A Brief History of the Classical Era of Music

A look at the period of time known as the Classical Era in music, which spanned from the late 1700s to the early 1800s.

The Classical Era

Music from the Classical Era is still very popular today. Many of the composers from this era are still household names. The Classical Era of music is generally said to have lasted from 1750 to 1820. This era was preceded by the Baroque Era and followed by the Romantic Era.

The Baroque Era

The Classical Era of Music is generally said to have begun in 1730 and ended in 1820. This era saw the development of many genres of instrumental music such as the symphony and the concerto, as well as classical vocal music forms such as opera. The Classical Era was a time of great change in music, with new compositional techniques and styles being developed.

One of the most important changes to take place during this period was the move away from polyphonic textures to homophonic textures. This meant that instead of having multiple voices all playing different melodic lines, there was now just one melody with accompanying harmony. This change made it possible for composers to write much more complex pieces of music, with larger orchestras and greater harmonic richness.

The Baroque Era precedes the Classical Era, and is generally said to have lasted from 1600 to 1750. This was a time of great creativity in music, with many different styles and genres being developed. The Baroque Era saw the rise of polyphonic textures, where several voices would sing or play different melodic lines simultaneously. This made for very complex pieces of music, which were often quite difficult to perform.

One of the most important figures of the Baroque Era was Johann Sebastian Bach, who wrote hundreds of polyphonic pieces for various ensembles. Other significant composers from this period include George Frideric Handel, Antonio Vivaldi, and Claudio Monteverdi.

The Classical Era

The Classical era was an era of classical music between approximately 1730 and 1820. The Classical era followed the Baroque period and preceded the Romantic period. Classical music has a lighter, cleaner texture than Baroque music and is less complex. It is mainly homophonic, using a clear melody line over a subordinate chordal accompaniment, but counterpoint was by no means forgotten, especially later in the period.

The major forms of Classical music were symphony, concerto, sonata, string quartet and opera. Chamber music was also popular during this time.

During the Classical era, professional musicians were employed by aristocrats and churches as well as by the middle class. Amateur musicians played a significant role in the development of Classical music; they composed, performed and patronized works.

Composers of the Classical era include Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert.

The Romantic Era

The Classical period was an era of classical music between approximately 1730 to 1820. The Classical period falls between the Baroque and the Romantic periods. Classical music has a lighter, cleaner texture than Baroque music and is less complex. It is mainly homophonic, using a clear melody line over a subordinate chordal accompaniment, but counterpoint was by no means forgotten, especially later in the period.

The major form of the Classical era was sonata form. Other influential forms were the concerto, symphony, overture (also called sinfonia), serenade and divertimento. The sonata form first developed in Vienna in the early part of the 18th century and reached its mature form around 1780–1850. The best-known composers from the Classical era are Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, Franz Schubert, Antonio Vivaldi and Georg Philipp Telemann.

The Major Composers of the Classical Era

The Classical era of music is generally said to have lasted from 1750 to 1820. It was a time when the music of the masters was admired and copied throughout Europe. The era saw the rise of such greats as Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven. It was also a time of great change in the world of music.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (January 27, 1756 – December 5, 1791) was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical era. Born in Salzburg, Mozart showed prodigious ability from his earliest childhood. Already competent on keyboard and violin, he composed from the age of five and performed before European royalty. At 17, Mozart was engaged as a musician at the Salzburg court but grew restless and traveled in search of a better position. While visiting Vienna in 1781, he was dismissed from his Salzburg position.

Mozart sought work in Munich, but returned to Salzburg after just a few months due to his mother’s illness. In 1782 he married Constanze Weber, with whom he had six children. The same year marked the beginning of his most productive output. Many of his greatest works were composed during this time including symphonies, operas (including The Marriage of Figaro and Don Giovanni), string quintets, piano concertos (such as No. 21 “Elvira Madigan”), and others for various ensembles. Between 1786 and 1788 alone he composed four symphonies (Nos. 35–38), four overtures (including The Marriage of Figaro), five string quartets (“Haydn” Quartets Nos. 14–18), six piano sonatas including Sonata No. 11 (“Turkish March”), three major piano concertos (Nos. 24–26; all known as “Coronation”), two violin concertos (Nos., 4 & 5), two masses (one each for solo soprano & bass; respectively K 49 & K65/61a), the oratorio Davidde penitente (K469/466a) for solo voices chorus and orchestra – indeed almost every kind of composition which existed in that era with one exception: no tone poems or other absolute-music fantasies without words or other representational subject matter.[citation needed]

In early December 1791 Mozart became acutely ill with fatty degeneration of the liver brought on by severe overwork.[17] He progressively became more ill during December until he collapsed on December 3 rd . He requested permission to leave Paris for Germany so that he could regain his health but permission was denied by Thomas Jefferson because overcrowding on ships due to refugees fleeing the French Revolution might make things worse for him.[18] Nevertheless Mozart managed to get himself aboard an overcrowded barge which took him down river towards Le Havre even though he was critically ill.[citation needed]

Ludwig van Beethoven

Ludwig van Beethoven is a name that is synonymous with classical music. He is arguably the most famous composer who ever lived, and his Influence on Western music is undeniable. Born in 1770 in the city of Bonn, Germany, he was the grandson of Ludwig van Beethoven (the court musician who served as Kapellmeister to the Elector of Cologne), and the son of Johann van Beethoven, Bonn’s most prosperous and eminent musician. Unfortunately, young Ludwig’s father was an abusive drunk, and his family life was far from ideal. As a result, Ludwig received his earliest musical training from his grandfather.

