Music in the

Classical Period
Franz Joseph Haydn
&
Wolfgang Amadeus
Mozart
General Characteristics of
Classical Music
 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).
Three Main Qualities
 Melody is most
important part.
 Tuneful and
balanced.
 Simple harmony.
 Light
accompaniment.
Classical Opera
 Opera buffa – comic
opera.
 Simple music, amusing
plot, real characters.
 Performed in palace
and public opera
houses.
 Reaction to problems
with Baroque Opera.
 Mythology/historical
 Not real people or
situations
 Music too heavy and
complex.
Symphony
 Most important
instrumental genre.
 Began as sinfonia
(overture to opera).
 Three movements
(Fast, Slow, Fast)
 Begins to look like the
modern symphony.
Mannheim, Germany
 Center of symphonic composition and performance.
 Johann Stamitz, conductor
 Expanded sinfonia to four movements
 Mvt 1 – Fast and serious (sonata form)
 Mvt 2 – Slow and lyrical (aria form)
 Mvt 3 – Graceful and moderate (dance form)
 Mvt 4 – Fast and lively (Rondo form)
 Structure of the orchestra expanded
 Full strings, woodwinds (flute/oboe, horn),
trumpets and drums, later added bassoons and
clarinets.
 Mannheim Steamroller - Crescendo
Chamber Music
 Music for the Middle Class to play at
home.
 String Quartet – Violin I & II, viola, cello
 Ideal balance to match SATB voice types.
 Followed the symphonic patterns.
 Sonatas
 Solo keyboard or keyboard + solo instrument.
 1775 – pianoforte replaces harpsichord.
 Composers wrote and improvised from the
keyboard (often performing their own music).
Strict Conventions and
Forms
 Mvt. 1 - Sonata Form  Mvt. 2 – Aria Form
 Exposition – state the
two themes (firs in  Lyrical and song-
tonic, second in like.
dominant).
 Development – develop  ABA form
the themes by changing  Triple meter
keys, etc.
 Contrasting keys
 Recapitulation – replay
the two themes, both in with new material.
the tonic key.  Less serious than
Coda – optional ending

Sonata Form
 Used for the most
serious musical ideas.
Forms (cont.)
 Mvt. 3 – Minuet and  Mvt. 4 – Rondo
Trio Form form
 Minuet – Dance in
Binary form (AABB
 Simplest of all
usually in ¾ time) forms (most
 Trio – Different music accessible).
in binary form  New music always
(CCDD) returns to a main
 Return to original theme.
Minuet (AB)
 ABACADA…….
 Makes for an overall
ternary form (ABA).
Franz Joseph Haydn
(1732-1809)
 Began musical career as
choir boy in Vienna
(learned to play
harpsichord and violin).
 1761 – hired as
assistant music director
to Prince Esterhazy
 1762 – Palace Esterhaza
built
 2 large music rooms
and 2 opera theatres.
 1766 – promoted to
Music Director
Haydn’s Musical Duties
 As music director he was expected to
write, direct or perform 2 operas and 2
concerts each week, extra concerts for
important visitors, dinner music and
chamber music for the Prince’s rooms.
 As a result he wrote over 100
symphonies, 70 string quartets, 50+
keyboard sonatas, and numerous choral
and solo voice pieces.
 Last 12 symphonies written in London.
Haydn’s Music
 Operas – Wrote many, but few are still performed
today.
 Symphonies – Wrote well over 100.
 Expanded the size by emphasizing brass, clarinets and
percussion.
 Added crescendos and accents.
 Father of the String Quartet
 First to develop the genre
 Masses
 Oratorios – The Creation & The Seasons
 Musical Jokes
 Credited with inventing the false recapitulation
 Surprise/Farewell Symphonies
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
1756-1791
Leopold Mozart
 Mozart’s father was a
performer, 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
 Age 4 – Learned to
play harpsichord 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
Mozart’s Family
 Mother died while
he was very
young.
 Sister, Nanerl, also
was musically
gifted.
 1782 Married
Constanze Weber
Mozart’s Early Music
 Released by the Archbishop for disorderly
conduct and began freelance composing.
 Considered too young and overqualified
for most jobs.
 Moved to Vienna
 1782 – First major opera, The Abduction
from the Seraglio
 Wrote string quartets to emulate Haydn.
 Made a living by performing his piano
concertos.
Mozart’s Late Music
 Losing fame and poorly
managed money.
 Late works are the most
impressive.
 Symphonies 37, 40, 41
 Operas
 1786 – Marriage of
Figaro
 1787 – Don Giovanni
 1791 – Magic Flute (Die
Zauberflote)
 Requiem
Mozart’s Characteristics
 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.