UNIT II

MUSIC OF
THE
CLASSICAL
PERIOD
OBJECTIVES
 Narrate
Analyzethe
thelife
sonata
and allegro
works ofform
classical composers after a
 video and movie showing
Sing themes or melodic fragments of given Classical
 Relate
Period classical
pieces musical to its historical and cultural
 background
Explore other arts and media that portray classical
 Explain
elementsthe performance practice (setting, composition, role
 of composers/ performances, and audience) during classical
Improvise appropriate accompaniment to given short and
period
simple classical pieces
 Listen perceptively to selected Classical Period music
 Describe the musical elements of given Classical Period
pieces
MUSIC OF THE
CLASSICAL
PERIOD (1750-
1820)
 OF
SIC  1. Classical Era also called “Age of Reason”
U H ICE
M T SS  2. In the middle of the 18th century, Europe began
LA L
C A IOD to move toward a new style in architecture,
R literature, and the arts, known as Classicism
PE  3. Instrumental music was patronized primarily
by the nobility
 4. Important historical events occurred in the
West
 French Revolution
 Napoleonic Wars
 American Declaration of Independence in 1776
 American Revolution
 5. The term classical denotes conformity with
the principles and characteristics of ancient
Greek and Roman literature and art which were
formal, elegant, simple, feed, and dignified
Cont
…
 6. The same characteristics may also describe
the melodies of classical music. Harmony and
texture is homophonic in general. The
dynamics of loud and soft was clearly shown
through the extensive use of crescendo and
diminuendo

 A style of broken chord accompaniment called

Alberti Bass was practiced
Cont
…

 Sonata, Concerto, and Symphony are the

instrumental forms developed during this era
while Opera Seria and Opera Buffa are the
two vocal forms
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Wolfgang Amadeus Ludwig Van

Franz Joseph Haydn
Mozart Beethoven
1. Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)
 One of the most prominent composers of the
Classical Period
 His life is described as a “rags-to-riches” story
 He was hired by rich patrons and eventually
became a musical director for the Esterhazy family
for 30 years
 His music reflects his character and personality:
mainly calm, balanced, serious but with touches of
humor
 He was able to compose over 100 symphonies and
developed them into long forms for a large
orchestra
 He was named “Father of the Symphony”
ers
 Most of his symphonies have nicknames such as the “Surprise s
po d
Symphony”, “The Clock”, “The Military” C om erio
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rea the
 He also wrote chamber piano music and choral works G of
Haydn’s instrumental works:
 F.J. Haydn Symphony no. 94 in G Major “Surprise” 2nd
movement

 F.J. Haydn Symphony no. 101 in D Major “The Clock”

 F.J. Haydn Symphony no. 100 in G Major “Military”

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2. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
 He is a child prodigy and the most amazing
genius in musical history
 5 years old – he was already playing the violin and
harpsichord
 6 years old – he was recognized as an exceptional pianist
 7 years old – he was already composing excellent music
 13 years old – he had written sonatas, concertos,
symphonies, religious works, and operas and operettas
 He experimented in all kinds of music and
composed over 700 works
 He composed composed wonderful concertos,
symphonies, and operas such as “The Marriage
of Figaro”(1786), “Don Giovanni” (1789), and
“The Magic Flute” which became popular
 Other known works: “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik”, a t of
e s
“Symphony no. 40 in G Major”, and “Sonata no. 11 in A Gr oser od
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Major K311” m
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Mozart’s instrumental works:
 W.A, Mozart Piano Sonata No. 16 in C Major, K545 (so-called fa
cile or
semplice sonata)

 W.A, Mozart Piano Sonata No. 11, K331 in A Major, 1st mov.
(Andante grazioso)

 W.A, Mozart Sonata No. 40 in G Minor, 1st mov. (Molto Allergo)

 W.A, Mozart Serenade in G Minor (Eine Kleine Nachtmusik)

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3. Ludwig Van Beethoven (1770-
1827)
 He was born in Bonn, Germany to a
family of musicians and studied music
at an early age
 He was the composer who bridged the late
Classical era and the early Romantic era

 He was the composer who bridged the late

Classical era and the early Romantic era
 He was talented pianist and composer
 His famous compositions include 32 piano
sonatas, 21 set of variations, 9 symphonies, 5at
concertos for piano, 16 string quartets, andre sers
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Beethoven’s Works Include:
 “Missa Solemnis” (1818-1823)
 Opera:“Fidelio” (1805)
 Symphonies: Symphony no. 3 (“Eroica”), no. 5, no. 6
(“Pastoral”), and no. 9 (“Choral”), which add voices to the
orchestra

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 1796 – he began to go deaf
 He continued composing through the help
of an assistant and hearing gadget
 Some of his famous compositions were
made when he was deaf

