CLASSICAL PERIOD/MUSIC

• AGE OF REASON: It is the period that extends from the death of Johann Sebastian Back in 1750 to the death of Ludwig Van Beethoven in 1827.
• From 1750 to 1820, the classical period sometimes known as the "Age of Reason", lasted. The aristocracy dominated cultural life as patrons of musicians and artists who affected the arts in general. There were significant shifts in musical genre and styles.
• Classicism- this process began Europe toward a new style in literature, architecture, and the arts in the middle of the 18th Century.
• The French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars, the American Declaration of Independence in 1776, and the American Revolution were all significant historical events in the West during this period.
• Classical- this term refers to adherence to the formal, elegant, simples, liberated and dignified ideals and features of ancient Greek and Roman literature and art.
• the texture and harmony are HOMOPHONIC. The use of crescendo and diminuendo to depict the DYNAMICS of loud and soft was considerable.
• ALBERTI BASS- a form pf broken chord accompaniment was used.
• Franz Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig Van Beethoven were the finest composers of the day.
• Instrumental genres produced during this period include the sonata, concerto, and symphony, while vocal forms include Opera Seria and Opera Buffa.
• BEETHOVEN'S MOONLIGHT SONATA- Melodic line is easier to distinguish. Listener may also sense the changes in emotional presentations as characterized by variations in speed, volume and number of notes played in each measure.
• Main Characteristics of Classical Music: Lighter, dramatic effects, striking melodies, and clearer texture than Baroque music and is less complex; Mainly homophonic-melody above chordal accompaniment; Melodies are shorter; Frequent changes of mood and timbre; Orchestra increased in size and range; Harpsichord was replaced by the piano and Sonata form developed and became the most important instrumental form.
• (SINGLE MOVEMENT) Binary Form- has two complementary and related melodic sections of equal duration. (less usage)
• (SINGLE MOVEMENT) Ternary Form- frequently employed especially for slow movements where the forms is often called THREE-PART SONG FORM.
• (SINGLE MOVEMENT) Compound and Ternary Form- is used for dance-like third movements of classical symphonies and instrumental works. It is referred to either minuet, scherzo by Trio Form.
• (SINGLE MOVEMENT) Fugal Form- common for classical composers use fugal techniques in the framework of another form.
• (MULTI-MOVEMENT) Sonata Form- most important instrumental form with several movements. It is developed out of Sonata Da Chiesa, Sonata Da Camera, and Italian French Overtures.
• (MULTI-MOVEMENT) Concerto- is not an important form but the solo concerto for piano, violin, or others with orchestral accompaniment reached a high point of development. It is regularly in THREE MOVEMENTS.
• SONATA- from Italian word "suonare" that means "to sound" indicates a piece to be sounded on instruments. It is used specifically for a chamber piece intended for one or two instruments. Depending on the number of players involved, terms trio, quartet, quintet, sextet, septet, octet, and nonet may be used. Term concerto is used for solo instrument with the accompaniment of the orchestra and symphony is for the whole orchestra.
• SONATA- A type of music composition played on instruments that usually consist of 2 or 4 sections with unique music character. A music composition that is expressed using one or two instruments. ex. Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata.
• SONATA- Also refer to a composition for larger instrumental group having more than two or three parts, such as a string quintet or an orchestra. Sonata form, also called first-movement form of sonata-allegro form.
• (STRUCTURE OF SONATA-ALLEGRO FORM) Exposition- is like an introduction to an essay. It introduces the main themes in a composition. It has two themes or ideas. FIRST Theme is the tonic or main key; the SECOND Theme is typically 5 key steps away from the tonic key.
• DEVELOPMENT- it expands on the themes introduced in the composition. It gives the composer an opportunity to improvise or move to other key tonalities and concludes back in the original key.
• (STRUCTURE OF SONATA-ALLEGRO FORM) Recapitulation- Its where the composer settles back to the home key and represents the original theme. It restates the major ideas of a musical work. Occasionally, it comes with a coda, which is a small section to bring the work to a close.
• FAMOUS SONATAS- Mozart: Piano Sonata no. 14 in C minor KV 457, Schubert: Piano Sonata no.20 in A major & Bach: Sonata no.3 in C Major for Solo Violin
• Sonata 2nd Movement- This is often a slow movement of the sonata cycle. It offers a contrast t the sonata-allegro. It is a songful movement and tempo is often an ANDANTE or ADAGIO in A-B-A form.
• Sonata 3rd Movement- is a minuet and trio. Minuet originated from French court (embodies in triple time and idea of grace of an aristocrat age). Scherzo is an Italian term for "JEST" which is marked by abrupt changes in mood.
• Sonata 4th Movement- The classical sonata ends with a rondo, a lively movement suffused with the spirit of the dance. A-B-A-B-A is the form used as rondo extension. A-B-A-C-A is used if there are two contrasting theme and sections.
• (VOCAL FORMS- SINGLE MOVEMENT) Recitative- a.k.a by the Italian name 'recitativo', acts as a dialogue and allows the characters to move the story onwards through a narrative.
• (VOCAL FORMS: SINGLE MOVEMENT) Aria- a self-contained piece for one voice, with or without instrumental or orchestra accompaniment.
• (VOCAL FORMS: SINGLE MOVEMENT) Chorus- A group of singers who perform together, usually singing multi-part compositions with more than one singer for each part.
• (VOCAL FORMS: MULTI-MOVEMENT) Opera- a form of theatre in which a music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by singers. Such as a "work' is typically a collaboration and a librettist and incorporates several performing arts, such as acting, scenery, costume, and sometimes dance or ballet. OST
• (VOCAL FORMS: MULTI-MOVEMENT) Religious Music- Christian Music that has been written to express either personal or a communal beliefs regarding Christian Life and faith. Common themes of Christian music include praise, worhship, penitence and lament, and its forms widely around the world.