The Classical Era span from the years 1750-1825. It was known for the Sturm und Drang literary movement, which was aiming to frighten, shock the audience by passionate outbursts and emphasis on minor keys. The dense polyphony from the previous Baroque era gave way to homophony, single melody lines supported by harmonies.
Musical Organizations
In the 18th century, the composers and orchestra active at the court of Mannheim, Germany became the Mannheim School. Leading figures included Johann Stamitz, Ignaz Holzbauer, Christian Cannabich, and Karl Stamitz. The Mannheim Orchestra was known for its precision in performance, wide dynamic range, and dramatic effects. They developed the orchestral crescendo, rocket theme, and the grand pause. The Viennese School, a group of composers at Vienna, Austria, a place that emerged as a musical center, was even inspired by the Mannheim School. Principle composers of the Viennese School include Franz Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Ludwig van Beethoven.
Musical Genres
Many genres were developing and reforming in the Classical Era. Opera was a key genre that spread into three common genres with the contribution of Mozart: opera seria (serious Italian opera), opera buffa (Italian comic opera), and singspiel (German comic opera). Dry recitative was often used as a tool to quickly advance the plot, and section form was employed to allow characters to shift moods and change their points of view.
The commonly used ritornello form in Baroque concertos was replaced by the popular sonata form. It was adapted by Mozart into “double exposition” or “first-movement concerto” form, with the recurring orchestral theme sometimes preserved. The piano concerto gained prominence and eclipsed the violin concerto in popularity. The cadenza in the concerto was usually improvised or prepared by the soloist.
A commonly used multi-movement structure in the Classical era was the sonata cycle. It was demonstrated in the symphony, sonata, and concerto. The three-part sonata form, exposition, development, recapitulation was developed before the Mannheim composers added the 4th part, the menuet and trio. Haydn often used a mono-thematic exposition in his sonata-form movements instead, in which the 2nd theme is a transposed version of the 1st theme, as well as dramatic slow introductions.
Musical Composers
Despite the active Mannheim composers, the most famous Classical composers were still the trio of the Viennese School, Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven.
Franz Joseph Haydn was sometimes referred to as the “father of the Classical symphony” due to his significant contributions to the early development of this genre. In his works, he embraced the grace and elegance of the pre-Classical style but also the dramatic contrasts of Sturm und Drang. A humorous or whimsical nature is revealed in his works, also influenced by folk music as evidenced in his rustic melodies, pizzicato strings, and pedal points. He often includes vivid word painting and bold contrasts.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart exemplified Viennese Classical ideals in his music: elegance, balance, poise, refinement, and sophistication. He frequently utilized symmetrical phrase structures, using harmonic language that balanced diatonic and chromatic elements. He created compelling, realistic characters, dramatically and musically. Exemplified Viennese Classical ideals: elegance, balance, poise, refinement, and sophistication. In his instrumental music, he absorbed vocal qualities and melodic lyricism.
Ludwig van Beethoven’s life can be separated into three time periods referred to by French composer Vincent d’Indy as “imitation”, “externalization”, and “reflection”. He was a bold innovator, a highly original and influential figure. He developed and expanded Classical forms, such as the sonata and concerto, transforming every genre he touched. He employed explosive accents, extreme dynamic contrasts to his music, and exploited technological improvements to the piano. He was also a superb designer and architect, planning and meticulously revising all compositions in his sketchbooks.
Bibliography
Royal Conservatory Of Music. Celebrate Theory History 10. RCM Publishing, 2016.
Written by The Nine Eves
The Anonymous Helpers (TAH)
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