XII: Music of the Classic Era
The Classic era has been called the "golden age of chamber music," but probably only by this textbook. Chamber music is written for a small group of performers, each with a different part. The duo sonata requires the smallest ensemble, designed for any instrument with piano. Violin and cello sonatas are favorites, and with good reason. Piano trios are works for piano, cello, and violin. The string quartet, comprising two violins, viola, and cello, is probably the most important ensemble. Quintets, sextets, septets, and octets are all considered chamber music.
The divertimento and the serenade were scored for smaller orchestras and composed for entertainment. They required more players than chamber music, but fewer than the 30 to 40 needed for symphony orchestras. Mozart's Eine kleine Nachtmusik is a serenade.
The divertimento and the serenade were scored for smaller orchestras and composed for entertainment. They required more players than chamber music, but fewer than the 30 to 40 needed for symphony orchestras. Mozart's Eine kleine Nachtmusik is a serenade.
In Mannheim, Germany, composers developed the symphony from the Italian opera overture of the Baroque. The contrasting sections grew into three larger separate movements. A new movement, the minuet and trio, was placed before the last. Additionally, two new conventions came about in Mannheim. Opening themes often began with a Mannheim rocket, a quickly ascending broken chord. Equally important was the Mannheim steamroller, which is a long, carefully paced crescendo.
Concertos are composed for solo instrument with orchestra. The Classical concerto is cast in three movements rather than four. This sonata form, or concerto form, has two expositions; the first is for orchestra alone, and the second introduces the soloist. During the recapitulation, the solo instrument plays an improvisatory section called a cadenza. Cadenza is also the name of my sister's cat.
Concertos are composed for solo instrument with orchestra. The Classical concerto is cast in three movements rather than four. This sonata form, or concerto form, has two expositions; the first is for orchestra alone, and the second introduces the soloist. During the recapitulation, the solo instrument plays an improvisatory section called a cadenza. Cadenza is also the name of my sister's cat.
The sacred vocal genres of the Classic era are the Mass, Requiem Mass, and Oratorio. Secular works were divided between opera seria, the Italian tragic opera, opera buffa, the Italian comic opera, and nationalistic styles that were sung in the vernacular. These included opéra comique (France), Singspiel (Germany), and ballad opera (England). The stories of opera seria were about heroes and gods, told through elaborate arias and recitatives. Not everybody found this entertaining. Christoph Willibald Gluck (1714-1787), born in Germany and trained in Italy, was one of the first composers to reform these older conventions, blending features of comic opera, large choral dances, and ensemble numbers for the Imperial Court Theater in Vienna. Comic operas had sitcom plots and exciting ensemble numbers at the end of each act. It spread like wildfire.
XIII: The First Viennese School
Joseph Haydn (1732-1809), sometimes called Papa Haydn, was born in Rohrau, Austria. His beautiful voice earned him a place at the choir of St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna until puberty. After being fired, the young Haydn taught, accompanied, and joined street bands. In 1761, after years of study and patronage, he obtained a position for the wealthy Hungarian Esterházy family. At their palace, Haydn remained a faithful and well paid servant until the death of Prince Nicolaus in 1790. Now famous and well revered, Haydn made two visits to England to conduct the newly composed London Symphonies.
In addition to setting the foundations of Classical form and thematic development, Haydn expanded the size of the orchestra to include brass, clarinet, and more percussion. Among his output are over 100 symphonies, 68 string quartets, 45 piano trios, 52 piano sonatas, 14 masses, and 13 operas. Perhaps he was free to write so much due to an estranged marriage. He once remarked, "Oh, those [letters] are from my wife. She writes me monthly, and I answer her monthly. But I do not open her letters, and I'm quite sure that she does not open mine."
In addition to setting the foundations of Classical form and thematic development, Haydn expanded the size of the orchestra to include brass, clarinet, and more percussion. Among his output are over 100 symphonies, 68 string quartets, 45 piano trios, 52 piano sonatas, 14 masses, and 13 operas. Perhaps he was free to write so much due to an estranged marriage. He once remarked, "Oh, those [letters] are from my wife. She writes me monthly, and I answer her monthly. But I do not open her letters, and I'm quite sure that she does not open mine."
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) was not killed by Salieri. Born in Salzburg, Austria, the prodigy was quickly trained by his father Leopold, a court composer of the Archbishop. Mozart was extremely prolific, composing over 600 works in his short life. As rumors have it, Mozart was indeed cheeky. Some of his letters end with, "Shit into your bed until it creaks." He left the patronage system at age 25 after arguing with the Archbishop, and quickly became a struggling free lancer in Vienna. Mozaart married Constanze Weber in 1782. In Vienna, he composed some of his best known operas, including The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni, and The Magic Flute. By 1788, his family moved to the suburb of Alsergrund and started going into debt. He fell sick died a few years later. Among his works are 41 symphonies, 27 piano concertos, 18 piano sonatas, 16 piano variations, 17 church sonatas, 18 divertimenti, 13 serenades, 36 violin sonatas, 23 string quartets, 23 operas, and 17 masses, along with his final Requiem.
