Classical period (1750-1820)
Characteristics of music in this period:
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Graceful, detailed elaboration
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Light, flowing melodies
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Short, simple phrases
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Use of dance rhythms
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Variety and contrast were used
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Increased use of crescendo, decrescendo & sforzando
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Crescendo – gradually louder
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Decrescendo – gradually softer
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Sforzando – sudden, strong accent
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Frequent changes in mood
Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)
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Born in Austria
Joined church choir at age 8
Learned to play the violin and keyboard instruments
Friend/mentor of Mozart
Taught Beethoven
His most original ideas were in his string quartets and symphonies (definition
– a large composition for orchestra, usually in 3 or 4 movements)
Haydn’s music
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His symphonies & string quartets followed the pattern of the Classical era –
the 1st & 4th mvmts. are fast, the 2nd is slow, and the 3rd is a minuet (a dance
in 3,4 time)
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String Quartets
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String Quartets were designed for amateur musicians
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His string quartets were considered “chamber music”
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Def. – “Ensemble instrumental music for up to about ten performers
with typically one performer to a part”
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http://www.music.vt.edu/musicdictionary/
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String Quartet Opus 76, No. 3 is nicknamed “Emperor” because in the
second movement, Haydn quotes the melody from his anthem, “God Save
Emperor Francis.”
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The same melody is used for the German national anthem.
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1st movement - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1gwtCA_gec
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2nd movement - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTydqwnHqCQ
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German nat’l anthem - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhQwLeMcbRY
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German anthem is the same melody, accept played faster.
Symphonies
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Wrote more symphonies than anyone else.
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Called the “Father of the Symphony”
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Possibly wrote 106 symphonies
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The 12 symphonies he wrote while visiting London were his greatest
achievement in orchestral music. Some of them are known by nicknames –
“Clock,” “Surprise,” “Drum Roll,” “Miracle,” “Farewell”