Classical Music Reviewer (2nd Quarter) PDF

Lesson 1: Classical Music ★​ INTRODUCTION -​ Music saw several changes during the Classical period. Composers began embracing more and more structure in their music forms while seeking to break free from the highly ornamental yet emotional music of the s...

Lesson 1: Classical Music ★​ INTRODUCTION -​ Music saw several changes during the Classical period. Composers began embracing more and more structure in their music forms while seeking to break free from the highly ornamental yet emotional music of the several eras of music. -​ Before the classical style existed, it transitioned from Baroque to Classical. ➔​ Baroque Period -​ This era is considered non-religious, impartial, logical, respectful of human welfare, and universal. The music created today reflects all of these characteristics. ❖​ Classical -​ took place roughly from 1750-1820 -​ This consequently became a composition of identity and recognition. Their wealth allowed them to hire artists and musicians for purposes of amusement, inspiration, and entertainment. ​Characteristics -​ Having contrasts in a mood -​ Various rhythmic patterns as a result of sudden pauses, syncopations (a variety of rhythms that play together, and changes in notes) -​ Commonly composed of two different phrases of the same length -​ Melody is symmetrically balanced. ★​ Composers of this period such as Franz Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Ludwig van Beethoven expressed different shades of emotion through the use of crescendos(a gradual increase) and diminuendos(or, decrescendo, gradually reducing in force or loudness). It may also have a complex harmony or multiple melodies occurring at the same time. ➔​ Musical Styles 1.​ ROCOCO STYLE -​ this style was developed in France and is also known as the style Galant. Composers of this style were Francois Couperin, Jean-Philippe Rameau, and Georg Philipp Telemann. (FJG) ​Characteristics of Rococo Style  -​ Simple, elegant, and profusely -​ Delicately ornamented -​ Less counterpoint and relies mainly on ornamentation(the embellishment of a melody, either by adding notes or by modifying rhythms.) for impression or impact. 2.​ EMPFINDSAMER STIL -​ the style Galant became popular in Germany and it was called Empfindsamer stil but it is more enhanced and intensified expressiveness. -​ The style has a heightened emotional quality and it is used by the two sons of Johann Sebastian Bach – Wilhelm Friedemann Bach and Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach 3.​ PRECLASSICAL STYLE -​ this style is characterized by changes in concepts of form, style, and the medium used in the previous period. During this stage, there were fusions of styles employed during the Baroque, Pre-classical, and Classical periods. ➔​ Musical Elements of Classical Music -​ Homophonic texture -​ A lot simpler harmony primary chords-tonic (I)(start), subdominant harmony (IV)(placed at the first space of a staff and is a transition of tonic to dominant), and dominant(V)(second space) -​ Formal and simple yet elegant melody -​ Uses, crescendo and decrescendo -​ Defined and regular rhythm -​ Musical form was clearly defined ​ ABA structure/Ternary melody  -​ used which has two basic melodies commonly (Melody A- Verse, Melody B- Chorus) MUSICAL COMPOSERS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC -​ Most of the best-known composers of classical music worked during the last 600 years in the Western tradition. -​ They differed in style, skill, innovation, and popularity, and nothing incites more heated debate among classical music scholars and fans than determining which of these composers is the most essential. 1.​ CRISTOPH WILLIBALD RITTER VON GLUCK -​ Known as the master of opera and opera reform. -​ He was born in Erasbach, Germany on July 2. 1714, and he was the eldest among the six surviving children of Alexander Johannes and Maria Walburga. -​ He wrote eight operas intended to be performed in the theaters of many artist cities like Venice, Milan, Bologna, and Turin. (VMBT- Very Much Boppin’ Tonight) ​Famous Works: -​ Iphigenie en Tauride -​ Orfeo ed Euridice and Alceste -​ De profundis clamavi -​ Alma sedes -​ Klopstocks 2.​ LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN -​ He was acknowledged as one of the giants of classical music -​ He was born in Bonn, Germany on December 16, 1770. -​ He was first trained musically by his father. -​ Beethoven's other teachers were Franz Rovantini who instructed him in violin and viola and Tobias Friedrich Pfeiffer who taught him the piano. -​ Christian Gottlob Neefe, his most important teacher, taught him to write compositions. -​ A revered figure who was admired by everyone -​ By age 44(but some info says mid-20s), he got deaf and it got worse until he died. By age 45, Beethoven lost his public life, allowing only select friends to visit him and becoming a private, insular person. ​Three distinct Styles:(VSF)  ★​ Vienna Years ★​ Second Period ★​ Final Years ​ Examples: -​ Egmont, Op. 84 Overture -​ Violin Romance No. 1 in G Major, Op.40 -​ Bagatelle in A Minor "Fur Elise" -​ Piano Concerto No.2 in B-flat Major, Op. 19 -​ Symphony No. 5 In C Minor, Op. 67 -​ Symphony No. 6 in F Major, Op. 68 "Pastoral" -​ March of the Turks, Op. 113 -​ Sonata in C Sharp Minor, Op. 27/2 "Moonlight" 3.​ FRANZ JOSEPH HAYDN -​ He is one of the most prolific and prominent composers of the Classical period. -​ He was born on March 31, 1732. -​ His parents could not read music but supported him in his musical career by sending him to their relative Johann Matthias Frankh, a schoolmaster and a choirmaster in Hainburg. -​ Haydn also served as Kapellmeister or music director leading a small orchestra of Count Morzin in Bohemia. -​ He is also the "Father of Symphony" and "Father of the String Quartet." -​ Teacher of Mozart and Beethoven -​ He was more on chamber music(symphony and string quartet are examples; few people played opposite to orchestral music) ​Famous Works: -​ The Creation and The Seasons -​ Trumpet Concerto in E-flat Major -​ Fifths, Emperor, and Sunrise quartets -​ Symphony No. 94 in G Major-The Surprise Symphony(S94-SUR) -​ Symphony No. 100-The Military Symphony(S100-M) -​ Symphony No. 101-The Clock Symphony(S101-C) -​ Symphony Nos. 82-87 Symphonies The Paris(Ss82-87-P)  -​ Symphony Nos. 93-104 Symphonies The London (Ss93-104-L) 4.​ WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART -​ A child prodigy and an influential composer of the Classical period baptized as Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart in Latinized form. -​ He was born in Salzburg. Austria on January 27, 1756, and he was the youngest among seven children. -​ He was considered one of the world's greatest musical geniuses because, at the age of 3, he began to play tunes on the harpsichord which he had just heard. -​ Already competent on keyboard and violin, he composed from the age of five and performed before European royalty, embarking on a grand tour. ​Famous Works: -​ The Abduction from the Seraglio -​ The Marriage of Figaro -​ Don Giovanni -​ Cosi fan Tutte -​ The Magic Flute ❖​SONATA -​ It is a type of musical composition played on instruments that usually consists of two or four sections where each is in a related key but with a unique musical character. -​ It pertains to a music composition that is expressed using one or two instruments. Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata is an example. ​STRUCTURE OF A SONATA ALLEGRO FORM A.​ Exposition -​ It is like an introduction to an essay. -​ It introduces the main theme in a composition. B.​ Development -​ Expands on the theme introduced in the exposition. -​ It allows the composer to improvise or move to other key tonalities and themes. -​ It concludes back in the original key. C.​ Recapitulation  -​ It is where the composer settles back to the home key and represents the original themes. -​ It comes with a coda, which is a small section to bring the work to a close. SYMPHONY AND CONCERTO ❖​ SYMPHONY -​ An extended composition usually comprising 4 movements -​ The first and last usually are lively, and fast. -​ The second movement is usually slow. -​ The third can be some different forms and speeds. ❖​ CONCERTO -​ Usually in 3 movements– fast, slow, fast and it features a solo instrument.