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827), whose works bridge the Classic and Romantic eras, is the most influential and well respected composer that ever lived. He was ill-tempered, arrogant, and extremely dirty. Born in Bonn, Germany, he acquired a mastery of piano and theory as a young boy under the pressure of an alcoholic father. In 1787, he travelled to Vienna to study with Mozart, but was called back immediately as a result of his mother's illness. She died, and as his father was of little use, he became responsible for his two younger brothers for the next five years. As a young adult, Beethoven operated under a modified patronage system, teaching lessons for the wealthy. He also concertized and published compositions for the emerging middle class. In 1792, he moved to Vienna and studied with Haydn, among others. Beethoven started to lose his hearing in his late 20s, and moved outside of Vienna to Heiligenstadt in 1802. Here, he wrote the famous Heiligenstadt Testament, the semi-suicidal letter to his brother admitting his own hearing loss. After returning to Vienna, he fell in love with several rich women, none of whom would marry him. When his brother Carl died, he obtained custody of his nephew Karl, who understandably attempted suicide eight years later.
Beethoven's output is categorized into three distinct periods. The early period works are most related to his predecessors Haydn and Mozart. The middle period, also called the "Heroic" period, began around the time of his deafness. These works were composed on a grander scale, and show stronger dynamic contrasts, and sudden accents. They often include themes of heroism and struggle. Works from the Beethoven's late period show formal innovation and expansion. Beethoven wrote 9 symphonies, 5 piano concertos, 32 piano sonatas, 22 piano variations, 16 string quartets, 10 violin sonatas, 5 cello sonatas, 1 opera, the Missa Solemnis, and several lieder. By the time of his death at age 57, he was extremely famous and his music well loved. He probably died from lead poisoning.
Now that we're all pros in hearing form, listen for the thematic development throughout the first movement of his Fifth Symphony.
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827), whose works bridge the Classic and Romantic eras, is the most influential and well respected composer that ever lived. He was ill-tempered, arrogant, and extremely dirty. Born in Bonn, Germany, he acquired a mastery of piano and theory as a young boy under the pressure of an alcoholic father. In 1787, he travelled to Vienna to study with Mozart, but was called back immediately as a result of his mother's illness. She died, and as his father was of little use, he became responsible for his two younger brothers for the next five years. As a young adult, Beethoven operated under a modified patronage system, teaching lessons for the wealthy. He also concertized and published compositions for the emerging middle class. In 1792, he moved to Vienna and studied with Haydn, among others. Beethoven started to lose his hearing in his late 20s, and moved outside of Vienna to Heiligenstadt in 1802. Here, he wrote the famous Heiligenstadt Testament, the semi-suicidal letter to his brother admitting his own hearing loss. After returning to Vienna, he fell in love with several rich women, none of whom would marry him. When his brother Carl died, he obtained custody of his nephew Karl, who understandably attempted suicide eight years later.
Beethoven's output is categorized into three distinct periods. The early period works are most related to his predecessors Haydn and Mozart. The middle period, also called the "Heroic" period, began around the time of his deafness. These works were composed on a grander scale, and show stronger dynamic contrasts, and sudden accents. They often include themes of heroism and struggle. Works from the Beethoven's late period show formal innovation and expansion. Beethoven wrote 9 symphonies, 5 piano concertos, 32 piano sonatas, 22 piano variations, 16 string quartets, 10 violin sonatas, 5 cello sonatas, 1 opera, the Missa Solemnis, and several lieder. By the time of his death at age 57, he was extremely famous and his music well loved. He probably died from lead poisoning.
Now that we're all pros in hearing form, listen for the thematic development throughout the first movement of his Fifth Symphony.
Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67, Movement I: Allegro con brio
From Peter Schickele's album "The Wurst of P.D.Q. Bach"
Exposition
Opening Motive, First Theme, Bridge, Second Theme, Closing Theme
Development
Recapitulation
Opening Motive, First Theme (Oboe Cadenza), Bridge, Second Theme, Closing Theme
Coda
Thematic Development, Opening Motive
Opening Motive, First Theme, Bridge, Second Theme, Closing Theme
Development
Recapitulation
Opening Motive, First Theme (Oboe Cadenza), Bridge, Second Theme, Closing Theme
Coda
Thematic Development, Opening Motive
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