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MUSIC APPRECIATIONClass #6
October 15, 2009
The “Classical” Period*
1750 – 1800
“C”lassical vs. “c”lassical
Herculaneum*
Principal Driving Thoughts* (The Classical Aesthetic)
Equality Balance
Symmetry Logic Restraint Form Clarity Simplicity
“The Age of Enlightenment”* Rationalism*
Education Secularism*
Religion < Science Utilitarianism*
Laws
“Enlightened Despotism”*
Habsburg Empire France
Marie Antoinette* Austria
Franz Josef II*"Everything for the people, nothing by the people."
Classical Philosophers
Rationalists* "I think, therefore I am."
Empiricalism* Science
“Tabula rasa”* Politics
Revolution
Education!
John Locke
"I think I may say that of all the men we meet with, nine parts of ten are what they are, good or evil, useful or not, by their education.“
Implications?
Change Improvement Questions
Writers
Francois-Marie Voltaire* Candide* (1759)
“The Best of All Possible Worlds” Political sarcasm Religious ridicule
Scandal! Banned!
The Middle Class
Income + Education leisure time
Available music public concerts, concert series
printing skill level
Music of The Classical periodFranz Josef Haydn* (1732-1809)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart*(1756-91)
Ludwig van Beethoven* (1/3?) (1770-1827)
Classical music “ideal”
UniversalEntertainingExpressiveSimplePleasingAccessible
Franz Josef Haydn (1732-1809)
“Papa” Haydn
Father of Classical Music Forms
Symphony*“Chamber Music”*
String Quartet* (83!)
Benevolent and generous
Form
Sonata* (“Sonata Allegro”)
1. Allegro2. Adagio (Andante)
(Optional 3rd movement: Allegro)
3. Allegro
Form within a form
Exposition*
Development*
Recapitulation*
Chamber Music*
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe*: “Four rational people in polite
conversation.”
“Chamber” = room
Musicians Two up to…
Amateurs* (?!) Difficulty level
“The Joke”
String Quartet Op. 33 No. 2 IV. Presto
Patronage System*
Civilian employmentGuaranteed income Artistic freedom
Esterhazy family castle (#1)
Employment
Composition Chamber Music Symphonies Opera Ballet
Rehearsals Performances Travel
Two representative selections “Surprise Symphony”
1791
“The Creation” 1798
“Surprise!”
The “London” Symphonies* 1791-1795
Orchestration Flute, Oboe, Bassoon French horn, Trumpet Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass Timpani
Theme and Variations*
Theme Two parts Simple Hummable Folk song?
Theme (2-parts)
1st part:
2nd part:
Variations
Four variations1. Ossia* (Countermelody)
Laughter?
2. Key changeC Major to c minor
3. RhythmFaster?
4. Tutti
“The Creation”*
Messiah performance “He (Handel) is the master of us all.”
Libretto* Genesis Psalms John Milton: Paradise Lost
Baron Gottfried von Swieten
Librarian Patron Translator
Editor? Producer
Inspiration
“I was never so devout as when I was at work on The Creation. I fell on my knees each day and begged God to give the strength to finish the work.”
Time line 1796-98
Premiere -- 1798
Schwarzenberg Palace Government Royalty Composers
Special police crowd control
120 instrumentalists and 60 singers
Performances
Success! London (English) Europe
Paris -- Napoleon Russia United States
Final Vienna performance
Composition
Soloists Soprano, Tenor, Bass
Chorus SATB*
Full Orchestra Harpsichord and fortepiano
Roles
Soprano Angel Gabriel Eve
Tenor Uriel (God of Light)
Bass Angel Raphael Adam
Chorus
Narrative End of each day Interaction with the characters
Tone Poem*
Fully orchestrated “Program Music” Symphonic Poem*
Orchestral prelude*
William Herschel Astronomer Composer
Nebular Hypothesis Chaos into order Darkness into light
Musical “creation”
Void Harmony Melody Dissonance
Order Unique Harmonies Dynamics Instrumental combinations
Angel Raphael (track #4)
And God made the firmament, And divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were able the firmament: and it was so.
Then howling winds raged the blast of the tempest;The clouds then were driven like chaff in the wind,The lightnings slashed the heavens asunder,And crashing thunder resounded on high.From waters rose at His command the all-refreshing
rain, the devastating hail, the light and flaky snow.
Uriel (track #12)
And God said, “let there be lights in the firmament of heaven to divide the day from the night, to give their light upon the earth; and let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and for years. He made the stars also.
Uriel
In shining splendor, radiant now the sun bestrides the sky; a wondrous, joyful bridegroom, a giant proud and glad, he runs his ordered course. With softer steps and wistful shimmer, steals the moon through still enshadowed night. The boundless vaults of heaven’s domain shine with unnumbered magnitude of stars. And the sons of God rejoiced in the fourth day in chorus divine, praising God’s great might, and saying:
Later life…
Austria/Hungarian National Anthem String Quartet in C Major Op. 76 No. 3
"Kaiser“ 2. Poco adagio: cantabile
Friendships and students Mozart Beethoven
CD #1, track 12
“London Symphony” Menuetto: Allegretto
Listen for…
Simple, strong rhythm Dynamic contrast Exposition/Development/ Recapitulation
Carl Ditters von Dittersdorf 1739-99
Musical style
German structure* Italian melody* Very little development* Almost no le style français*
ornamentation
Musical fantasy!
String Quartet Violin 1: Haydn Violin 2: von Dittersdorf Viola: Mozart Cello: Johann Baptist Vanhal
Recorded by Michael Kelly (1762-1826)
CD 1, track #13
Listen for… Simple melody Minimal ornamentation Continual “exposition” with almost no
development or Recapitulation
