Unit Summary
Classical Music
A common beginning date for the Classical period is 1750 (the death of J. S. Bach), but this date is a bit too late. Important developments were already taking place as early as 1725. The ending date is usually given as about 1820, which coincides with the late music of Beethoven. In fact, significant elements of the classical style extend well into the 19th century. The period featured a simplification of harmonic language, and the abandonment of the complex contrapuntal forms of late Baroque. The emphasis on balance, order, clarity, and simplicity of expression in music was paralleled in architecture and painting as well. The term "Neo-Classical" is customarily applied to the visual arts during this period.
Major Developments
- The development of a public concert life, principally the opera and orchestra concerts. Aristocratic patronage continued to play an important role in these semi-public activities.
- The decline of complex art music in the Protestant church.
- Elaborate Masses for orchestra, soloist, and chorus were used principally for ceremonial occasions.
- The string quartet replaces the trio sonata as the principal form of chamber music.
- The symphony and solo concerto, especially those for piano and violin become important musical forms for the orchestra.
- The opera is the principal form of vocal music.
Classical instruments to know by sight and sound
- Wind instruments
- clarinet (new!)
- flute (replaces recorder)
- oboe
- bassoon
- horn (natural)
- trumpet (natural)
- trombone (some)
- Percussion
- Keyboard instruments
- organ
- piano (new and important)
- harpsichord (gradually disappearing)
- String instruments
- violin
- viola
- cello
- string bass
Some important composers
- Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809). Haydn's life almost spans the entire period. He is the key personality in bringing the symphony and string quartet to a high level of maturity. He also composed some concertos, many operas, masses, keyboard sonatas, and many other forms of instrumental chamber music.
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791). One of the supreme geniuses in music history. His operas are the earliest to remain in the standard repertory of international opera houses, and he pioneered the development of the piano concerto. He also wrote important works in virtually every type of instrumental music.
- Christoph Willibald (von) Gluck (1714-1787). Gluck was important in the development of a new style of opera, further developed by Mozart. His reputation has suffered a decline since the mid-nineteenth century.
- Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827). Although we will study him more in the next unit, much of his music clearly belongs to the classical tradition.
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