The Classical Era Essay

Submitted By brockjenken
Words: 1958
Pages: 8
Open Document
Classical Era
The Classical Era of music (c 1750-1815) was time period that graced developing Europe, bringing with it the idealisms of proper etiquette and formality in all areas of life, including architecture, art, self-conduct of the people, and especially music. Classical era music is known for its simplistic melodies, complex but effortless cadenzas, and rigorous attention to form. When discussing the Classical Era, three composers always tend to be mentioned: Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809), Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791), and Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) (Only early Beethoven tends to classicistic writing). Through their works and music, Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven all eloquently exemplify trends of the Classical Era through the use of Sonata form, three other forms common to the time period (Concerto, Theme and Variations, and Rondo), and their use of call and answer phrasing in their melodies. When looking at the Classical Era as a whole, Sonata form is unquestionably the most important and influential form created during this period. Many composers adopted this form due to its ability to give the composer strict guidelines, but also allow the composer to breathe and create unique songs within its boundaries. Sonata form follows this pattern: Intro (first theme, modulation to the dominant or relative major if in a minor key, second theme), Development (Composer has creative freedom here to develop the themes through rhythmic and melodic variations as well as the use of modulations), Recapitulation (first theme is stated with possible variations, second theme is stated in the home key), and optional Coda or Codetta. Through the use of Sonata form, each composer demonstrates their capability to create unique pieces of music thereby proving their ability to reflect the time period, shown by Haydn’s sonata in E flat, Mozart’s sonata in C, and Beethoven’s sonata in G. To begin, Haydn demonstrates great ability to write sonatas that conform to the measures and boundaries set by the form. In his sonata in E flat (Hob XIV:52 mov I), Haydn takes his first theme in E flat and modulates to the dominant for his second theme, following it up with a development through the keys of C major, c minor, and E major, and finally rounding it off with a slightly varied first theme and second theme in the tonic key of E flat. Despite his unorthodox modulations in his development, Haydn follows all the characteristics of standard sonata form, demonstrating the classical characteristics in his music. To continue, Mozart also shows great capability to write effortlessly and classically, and this can be shown by one of his shorter works, Sonata in C (K 545). At the beginning of this sonata, Mozart introduces as simple theme in C, followed by a modulation to the dominant through the use of descending, modular scales. Following his statement of the second theme, Mozart suddenly modulates to the relative minor of the second theme (g minor in this case) and proceeds to modulate through the use of repeated patterns, arrives to the first theme once again in the key of F (rather unusual albeit), and ends the song with a restatement of the second theme in the home key of C major. Despite his choice to begin the recapitulation in the subdominant key, Mozart’s ability to recreate sonata form in his music demonstrates his presence in the classical era and shows the classicism of his music. Finally, Beethoven, much like Haydn and Mozart, demonstrates trends of the classical era through some of his earlier sonatas, and can be exemplified by his Sonata in G (Op 49, No 2). Opening his sonata with an appreciated theme in G, Beethoven naturally modulates to the dominant, poses his second theme in D, extends the theme through scales, and modulates to d minor for a short development. Following the fourteen bars of development, Beethoven repeats a condensed first theme and continues to the second theme which is repeated in the tonic key, and
Show More

Related Documents: The Classical Era Essay

Classical Revolution And The Classical Era

CHANGES IN BOTH TEMPO AND TIME SIGNATURES AND ALMOST ALL WERE MOSTLY HOMOPHONIC.BEETHOVEN HAD A MAJOR IMPACT ON THE TRANSITION OF CLASSICAL TO ROMANTIC PERIODS. SOME OF THE OTHER GREAT COMPOSERS OF THE ROMANTIC PERIOD WERE, TCHAIKOVSKY, SCHUBERT, LISZT, BERLIOZ, VERDI AND PUCCINI. . BIOGRAPHY Ludwig van Beethoven was a German musician and artist, born on 17, December 1770. A crucial figure in the move between the classical and Romantic times in Western music. He stays a standout amongst the most famous and prosperous of all composers…

