THE CLASSICAL PERIOD (1750-1825) THE CLASSICAL PERIOD OF MUSIC 1) TIME OF GREAT MUSICAL EXPERIMENTATION AND DISCOVERY 2) CENTERS AROUND ACHIEVEMENTS OF VIENNESE SCHOOL A) HAYDN B) MOZART C) BEETHOVEN 3) THREE CHALLENGING PROBLEMS A) EXPLORE MAJOR-MINOR SYSTEM TO ITS FULLEST B) TO PERFECT A LARGE FORM OF ABSOLUTE INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC (THE SONATA CYCLE) C) TO DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN ITS (SONATA CYCLE) VARIOUS TYPES 1) SONATA 2) CONCERTO SYMPHONY 3) ELEMENTS OF THE CLASSICAL PERIOD 1) ELEGANT AND LYRICAL MELODIES A) ELEGANT AND LYRICAL MELODIES B) CLEAR-CUT CADENCES 2) THE HARMONIES THAT SUSTAINED THESE MELODIES A) FIRMLY ROOTED IN THE KEY RHYTHM 3) A) MUSIC WAS IN EITHER 2, 3, 4, OR 6/8 B) STAYED IN RHYTHMIC STYLE IT BEGAN WITH 4) FORM A) UNFOLDED
ESSAY ASSIGNMENT #5 Part I. The two giants of the baroque period were George Frideric Handel and Johann Sebastian Bach. Summarize what elements might be found in their music highlighted in the "Characteristics of Baroque Music" section. Including the following elements: Unity of Mood, Rhythm, Melody, Dynamics, Texture, and the Basso Continuo or Figured Bass. In the Baroque period the music consisted of one main mood throughout, if it begins with grief it will end with grief.
Sonata Form There is no perfect definition of sonata form. Sonata form came about to represent a piece of music that has no words to go with it. Also, the popular form of choosing two themes, repeating them, developing from them, and recapitulating those themes is whats given sonata form its name. Over the past 200+ years, sonata form has grown into this commonly used structure of music. Sonata form mainly focuses on the harmonic and thematic expression of music that sets the mood in the exposition.
They were still large productions with musical accompaniment. Another style that emerged during this time period was concerto. Music written in this style is ideally performed contrasting an ensemble and a soloist. A key feature of concerto, as well as the Baroque period in general, is the contrast between instruments, soloists, ensembles and musical elements. There were different forms of concerto as well.
The two arrangements are important in that it is a glimpse into the early developments of Baroque keyboard music. The two arrangements are both for the harpsichord, and shed light to the development of the Baroque style of keyboard music. While the music of each of these composers is different, they all share qualities that bind them together. The lute was a very popular instrument when the Baroque era began. It had a place in many ensembles and also as an accompanying instrument for pieces such as the Italian frottola.
Carl Philipp Emmanuel Bach was one of the most influential musicians of the Enlightenment. Trained by his father, J. S. Bach, he served on the Court of Frederick the Great, became musical director of five churches in Hamburg, and composed numerous oratorios, songs, symphonies, concertos and chamber music. It is in the second movement of the fourth of his Sechs Clavier-Sonaten fur Kenner und Liehaber (Six Clavier Sonatas for Connoisseurs and Amateurs) where the main characteristics of the empfindsam style are present. The empfindsam style, or sentimental style, is most closely associated with C. P. E. Bach. It is characterized by surprising turns of harmony, chromaticism, nervous rhythms, and free, speech like melody.
Outline the major musical development of the classical period and the main characteristics of the classical style. Main characteristics of the classical style: Contrast of mood - Mood in classical music may change gradually or suddenly. Masters like Haydn and Beethoven were able to impart unity and logic to music of wide emotional range. Rhythm - In Classical music, there is a flexibility of rhythm. A classical composition has a range of rhythmic patterns.
Gradual changes in dynamics. (Pg. 302 – 303).” Figure 1: a standard set up for a baroque orchestra from “http://dandanmusic.weebly.com” Figure 2: The typical arrangement of the early classical orchestra from “http://dandanmusic.weebly.com” Listening to Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 2, it is as lively a
For him a ‘symphony’ was defined as being a sounding together of instruments. Webern’s Symphony is made up of 2 movements; The first movement is Ruhig Schreitend or moving quietly and is loosely in sonata form. The second movement is in theme of variation made up of 1 theme and 7 variations and coda. Movement 2’s underlying process is perpetual variation. It reaches this continual variation by transformation of small motifs through changes in pitch, rhythm and tone colour.
Primarily the Sonata from can be looked as a innovation, or an advancement of binary form (A-B-A) which was common in French dance movements. “The origins of the ‘simultaneous returns are more complex. A return of the opening Music in the tonic was common following a ‘Trio’, and in the da capo aria, the Italian opera overture, the concerto and the simple aria. Sonata form transformed the division within the second part of rounded binary from into a return to the original theme in the tonic.” (Webster) Writing in a piece in Sonata Form for an 18th century composer it is important to remember there are not specific rules to this form, the structure that is