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Characterictics of Beethoven’s
works:
 His music veered toward larger orchestras
 Sound was centered on the violas and
lower registers of the violins and cellos to
give his music a darker mood
 All themes in a piece are tied together by
one motif
 He developed musical themes and motifs
extensively by means of modulation
 He used more brass instruments and
dynamics
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Characterictics of Beethoven’s
works:
 His music veered toward larger orchestras
 Sound was centered on the violas and
lower registers of the violins and cellos to
give his music a darker mood
 All themes in a piece are tied together by
one motif
 He developed musical themes and motifs
extensively by means of modulation
 He used more brass instruments and
dynamics
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Beethoven’s instrumental works:
 L. V. Beethoven Piano Sonata no. 14 in C
Sharp Minor (“Moonlight”) 1st mov.
Op. 27 no. 2 (“Adagio Sostenuto”)
 L. V. Beethoven Piano Concerto no. 1 in C
Major op. 15
Op. 27 no. 2 (“Adagio Sostenuto”)
 L. V. Beethoven Piano Concerto no. 5
“Emperor” in E flat Major op. 73
 L. V. Beethoven Piano Concerto no. 5, Op.
67, C Minor
 L. V. Beethoven Piano Concerto no. 9, Op.
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 VOCAL AND
Beethoven’s instrumental works:

 L. V. Beethoven Piano Sonata no. 14 in C

INSTRUMENT
Sharp Minor (“Moonlight”) 1st mov.
Op. 27 no. 2 (“Adagio Sostenuto”)
youtube.com/watch?v=YmVCcF42f-o

AL MUSIC
 L. V. Beethoven Piano Concerto no. 1 in C
Major op. 15
Op. 27 no. 2 (“Adagio Sostenuto”)
youtube.com/watch?v=SFfUcQQbwsE

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  SONATA
– a multi-movement work for solo instrument, Sonata came
from the word Sonare which means “to make a sound”

– This term is applied to a variety of works for a solo

instrument such as keyboard or violin
SONATA ALLERGO
FORM-developed
the most important form that
during the Classical
Era consists of 3 distinct sections:
Exposition, Development, and
Recapitulation
1. Exposition – the first part of a
composition in a sonata form that introduce
the theme.

2. Development – the middle part of the

sonata-allegro form

3. Recapitulation – repeats the theme as

they first emerge in the opening TA O
A
exposition O N RG 3
S LE ( s)
L RM c ti o
n
A O tS e
F c in
st
Di
 CONCERTO
– a multi-movement work designed for an
instrumental soloist and orchestra

– it is a classical form of music intended

primarily to emphasize the individuality of the
solo instrument and to exhibit the virtuosity and
interpretative abilities of the performer

– a concerto has 3 movements

• Fast
• Slow
• Fast
SOLO INTRUMENTS IN
CLASSICAL CONCERTOS
IN
E OO R S
IN LO A S
BA N
VI O L
CE L CL T

E T O
P N A N
U M R PI
TR HO
3 MOVEMENTS OF
CONCERTO
• 1 Movement: Fast: Sonata-allegro
st
form
with expositions of the orchestra and then
by the soloist

• 2nd Movement: Slow: Has more

ornamentation than the First Movement

• 3rd Movement: Fast: Finale Usually in a

form of rondo, resembling the last
movement of the symphony and usually a
short cadenza is used
Example: Emperor –Beethoven
 
SYMPHON
Y
– a multi-movement work for solo orchestra

– the symphony is derived from the word

sinfonia which literally means “a harmonious
sounding together”

– it is a classical music for the whole orchestra

4 MOVEMENTS OF THE
•SYMPHONY
1 Movement: Fast: Sonata-allegro form
st

• 2nd Movement: Slow: Gentle, lyrical – typical

ABA form or theme and variation

• 3rd Movement: Medium/Fast: Uses a dance

form (Minuet or scherzo)

• 4th Movement: Fast: Typically Rondo or

Sonata form
As the 18th century progressed,
instrumental music was patronized
primarily by the nobility which led to
the rise of public taste for
“comic opera”. The music
was mostly of a simple yet pleasant
character, while the singing was
highly flexible and sensitive and
could freely express emotion through
melody.
  CLASSICAL
OPERA
– OPERA is a drama set to music
where singers and musicians perform
theatrical setting.

– two (2) distinct styles of opera

were developed during the
Classical Period
• Opera Seria
• Opera Buffa
1. Opera Seria (serious opera) – usually
implies heroic or tragic drama that
employs mythological characters, which
was inherited from the Baroque period
Example: “Idomeneo” by Mozart

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2. Opera Buffa (comic opera) – from Italy
made use of everyday character and situations, and
typically employed spoken dialogues, lengthy arias and was
spiced with sight gags, naughty humor and social satire

Examples by Mozart

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REFERENCE (Website):
• www.youtube.com
UNIT 2
ENDS…