Unit 4. Classicism
1. Introduction
2. Secular vocal music
3. Religious vocal music
4. Instrumental music
Symphony No. 40 · Mozart
1. Introduction
Classicism is the musical period which lasted approximately from 1730 until 1820.
As the rest of arts, the music of this period seeks formal perfection and the classical ideal of beauty.
Classical music eliminated the Baroque basso continuo and avoided counterpoint complexity.
It is an elegant, natural music with simple melodic lines and regular phrases.
2. Secular vocal music
The core of secular vocal music is the opera.
Two different genres are developed: opera seria and opera buffa.
-
Opera seria:
Che farò senza Euridice?.
Orpheus and Eurydice - Gluck
-
Opera buffa: The main composer was Mozart with The Magic Flute written in German.
Der Vogelfänger bin ich ja. The Magic Flute - Mozart
Der Hölle Rache. The Magic Flute - Mozart
3. Religious vocal music
-
Oratorio: was identical to opera in the late 18th century. The main oratorio composer was Haydn (The Creation).
-
Mass: became an operatic styled piece written for orchestra, chorus and soloists.
Some Baroque characteristics like fugal choruses and basso continuo parts still remained in Classical sacred music.
Lacrimosa - Mozart
4. Instrumental music
Instrumental music continues to develop with the introduction of new instruments (such as the piano and the clarinet) and uses the sonata form as a composition model, composed by:
• Exposition (two themes in different keys).
• Development.
• Recapitulation (return to exposition with both themes in the main key).
Instrumental music moved out of the court to public concert halls, which played a decisive role in its development.
A Little Night Music. First movement. Allegro - Mozart
The structure of the sonata form was applied to the main instrumental forms:
• Sonata: one or two soloists.
• Chamber music: trio, quartet or quintet.
• Symphony: for a whole orchestra.
• Concerto: for a soloist and orchestra.
In Spain
Instrumental music stood out for the guitar repertoire, and the zarzuela fought the influence of Italian opera.
Listen to this piece based on the slave choir from The Magic Flute by Mozart
O cara armonía - Fernando Sor
Women in music
During Classicism, women continued to stand out as instrumentalists and singers, also getting professional recognition in other facets of music, such as teaching, foundation of academies or the organization of concerts in which their own works were premiered.
For instance, Maria Theresia von Paradis (1759-1824), blind from the age of three,
became an excellent pianist. She wrote didactic works, concertos for piano, operas and chamber music.
Sicilienne - Maria Theresia von Paradis
Dance
In dance theatre, ballet d’action appeared and the favourite social dance was the minuet, also introduced as a regular movement in instrumental forms.
String quintet op.13 No. 5: Minuet - Boccherini