Words 1103 - Pages 5

Essay about Classical Era

The classical era The term "classical” is often used to describe music that is not rock, pop, jazz or another style. However, there is also a Classical era in music history that includes songs written from about 1750 to 1825. I have chosen this era because I feel that between 1750 and 1825 music changed by placing a greater stress on clarity, but still have melodic expression and instrumental colour. Also in this era our modern orchestra is finally established. The four families of music that…

Words 638 - Pages 3

Cultural Changes In The Classical Era

The Classical Era (600 BCE – 600 CE) was an era defined by cultural innovation and an increased complexity of civilized life around the globe. Most “game changers” in this period consisted of cultural changes and alterations of how civilizations usually worked. One given change was the advent of the idea of citizenship, a concept where every person who was a “citizen” of a given city was given rights that non-citizens did not have access to. Another was the concept of voting and democracy, where…

Words 341 - Pages 2

Melly Howard: The Classical Era

Melly Howard The Classical Era, which occurred between 1750 A.D. to 1825 A.D., is widely known as a time where science and philosophy became a major interest. It is also known as the Enlightenment. The Enlightenment stressed the centrality of reason and logic in human life. Because of this, it has been dubbed “The Age of Reason.” Many new scientific findings and government types formed during this era as an outcome of the sudden interest in science and philosophy, but this era also included another…

Words 373 - Pages 2

Trade Networks In The Post-Classical Era

Trade networks grew in importance and abundance into the post-classical era. The Silk Road became increasingly important in Eurasia because the rulers, the Mongols, heavily valued the merchants. Many societies developed their trade networks because of economic prosperity. Technologically, transportation such as improved caravan organization accompanied these developments. Also, innovations in merchant practices, and state policies accompanied these developments. Mongol acceptance of merchants created…

Words 1537 - Pages 7

Essay about The Evolution of the Concerto from Classical to Romantic Era

The concerto form was developed significantly from the Classical to the romantic era; producing changes within its instrumentation, form thematic material and rhythmic devices. The societal attitudes towards the composition and consumption of the concerto form also changed during this time. A concerto is an arrangement with solo works performed within the piece, alternating between a larger ensemble and the soloist. The root of its definition was believed to mean to ‘skirmish with one another’…

Words 985 - Pages 4

Ancient Greek Culture: The Classical Or Hellenistic Ages

The Ancient Greek culture has evolved over thousands of years. Those able to experience the Classical and/or Hellenistic Ages are said to have witnessed both the best and worst of ancient Greek culture. The Classical Age (ca. 650-ca. 330 BC) began with the Persian Wars at the beginning of the fifth century B.C. and ended with the death of Alexander the Great in 323 B.C. The Classical Age was a period of war and conflict, first between the Greeks and the Persians, and then between the Athenians and…

Words 854 - Pages 4

Essay about Classical and Rap music thesis

Contrast Essay: Classical and Rap Music Kristin Conway COM/155 - UNIVERSITY COMPOSITION AND COMMUNICATION I March 15, 2014 Instructor: Kathleen Case In contrary to common thought, classical and rap music have as many similarities as they do differences. The sound may be completely different, but there is a way to show emotion that will affect the listeners. For example, they both have ways to bring emotion and feeling into both performance and their audience’s effectiveness. Classical has an effect…

Words 1339 - Pages 6

Classical Societies

Classical Societies Essay Rodrick J. Maynard March 13, 2011 HUM205 Nina Brown Axia College of University of Phoenix Greece The piece I picked in the Classical era is “The Kritios Boy” (fig 3.10) “This work is transitional between Archaic and Classical periods. The rigid frontality of the archaic era is broken by the gentle turn of the head and slight movement in the torso.” (Benton & DiYanni, 2008 page 74 Chap. 3) This was created by Kritios whose work was mostly…

Words 733 - Pages 3

Essay Central Asia Changes and Continuities

Change and Continuity in Central Asia Matthew Priebe The Silk Road in Central Asia influenced major civilizations for many years as goods moved around the Eurasian world. In Central Asia, two Eras both affected the region in their own ways. From the Buddhist period to the Islamic period in Central Asia during the Post Classical Era some things that continued as supported by Dr. Liu’s Article were the use of monasteries, value of silk as a commodity, Greek culture, and the spread of Buddhism and Islam on the silk routes…

Words 2955 - Pages 12