once he stayed in one of the castles for a particularly long time and the musicians all wanted to go home. Haydn wrote this piece as a way to hint that it was time for the Prince to go back to the main castle. Watch this 7 minute section, to see how the musicians walk off the stage one by one. The Prince understood, and made the move.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart• 1755-1809 - He only lived to

be 35 years old

• Child prodigy – this means that he was unusually talented even when he was little. His father tried to use Wolfgang and his sister as an act to make money.

• The movie “Amadeus” was made about his life.

• His full name was –

Johannes ChrysostomusWolfgangus TheophillusAmadeus Gottlieb SigismundusMozart

• This short 3 minute video talks about Wolfgang’s life and shows many drawings and paintings of him with different scenes of his life.

“A Little Night Music”

Mozart wrote music for voices, for instrumental solos, for instrumental groups, for operas, for church use. When you look at the original pages that he wrote, what is unusual is that he never erased or crossed anything out. He wrote everything down perfectly on the very first try –no mistakes. This next piece was named “EineKleine Nachtmusik” (A little night music). It is still performed all over the world today.

“Marriage of Figaro”

This is an opera that Mozart wrote. It tells the story of Figaro and the woman he is going to marry. Life gets very confusing as other people get involved in messing up their romance. It leads to a complicated, funny story of people trying to disguise themselves to trick each other. You will probably recognize the next music you hear from the beginning of the opera.

Mozart spent all the money he earned and borrowed more. He had a wife and child to support as well. When he died, he was too poor to even have his own grave. He was buried in a “pauper’s grave” – a big grave that held many bodies. No one knows exactly why he died. One theory is that he was poisoned. The last thing he ever composed was a “Requiem” –music for a funeral.

Ludwig Van Beethoven

• 1770-1827 (lived to be 57)

• His deafness developed over time. He could still compose because he could remember and imagine the notes and the sounds, sort of like you can “hear” your favorite song in your head if you think about it.

The next 3 minute video is about Beethoven’s life and has paintings and drawings done of him at different stages in his life.

Beethoven was known for breaking the ‘rules’ of music writing when he composed. One of his symphonies, #5, is one that everyone will recognize after hearing only the first 4 notes. He made this 4 note pattern the main theme of the whole musical piece.

As you listen to this, the video will show images of Beethoven beginning in his childhood and ending in his adult life.

Now hear the same part of Beethoven’s 5th Symphony done by the heavy metal rock group Metallica. Beethoven would probably have loved this. He was always looking for new ways to do things.

Heavy Metal meets Beethoven

“Moonlight” Sonata

This is a piano solo, that is supposed to give the listener an image of moonlight. Watch the player’s hands. The left hand plays the low notes. The right hand plays middle part harmonies. You can see the little finger of the right hand do all of the melody work starting at about 25 seconds into the piece. You might recognize this piece.

Fur Elise (For Elise)

No one knows who the Elise was that Beethoven wrote this piano piece for. He never married, and people wonder if this was for one of the women he might have loved. The green shows the right hand notes, the blue shows the left hand notes. Almost everyone who has had a couple years of piano lessons has played this melody.

The Metronome

This machine was invented for Beethoven. He wanted his music to be played at particular speeds and this machine demonstrates speeds translated into beats per minute. For example 90 MM means 90 beats per minute. Here is a video of a metronome playing.

Ode to Joy

Beethoven broke the rules by having a choir sing in the last movement (section) of his 9th symphony. The German melody that they sing is called “Ode to Joy”. You will recognize this melody, especially if you have ever taken instrument lessons. Here it is being done by the Muppets.

Ode to Joy

Hear is the “real” way this song was meant to be performed. The next video has the part of the performance using the choir and the orchestra.

Important Eventsin the World

And

Important People

At This Time

1773 Boston Tea Party

United States

Revolutionary war

George Washington

1778 – Hawaii Discovered

1809 Braille Invented

1814 – Star Spangled Banner Written