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Questions and Answers
Which styles of music do not generally fit under the term 'classical music'?
Which styles of music do not generally fit under the term 'classical music'?
- Jazz
- Rock
- Popular music
- All of the above (correct)
The term 'classical' specifically refers to the style of music from which centuries?
The term 'classical' specifically refers to the style of music from which centuries?
18th and early 19th centuries
What type of history does the term 'classical' refer to during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries in Europe?
What type of history does the term 'classical' refer to during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries in Europe?
Art history
What are the two important elements of music and art during the Classical period?
What are the two important elements of music and art during the Classical period?
One of the criteria of music in the Classical era was that it needed to be universal. Explain.
One of the criteria of music in the Classical era was that it needed to be universal. Explain.
What type of people did music in the Classical period need to appeal to?
What type of people did music in the Classical period need to appeal to?
Who were the three main composers of the Classical period?
Who were the three main composers of the Classical period?
What is meant by the term 'emancipation' of composers?
What is meant by the term 'emancipation' of composers?
Of the three major composers in the Classical period, which of the three was most successful in freeing himself from patronage?
Of the three major composers in the Classical period, which of the three was most successful in freeing himself from patronage?
Which of the three composers of the Classical era died in poverty?
Which of the three composers of the Classical era died in poverty?
Who favored comic opera?
Who favored comic opera?
What is the term for Italian comic opera?
What is the term for Italian comic opera?
Who believed they had a monopoly on opera?
Who believed they had a monopoly on opera?
Who was the leader of the group in favor of Italian comic opera?
Who was the leader of the group in favor of Italian comic opera?
Who opposed comic opera?
Who opposed comic opera?
Who is the composer of 'La Serva Padrona'?
Who is the composer of 'La Serva Padrona'?
Who was the leader of the group in favor of French opera?
Who was the leader of the group in favor of French opera?
Who was considered to be a great opera composer?
Who was considered to be a great opera composer?
Traditional French _____ opera
Traditional French _____ opera
Who was an important composer of eighteenth-century opera?
Who was an important composer of eighteenth-century opera?
What is a synonym for rising middle class?
What is a synonym for rising middle class?
Opera began in the ______ Period
Opera began in the ______ Period
The _______ Soothsayer
The _______ Soothsayer
What is the name of the 1752 comic opera?
What is the name of the 1752 comic opera?
What elements did Gluck combine with French opera?
What elements did Gluck combine with French opera?
Who is the composer of the short comic opera called 'Le Devin du Village'?
Who is the composer of the short comic opera called 'Le Devin du Village'?
In France, what was opera considered as?
In France, what was opera considered as?
Who comprised the wealthy and the nobility?
Who comprised the wealthy and the nobility?
Not a real war, but a war of _____
Not a real war, but a war of _____
What is the term for the war of __________?
What is the term for the war of __________?
Which group believed that serious opera was the only viable art form?
Which group believed that serious opera was the only viable art form?
Where was Franz Joseph Haydn born in 1732?
Where was Franz Joseph Haydn born in 1732?
Was Haydn's father a musician? If not, what line of work was he in?
Was Haydn's father a musician? If not, what line of work was he in?
Where did Haydn begin his musical career?
Where did Haydn begin his musical career?
What happened at the age of 16 that ended his chorister career?
What happened at the age of 16 that ended his chorister career?
How did Haydn make his living in his early years?
How did Haydn make his living in his early years?
How would Haydn's background during his early years affect his compositions in later life?
How would Haydn's background during his early years affect his compositions in later life?
What was the name of the family to which Haydn attached himself in 1761?
What was the name of the family to which Haydn attached himself in 1761?
What was the quality of the musicians who were acquired by the Esterhazys'?
What was the quality of the musicians who were acquired by the Esterhazys'?
What event precipitated the release of Haydn from the Esterhazys' service?
What event precipitated the release of Haydn from the Esterhazys' service?
What country did Haydn travel to twice - once in 1791 and again in 1794?
What country did Haydn travel to twice - once in 1791 and again in 1794?
Where was Mozart born?
Where was Mozart born?
Who was Mozart's father, and what was his position?
Who was Mozart's father, and what was his position?
At what age did Mozart begin his musical career?
At what age did Mozart begin his musical career?
Name five types of musical pieces Mozart had written by age 13.
Name five types of musical pieces Mozart had written by age 13.
Instead of under the patronage system, how did Mozart want to work?
