The Classical Period

Transcription

1 The Classical Period

2 The Classical Period Listen to the following excerpt of music from the Classical Period. In groups, answer the following 2 Questions: Describe what you hear in the music. Think about Instruments and how they are played Dynamics Tempo etc. How does the excerpt differ compared to the music we heard from the Baroque Period?

3 The Classical Period The term Classical Music is often used to describe music that is not rock or pop music. However, when musicians talk about Classical music, it is usually to define a style of music. The transition from the Baroque period was an evolution and not a clean break

4 From Baroque to Classical The Orchestra GROWS with the woodwind section in particular gaining importance The texture is now mainly HOMOPHONIC Melodies became more graceful and beautiful. Richer variety of contrasting melodies, rhythms, keys and dynamics The Piano takes a main role.

5 MELODY RHYTHM TEXTURE TIMBRE DYNAMICS FORM COMPOSERS Characteristics of the Classical Style Short and clearly defined musical phrases with 2 or more contrasting themes. Clearly marked cadences Very defined and regular Mostly homophonic one melody line with accomp. Using notes of the chord. In piano music Alberti bass is used. Symphony orchestra arranged in 4 sections, clarinet used. Harpsichord is rarely used. Piano in use but not normally in orchestral music unless as a solo instrument in a concerto. Greater range of dynamics, use of crescendo and sforzando. Sections clearly defined In Vocal music: scared Mass and Oratorio Secular Opera and song Chamber music trios, quartets, quintets, etc. String quartet developed during this period. Sonata solo piece for piano or for solo instrument with piano accomp. Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert

6 Important Composers of the era Mozart ( ) Austria Haydn ( ) Austria Beethoven ( ) Germany

7 The Piano During the classical period the PIANO replaced the harpsichord in much of the music. DYNAMICS, LEGATO and STACCATO could now be used in keyboard music for the first time.

8 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Born in Salzburg in 1756, Mozart, who played both the violin and piano, was one of the greatest and most influential composers of the Classical period. Mozart started to write music when he was only 5 years old! He composed over 600 pieces in his lifetime, including concertos, symphonies, operas and chamber works. He died in December 1791, not long after the successful premier of his final opera, The Magic Flute The Magic Flute - The Queen of The Night The singer in this example uses SYLLABIC and MELISMATIC word setting. What is the difference between these concepts?

9 Alberti Bass A style of accompaniment which was very popular in the Classical period. Listen to SONATA in C by W.A. Mozart (The left hand accompaniment looks like this) Broken chords are played by the left hand to outline the harmonies whilst the right hand plays the melody.

10 Listen to again to this Sonata by Mozart and identify FOUR features that you hear in the music: SEQUENCES TRILL GROUND BASS CONCERTO COMPOUND TIME SIMPLE TIME MAJOR MINOR

11 String Quartet This was a piece of chamber music written for 4 stringed instruments. Watch the following String Quartet by Mozart and comment upon the following: - TEMPO - TEXTURE - DYNAMICS - MELODIC, HARMONIC & RHYTHMIC TECHNIQUES Mozart - String Quartet in D Minor

12 Joseph Haydn Joseph Haydn, born in Rohrau Austria, in 1732, had a musical career spanning over 60 years. He played a big part in the development of both the symphony (he composed 104 of these!) and the string quartet (he wrote 68) and was one of the first composers to have such works performed in concert halls. Haydn - String Quartet - 'The Lark' Movement 2 1. What Italian word would you use to describe the tempo of this piece? 2. What Italian word would you use to describe the way in which the strings instruments are being played?

13 Listen to this String Quartet composed by Haydn and answer the following questions: 1.Are the strings playing mainly in unison/octaves or in harmony? 2.Is the music primarily Homophonic or Polyphonic? 3. Are the strings being played Arco or Pizzicato?

14 REVISION BREAK!

15 Beethoven Beethoven (who was deaf!) was born in Germany in A composer who lived in both the classical and romantic periods, Beethoven was greatly influenced by the music of both Haydn and Mozart, however he strived to stretch the bounds of music to new limits. Beethoven was the main composer who saw the transition from Classical to Romantic Listen to the Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven and identify FOUR concepts you hear in the music. Choose from the following: MINOR MAJOR ALBERTI BASS BROKEN CHORDS PIANO HARPSICHORD COMPOUND TIME SIMPLE TIME

16 The Classical Orchestra The woodwind took their place as a proper section, (usually combined in pairs). The use of a pair of horns gradually replaced the continuo, filling out the texture of the orchestra. The clarinet was also added to the orchestra.

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18 The Concerto This is a piece for SOLO instrument with orchestral ACCOMPANIMENT. The music for this has 3 movements. Mozart - Clarinet Concerto - Adagio Cadenza Usually at the end of the 1 st movements the orchestra stops and the soloist has a chance to show off, CADENZA

19 The Symphony Usually has 3 movements, (FAST-SLOW-FAST) but towards the end of the Classical period, another movement was introduced. Played by all four sections of the orchestra. Beethoven - Symphony No.1 Listen to this symphony composed by Mozart and select FOUR concepts you hear in the music: Major Minor Adagio Allegro Arco Pizzicato Alberti Bass Chromatic movement

20 Layout of the Classical Symphony First Movement Second Movement Third Movement Usually Fast and in SONATA FORM Slower, often in TERNARY FORM Often MINUET & TRIO Fourth Movement Fast tempo, light hearted. RONDO FORM

21 Binary Form Music which has two different sections Ternary Form Music which has two different sections, however the B part is sandwiched between two A sections

22 Rondo Form A form where the first section (A) comes back between contrasting sections Listen to this piece by Mozart and answer the following questions: 1. Is this an example of a symphony or a concerto? 2. Identify the solo brass instrument. 3. Identify the time signature: 4/4 6/8 3/4

23 Minuet and Trio The minuet is a graceful French dance with 3 beats in a bar. The trio is a contrasting minuet after which the first minuet is repeated. This is rather like ternary form. Listen to Haydn - Symphony No.8 - Minuet and Trio and comment upon the following: - TEMPO - TEXTURE - DYNAMICS - MELODIC, HARMONIC & RHYTHMIC TECHNIQUES

24 Theme and Variation In this form the composer presents a melody called the THEME It is then built up by repeating the theme but varying it each time and altering it. There are many ways a theme can be varied. 1. Decorating with ornaments. 2. Change of tonality. 3. Imitation between parts. 4. Inversion, augmentation, diminution.. 5. Changing accompaniment. 6. Adding to the existing melody. 7. Doubling the notes.

25 REVISION BREAK!

26 Literacy (a) Name the key of this excerpt (b) Insert the time signature in the correct place. (c) State the bar number where an ascending sequence begins (d) Write an Italian term at the correct place to indicate the tempo. (e) Complete bar 3 by inserting the missing notes.

27 Listen to the following extract of music and insert the appropriate concepts into the sentences below to describe what you hear. This extract is in... time This excerpt is from a.. The solo instrument heard is a.