Classical Music

Classical MusicThe Classic era lasted from 17501825. Music of this period is characterized by clarity, balance, and restraint. The composers tried to create music with a universal appeal that was not mentally taxing to listeners. Form increasingly gained importance, and melodies were often based on folk songs or folk dance rhythms. Symmetry of phrases and a variety of rhythms that lead into one another is typical of Classical Music. Instrumental color became more important. Harmony, rhythm, and melody were equally important. The principle genres were the symphony, sonata, solo concerto, chamber music, and opera. Sonatas were composed most often. Additional instruments began to be added to the orchestras; flutes, oboes, bassoons, clarinets, trumpets, and timpani began to be used. Previously, only strings had been used.Haydn and Mozart developed and perfected the Classical symphony and string quartet. The two met in the 1780s. Haydn worked for the Esterhzy family, mainly at Esterhza, from 1761-1790. After this, he worked in England where he composed his London Symphonies. Wolfgang Mozarts talent was evident from a very early age. By the time he was six, he was composing. He was also able to play the harpsichord, organ, and violin. He and his sister, Maria Anna, were both very musically talented as children. Their father toured them around Europe. Wolfgang learned from a number of people on these tours. Haydn and Mozart developed a way to create dramatic effects that seemed both surprising and logically motivated. Christoph Willibald Gluck was instrumental in changing the way opera was done. He used lyric simplicity, balanced phrases, melodic sighs in the vocal line and broken chord figurations in the accompaniment. Gluck wanted to balance the music and drama. Glucks goals were:1. Compose music devoid of superfluous ornamentation, expressive of the text, and appropriate to the circumstances in the drama. 2. Construct each aria in a form suited to the situation rather than relying on traditional da capo. 3. Remove the sharp contrast between recitative and aria by using more accompagnato recitative and arioso, and avoiding secco recitative.4. Relate the overture to the ensuing drama (Stolba).Questions on the text:1. What did Haydn and Mozart develop together? 2. Why did composers develop classical music? 3. Classical music melodies were often based on _.a) sonatas b) various instruments c) opera d) folk songs 4. Name two instruments that were added to the orchestra. 5. How did people know that Mozart was very talented at an early age?6. A composer is a person who _.a) composes novels b) writes music c) writes compositions d) none of the above Key:1. Accept either of the following answers: a way to create dramatic effects OR the classical symphony and string quartet.2. They wanted music that everyone would like (universal appeal) and that was not too difficult to understand (mentally taxing)3