This document summarizes the Classical period of music history from around 1750 to 1820. It describes the transition from the rococo style to the classical style, which emphasized classical influences from Greece and Rome. The classical period saw the development of public concerts and reflection of social changes in music. Important classical forms included the symphony, concerto, sonata, and chamber music. The major composers of the period were Franz Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Ludwig van Beethoven, and their significant choral works are listed.
2. Rococo or Preclassical Style
a musical style that was
developed in the middle of the
eighteenth century
Rococo style is homophonic
and light in texture, melodic, and
elaborately ornamented.
3. Important Composers of Music in
the Rococo Style
François Couperin (1668-1733)
C. P. E. Bach(1714-1788)
Johann Christian Bach(1735-1782)
4. CLASSICAL PERIOD
classical is applied to the period
because in art and literature, there
was keen interest in, admiration for,
and emulation of the classical artistic
and literary heritage of Greece and
Rome.
6. CLASSICAL PERIOD
The musical scene in the classical period
reflected the changes occurring in the
society in which the music wasbeing
written
This wasthe first era in music history in
which public concerts became an
important part of the musical scene
7. CLASSICAL PERIOD
• The musical scenein
the classical period
reflected the
changes occurringin
the society in which
the music was being
written
• This wasthe first
era in music
history in which
public concerts
became an
important part of
the musical scene
8. Important forms of choral music
Mass
masses involved orchestra,soloists, and choir
in a fully integratedwork, utilizing organizational
principlesderivedfrom instrumental forms.
Missa Brevis
consist of strictlydelimiteddevelopment,
simultaneoussetting of several lines of text, or
the omission ofcertainsections of the mass.
9. Important forms of choral music
Missa Solemnis
more elaborate and extended musical treatment of the
mass text than that employed in theMissa Brevis.
Oratorio
was continued in the Classicalperiodprimarilyby
Haydn, who wrote two oratorios,The Creationand The
Seasons,which have remained animportant partof the
choral repertoire.
10. Important forms of choral music
Requiem
the Classical period produced a setting by Mozart that
has become a staple of the choral repertoire and two
settings by Cherubini that are also oftenperformed.
Vespers
Mozart wrote two settings of this service each
of which includes psalms and theMagnificat, written
for choir, quartet of soloists, and orchestra.
11. Important forms of choral music
Choral Symphony
A symphonywhich includessections
written for choirand orchestra.
Example: Beethoven's NinthSymphony,
incorporatingchoir and soloistsinthe fourth
movement.
12. CLASSICAL PERIOD
most ofthe important stylisticadvances that
occurred can be observed most clearly in the
instrumental forms:
symphony
concerto
Sonata
Instrumental chamber music
13. ORAL MUSIC COMPOSERS
1.Franz Joseph Haydn(1732-1809)
2.Wolfgang AmadeusMozart (1756-1791)
3. Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
14. Franz Joseph
Haydn
born in the Rohrau,
Austria, in 1732
At age eight he was
accepted as a choirboy
at St. Stephen's
Cathedral in Vienna
15. Franz Joseph
Haydn
1759, he worked briefly
as musical director for
Count Morzin
1761 was employed as
assistant music
director and then
music director for the
Esterhazy family
16. Franz Joseph
Haydn He had been hired by
Johann Peter Salomon to
compose and conduct six
symphonies for his first
trip (1791-1792) and six
for his second (1794-
1795).
He died in 1809 in
Vienna.
17. Some of his most significant Choral
works:
His two oratorios:
The Creation and The Seasons.
Twelve masses
A Passion
Two Te Deums,
Stabat Mater : and
few other smaller works.
18. Wolfgang Amadeus
Mozart
born in Salzburg,
Austria, in 1756
the age of six, he
could play the
harpsichord and violin,
compose, and
performed in Munich
and Vienna
19. Wolfgang Amadeus
Mozart
1781, Mozart left
Salzburg and moved
to Vienna, teaching,
concertizing, traveling,
and continuing to
compose constantly
20. Some of his most significant
Choral works
Eighteen masses
The Requiem
Two Vespers settings; and
a variety of shorter choral
pieces.
21. Ludwig van
Beethoven
born in Bonn, Germany,
in 1770
came to Vienna in 1792,
where he studied with
Haydn and
Albrechtsberger.
His first public
performances in Vienna
as a pianist and
composer came in 1795.
22. Ludwig van
Beethoven primarily a composer of
instrumental music, and
it is in his symphonies,
piano music, and string
quartets that the
transition from Classic to
Romantic style is most
clearly discernible.
23. Some of his most significant
Choral works
Mass in D Major
Missa Solemnis
Two masses
Oratorio
Two symphonic works with
large choral sections ;and
a few smaller pieces.