Ludwig van Beethoven showed signs of extraordinary musical talent at a very young age, and he began composing music before he even reached his teens. In 1787, at the age of just 17, he traveled to Vienna in hopes of studying with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Unfortunately, Mozart (who was notoriously hard on his students) wasn’t impressed with the young Beethoven’s abilities, and the two composers never actually met. However, Beethoven did study with Austrian composer Joseph Haydn during this time period, and he later credited Haydn as being one of his biggest influences.

By 1802,Beethoven began to lose his hearing, but rather than giving up on music altogether (as many people advised him to do), hepersevered and continued to compose some of the most beloved pieces of classical music ever written. Many people believe that his deafness actually spurred him on to greater creativity; in any case, it certainly didn’t stop him from writing such timeless masterpieces as Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Symphony No. 6 in F major (“Pastorale”), Symphony No. 9 in D minor (“Choral”), Piano Concerto No 5 in E-flat major (“Emperor”), and Violin Concerto in D major.

Beethoven died in 1827 at the age of 56; even though he was survived by many family members and friends, he left instructions that no public funeral be held for him. It is said that when asked why he didn’t want a funeral service upon his death, Beethoven replied: “Because I am not worthy of it.” Today, Ludwig van Beethoven is widely considered to be one of the greatest composers who ever lived – a true giant of Western classical music.

Franz Joseph Haydn

Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809), was an Austrian composer and one of the most prominent figures of the Classical Era. He is often called the “Father of the Symphony” and the “Father of the String Quartet” because of his important contributions to these genres. He was also a prolific composer of piano music, Sacred Music, and operas. Haydn’s music was well received during his lifetime, and he is credited with having helped to establish classical music as a major genre.

The Characteristics of Classical Music

The Classical era of music is a period that lasted from 1750 to 1820. This era saw the rise of composers such as Mozart, Haydn, and Beethoven. The music of this era was characterized by its simplicity, elegance, and emotional restraint.

Themes and Variations

One of the most important aspects of classical music is that it is based on themes and variations. A theme is a musical idea that is used as the basis of a composition. The composer may use the theme as-is, or they may vary it by changing the melody, harmony, rhythm, or dynamics.

The concept of themes and variations can be traced back to the Baroque era, but it became especially prevalent during the Classical era. Many of the greatest classical composers, such as Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven, made extensive use of this compositional technique.

There are many different types of variations that a composer can use. Some of the most common are listed below:

– Melodic variation: The melody is varied while keeping the harmony constant. This is also sometimes called a decorated variation.
– Harmonic variation: The harmony is varied while keeping the melody constant. This can be done by changing the chords that are used or by altering the bass line.
– Rhythmical variation: The rhythm is varied while keeping the melody and harmony constant. This can be done by changing the tempo, meter, or accentuation patterns.
– Rhythmic-melodic variation: Both the rhythm and melody are varied while keeping the harmony constant. This is also sometimes called a counterpoint variation.
– Texture variation: The number of parts or voices is increased or decreased while keeping the melody and harmony constant. This can create a thicker or thinner sound overall.
– Timbral variation: The tone color or timbre is changed while keeping the melody and harmony constant. This can be done by adding or removing instruments from the ensemble or by changing how an instrument is played (e.g., playing with a different bow for string instruments).
– Dynamic variation: The volume level is changed while keeping the melody and harmony constant

The Sonata Form

The sonata form is one of the most important musical forms of the classical era. It is used in symphonies, concertos, sonatas, and other pieces of instrumental music. The sonata form is usually divided into three parts: the exposition, the development, and the recapitulation.

The exposition is the first part of the sonata form. It introduces the main themes of the piece. The development is the second part of the sonata form. It develops the themes introduced in the exposition. The recapitulation is the third part of the sonata form. It recalls the themes from the exposition and develops them further.

The Symphony

The symphony is a musical composition for orchestra, typically in four movements, composed by a renowned composer. The word “symphony” derives from the Greek word symphōnia, meaning agreement or concord of sound. A symphony typically lasts about an hour and is usually written in sonata form.

The first movement is usually in sonata form and Allegro tempo, the second movement is in slow tempo, the third movement is in minuet and trio form, and the fourth movement is often in sonata form and Allegro tempo. A typical Classical-era symphony would have a string section, consisting of first and second violins, violas, cellos, and double basses; a winds section, consisting of flutes (including piccolo), oboes, clarinets (sometimes two), bassoons (sometimes two), and horns (usually four); and a brass section consisting of trumpets (usually two), trombones (usually two), timpani, and sometimes other percussion instruments.

The music of the Classical era was characterized by simplicity and clarity of form; balance, symmetry, and order; emotional restraint; fluid melodicism; expressive effects achieved through decorative devices such as changes in vocal or instrumental coloration or dynamics; classical themesadvancing through variation; numerous changes of texture; ternary forms such as minuet-and-trio or Scherzo-and-trio accompanied by tripartite slow movements in sonata form.