Transcript Music in the Classical Period

And Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Symphony No. 40 in G Minor
General Characteristics of
Classical Music
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It is meant to be easy on the ear.
Direct reaction to the complexity of Baroque music.
Balance, clarity, accessibility.
Melody with accompaniment (homophony).
Melodies are tuneful and catchy (2-4 measure
phrases).
 Harmony is simple, logical and clear (few
dissonances).
 No basso continuo (walking or Alberti Bass).
Main Qualities
 Melody dominated texture (Melody is most
important part).
 Simple, functional harmony, based on
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chords I, IV, V, II, VI.
Light accompaniment.
Balanced, regular and graceful
melodies
Clear structure with regular cadences.
Contrast, in terms of key, melodies
and varied dynamics.
The Classical Orchestra
 Orchestra has grown from the small Baroque
orchestra
 Now includes a standard brass and woodwind
section
 Harpsichord eventually is made redundant as
woodwind have taken over it’s role.
 The clarinet is invented and joins the orchestra
by the end of the 18th century.
The Classical Orchestra
Symphony
 Most important and popular large-scale instrumental
genre invented during this period.
 Word is derived for the Italian for ‘sounding together’ (4
families of musical
 Early examples can be traced back to the Italian, 3-section
Sinfonias for strings and continuo (fast-slow-fast)
The Symphony
 Eventually expanded sinfonia to four
movements
 Mvt 1 – Fast and serious (sonata form)
 Mvt 2 – Slow and lyrical (binary form)
 Mvt 3 – Graceful and moderate (dance
form)
 Mvt 4 – Fast and lively (Rondo form)
The First Movement- Sonata Form
 Exposition – state the two themes (first in tonic, second in
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dominant).
Development – develop the themes by changing keys, etc.
Recapitulation – replay the two themes, both in the tonic key.
Coda – optional ending
Used for the most serious musical ideas.
Sonata Form
 Sonata comes from the Latin ‘Sonare’, meaning ‘to
sound.
 Refers to instrumental music, rather than vocal music
 Is used to structure a single movement of a work,
rather than a complete work i.e.
symphony/quartet/concerto/solo sonata.
 Fundamental ideas = repartition and contrast
 Provides pleasing symmetry, an arch shape.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
1756-1791
Leopold Mozart
 Mozart’s father was a
performer, court composer,
author and music theorist.
 Wrote one of the most
important contributions to
music theory.
 Sacrificed his own career to
further his son’s.
 Domineering personality
who took Mozart on tour at a
young age.
The Child Prodigy
 Born in Salzburg, Austria
 Age 4 – Learned to play harpsichord
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and violin.
Age 6 – wrote his first compositions
and started touring (10yrs).
Age 10 – First Symphony
Age 14 – First Opera
Age 17 – Hired by Archbishop of
Salzburg
Eventually moved to Vienna where he
remained until his death at 35.
Mozart’s Family
 Mother died while he
was very young.
 Sister, Nanerl, also was
musically gifted.
 1782 Married
Constanze Weber
Mozart’s Music
 21 Piano Concertos, 5 Violin Concertos, 4 Horn
Concertos, Concertos for various woodwind,
including clarinet.
 41 Symphonies
 Many Quartets and quintets.
 Many operas
 17 Masses
 Died with his last mass, a Requiem, was
incomplete. (Completed after his death by his pupil, Franz Sussmayr).
Mozart’s Characteristics
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Accessible and highly refined.
Instilled a sense of drama in all of his music.
Master of melody, tuneful and catchy.
Mastered all Classical genres.
Wrote more than 800 compositions in 35 years.
Background to Symphony No. 40 in G Minor
 Melancholy mood to first movement, though others
have a lighter mood.
 Mozart originally scored the piece without the recently
invented clarinets, but later wrote a newer version with
2 clarinets (which we will study).
 Uses modest instrumentation for the time (only 7
woodwind) and only 2 horns.
 No trumpets of timpani – very unusual!