Instead of under the patronage system, how did Mozart want to work?
From whom did Mozart receive an appointment in Vienna?
From whom did Mozart receive an appointment in Vienna?
How did Mozart break free from his father?
How did Mozart break free from his father?
How did this break hurt Mozart?
How did this break hurt Mozart?
Why wasn't Mozart employed more by the aristocracy to compose music?
Why wasn't Mozart employed more by the aristocracy to compose music?
When Mozart died, what was his station in life?
When Mozart died, what was his station in life?
Who was born in 1770 in the city of Bonn, Germany?
Who was born in 1770 in the city of Bonn, Germany?
What is this area of Germany often referred to as?
What is this area of Germany often referred to as?
What did Beethoven's father and grandfather do?
What did Beethoven's father and grandfather do?
At age 11, what was Beethoven's job?
At age 11, what was Beethoven's job?
At age 12, what was Beethoven's new job?
At age 12, what was Beethoven's new job?
Who said this about Beethoven: 'Keep an eye on him - he will make a noise in the world someday'?
Who said this about Beethoven: 'Keep an eye on him - he will make a noise in the world someday'?
Why did Haydn not particularly care for Beethoven?
Why did Haydn not particularly care for Beethoven?
What development during Beethoven's life enabled his music to be performed and heard throughout Europe?
What development during Beethoven's life enabled his music to be performed and heard throughout Europe?
When Beethoven was in his late twenties, what dreadful curse afflicted him?
When Beethoven was in his late twenties, what dreadful curse afflicted him?
Following Beethoven's death, why did composers still look to his compositions?
Following Beethoven's death, why did composers still look to his compositions?
Study Notes
Classical Music Overview
- Jazz, rock, and popular music are distinct from classical music.
- "Classical" music refers to styles from the 18th and early 19th centuries.
- Classical refers to a specific art history within the 18th and 19th centuries in Europe.
- Two key elements in music and art during this period are balance and clarity of structure.
Characteristics of Classical Music
- Music aimed to have a universal appeal, transcending regional boundaries.
- The audience for Classical music included people from all walks of life.
- Major composers from the Classical period include Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven.
Composers and Patronage
- "Emancipation" of composers refers to their freedom to create without external constraints.
- Beethoven was notably successful in establishing independence from patronage, unlike Mozart, who died in poverty.
Opera in the Classical Period
- Encyclopedists favored comic opera, known as opera buffa in Italian.
- Italians believed their style monopolized opera composition.
- The movement for Italian comic opera was led by the Queen, while Madame de Pompadour opposed it.
- Pergolesi composed the famous comic opera La Serva Padrona.
- The King championed French opera, whereas serious opera was regarded as the sole viable art form by the French.
Biographical Highlights of Key Composers
- Franz Joseph Haydn was born in Rohrau, Austria, in 1732; his father was a wheelwright, not a musician.
- Haydn began his musical career at St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna and faced challenges due to his voice changing at age 16.
- During his early years, he supplemented his income by joining bands and later incorporated Austrian folk tunes into his compositions.
- He served the Esterhazy family from 1761, acquiring top musicians, and was released after the prince's death.
- He visited England twice in 1791 and 1794.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
- Mozart was born in Salzburg, Austria, and his father Leopold was a notable composer and violinist.
- He started his musical career before turning five and composed various forms by age 13, including sonatas and operas.
- Mozart aspired to work freelance rather than rely on the patronage system and received an appointment from Emperor Joseph II in Vienna.
- His marriage caused a rift with his father, leading to financial independence but also strain.
- When Mozart passed away, he was largely unrecognized and in financial distress.
Ludwig van Beethoven
- Beethoven was born in Bonn, Germany, in 1770 and hailed from a musical family, with both grandfather and father serving as court singers.
- He began as an assistant organist at age 11 and became a harpsichordist by age 12.
- Mozart recognized Beethoven's potential, advising others to watch him closely.
- Beethoven had a tumultuous relationship with Haydn due to his intense personality and independence.
- The development of music publishing during Beethoven's lifetime allowed for wider distribution of his works.
- Beethoven tragically began losing his hearing in his late twenties, which significantly impacted his ability to compose.
- Following his death, Beethoven set a high standard for excellence that influenced future composers.
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Description
Test your knowledge about the various styles of music that do not fall under the classical category, as well as the historical context of classical music. This quiz covers the definitions and time frames associated with classical music and art history during the 18th and early 19th centuries.
