THE CLASSICAL PERIOD

1. THE CLASSICAL PERIOD Early 1700s- Early 1800s Katie Burns Ellery Spencer Cynthia Vlad

2. Histroical Events • Seven Years’ War (1756-1763) • The Enlightenment • Reign of Frederick the Great of Prussia (1740-1786) • Reign of George II of England (1760-1820) • American Revolution (1775-1783) • French Revolution (1789-1794)

3. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

4. Birth • born Salzburg, 27 January 1756 • Son of Leopold Mozart • Was the oldest son of the family • Grew up with one sister named Maria Anna

5. Life • He began with music at an early age • He started at the age of 5 composing songs • At age 6, Mozart performed for the Bavarian elector and Austrian empress

6. Life • In 1763 Leopold wanted to expose his children’s talents to the Europeans • The Mozart Family toured all over Europe performing in France and England • Where Mozart played for French and English royalties

7. Life • In 1770 to 1773, Mozart visit Italy about three times • There he composed and performed two of his operas (Mitridate and Lucio Silla) in Milan

8. Life • In the summer of 1773, returning to Vienna, Mozart wrote a set of string quartets • On his return, Mozart wrote a group of symphonies including nos. 25 in g Minor and 29 in A • In 1777, Leopold wanted his son to receive a position in the courts

9. Life • Therefore, Leopold sent Mozart and his mother to Munich and Mannheim looking for a court position. • When there was none, Mozart was sent to Paris • There he created Paris symphony nos. 31

10. Life • Later Mozart returned to Vienna where in 1779-1780, Mozart composed many sacred works, symphonies, concertos, serenades, and dramatic music. • In 1782, Mozart married Constanze Weber: Aloysia’s sister (who Mozart was very fond of at one point)

11. Reputation • In his earlier years, Mozart built his reputation by publishing his works, playing the piano, and composing operas like Die Entfuhrung aus dem Serail. • In the same time, Mozart also created a six string quartet which was dedicated to Haydn • Haydn told Leopold that Mozart was “the greatest composer known to me in person or by name; he has taste, and what is more, the greatest knowledge of composition”.

12. Life • In 1782, Mozart wanted to appear more as a composer/soloist • He ended up composing/performing 15 piano concertos before the end of 1786 • Mozart lived in Vienna for the rest of his life • Occasionally going on a journey to Prague to perform his opera La clemenza di Tito in 1791 and back to Vienna.

13. Death • Mozart died in Vienna, 5 December 1791 • Supposedly he was poisoned (not true) • Mozart actually died because of a feverish illness • Mozart was buried in a Vienna suburb

14. Franz Joseph Haydn

15. Birth • born Rohrau, 31 March 1732 • Son of a wheelwright • he grew up with sixteen brothers and sisters • Haydn was the second child of the family

16. Life • Haydn’s musical abilities happened early • When he was six years old, Haydn was sent away to Hainberg to study music, more in singing. • When Haydn was eight, Georg Reutter (the Kapellmeister of St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna) arranged for Haydn to become a chorister. • In the spring of 1740, Haydn moved to Vienna where he basically stayed the rest of his life.

17. Life • Haydn was trained as a choirboy in Vienna during the years from 1740 to 1750. • He then worked as a “freelance” musician, playing the violin and keyboard instruments. • In his earlier years, Haydn wrote instrumental music like symphonies and other pieces for concerts that were held twice a week.

18. Reputation • In 1780, Haydn’s reputation had begun to fly • He wrote lots of piano sonatas, piano trios, symphonies, and string quartets. • His influential op.33 quartets (published in 1782) were said to be “in a quite new, special manner”. • Other works that pushed his reputation included concertos and notturnos

19. Life • In 1791 to 1792, Haydn was invited to go to London by J.P.Salomon • There Haydn composed/performed his last 12 symphonies • When in London, Haydn performed for the English royal family • In 1792, Haydn went back to Vienna

20. Life • During his time, Haydn composed his most important work “The Creation” in which his joy in man, beast, nature, and his gratitude to God for his creation made his oratorio enjoyable. • It was then followed by “The Seasons” where it was similar to the “The Creation” except it was more in a series of episodes than a whole.

21. Death • Haydn died in Vienna, 31 May 1809 • Haydn was 77 years old when he died • He was widely remembered even when Beethoven came into the picture after him • Haydn was regarded as the father of the symphony and the string quartet • He brought to symphonies and string quartets a new intellectual weight • His closely “argued” style of development laid a foundation for other composers such as Beethoven.

22. Death • After his death, Haydn had become an inspiration for younger generations and for those who were considered unmusical. • Haydn was buried in the Bergkirchein Eisenstadt

23. Characteristics • Often short, repeated passages of two, three, or four measures • Passages were accompanied by simple harmonies • Noble simplicity • Balance • Perfection • Periodicity- frequent resting points break melodic flow into segments that relate to each other • Period- two or more phrases concluded by a cadence

24. Alberti bass • Used in keyboard music • Named after Italian composer DomenicoAlberti • Device broke each of the underlying chords into a simple repeated pattern of short notes that added to the background and set an advantage for the melody

25. Opera • Opera buffa- comic opera • Six or more singing characters • Sang throughout • Captured lives of the elite • Dramma giocoso- jesting drama • Dramma comico- comic drama • Commedia per musica- comedy in music • Intermezzo • performed as two or three segments between acts of a serious opera or play • Gave comic relief