Republic of the Philippines

MINDANAO STATE UNIVERSITY

College of Education Training Department
General Santos City

Grade 9

Music

Quarter 2 –Music of the

Classical Period
PRE-ASSESSMENT:

Identify the term being described. Write the letter that corresponds to your answer on the space
provided.

1. A musical work with different movements for an instrumental soloist and orchestra
a. SYMPHONY b. SONATA c. CONCERTO d. RONDO
2. A section of the sonata allegro form where the themes are introduced
a. XPOSITION b. DEVELOPMENT c. RECAPITULATION d. THEME AND VARIATION
3. The general texture of Classical music
a. MONOPHONIC b. HOMOPHONIC c. HETEROPHONIC d. POLYPHONIC
4. The term for serious opera
a. OPERA b. COMIC OPERA c. OPERA BUFFA d. OPERA SERIA
5. The most important form that was developed during the classical era and usually the form of
the first movement of a sonata or symphony
a. MINUET b. SONATA ALLEGRO c. RONDO d. SYMPHONY
6. It repeats the themes as they first emerged in the opening exposition
a. EXPOSITION b. DEVELOPMENT c. RECAPITULATION d. SONATA
7. A musical composition designed to be played by the full orchestra
a. SYMPHONY b. SONATA c. CONCERTO d. CANTATA
8. The term for Italian opera
a. OPERA b. COMIC OPERA c. OPERA BUFFA d. OPERA SERIA
9. It is a multi-movement work for solo instrument
a. SYMPHONY b. SONATA c. CONCERTO d. CANTATA
10. It is called “The Age of Reason”
a. MEDIEVAL b. RENAISSANCE c. BAROQUE d. CLASSICAL

MUSIC OF THE CLASSICAL PERIOD (1750-1820)

The classical era, also called “Age of Reason”, is the period from 1750- 1820. The cultural
life was dominated by the aristocracy, as patrons of musicians and artists who generally
influenced the arts. Significant changes in musical forms and styles were made. In the middle of
the 18th century, Europe began to move toward a new style in architecture, literature, and the
arts, known as Classicism. It was also pushed forward by changes in the economic order and in
social structure. Instrumental music was patronized primarily by the nobility.

Important historical events that occurred in the West during this era were the French Revolution
and the Napoleonic Wars, the American Declaration of Independence in 1776 and the American
Revolution.

The term “classical” denotes conformity with the principles and characteristics of ancient
Greece and Roman literature and art which were formal, elegant, simple, freed and dignified. The
same characteristics may also describe the melodies of classical music. Harmony and texture is
homophonic in general. The dynamics of loud and soft were clearly shown through the extensive
use of crescendo and diminuendo. A style of broken chord accompaniment called, Alberti Bass was
practiced.

The great composers of the period were: Franz Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus
Mozart, and Ludwig Van Beethoven.
 Sonata, Concerto, and Symphony are the instrumental forms developed during this era
while Opera Seria and Opera Buffa are the two vocal forms.

INDIVIDUAL ACTIVITY:

“WORD MAZE”

Pick the words from the maze that relate to the classical period. Write your answer on the
blanks.

Mozart
Alberti Bass
Polyphonic

Beethoven
Madrigal Sonata
Bach

Opera Buffa
Concerto
Homophonic
Haydn

Symphony

Oratorio Opera Seria

1. _______________________
2. _______________________
3. _______________________
4. _______________________
5. _______________________
6. _______________________
7. _______________________
8. _______________________
9. _______________________
10. _______________________

Works of Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven are still popular today.

Their compositions are now commonly used as music to animated series of
popular cartoon companies such as Looney Toons, Warner Brothers, 20th
Century Fox, Pixar, etc. Beethoven’s music was used in one of the films for
children and Little Einstein’s animated series also features the music of the
great composers Beethoven, Haydn and Mozart.
COMPOSERS OF THE CLASSICAL PERIOD:

Image painted by Thomas Hardy (1791), currently located at College

of Music Museum of Instruments, downloaded from Wikimedia.org

FRANZ JOSEPH HAYDN (1732-1809)

Franz Joseph Haydn is one of the most prominent composers of the classical period. His life
is described as a “rags-to-riches” story. He came from a poor family and his music led to his rise in
social status. He was hired by rich patrons and eventually became a musical director for the
Esterhazy family for 30 years.

His music reflects his character and personality: mainly calm, balanced, serious but with
touches of humor. He was able to compose over 100 symphonies and developed them into long
forms for a large orchestra. He was named, “Father of the Symphony” although he excelled in
every music genre of the period. Most of his symphonies have nicknames such as the “Surprise
Symphony”, “The Clock”, “The Military”. He also wrote chamber piano music and choral works.

Image painted by Barbara Krafft (1819),

photo taken by Otto Erich (1965) from Mozart:
A Documentary Biography. Stanford University Press.
Downloaded from Wikimedia.org
WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART (1756-1791)

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is a child prodigy and the most amazing genius in musical
history. At age five, he was already playing the violin and the harpsichord; at six, he was
recognized as an exceptional pianist and, atseven, he was already composing excellent music. At
age thirteen, he had written sonatas, concertos, symphonies, religious works, and operas and
operettas.

He experimented in all kinds of music and composed over 700 works. Unfortunately, due
to mismanaged finances he lived his life in poverty, died young and was buried in an unknown
grave. He composed wonderful concertos, symphonies and opera such as “The Marriage of
Figaro” (1786), “Don Giovanni (1789), and “The Magic Flute” which became popular. Other known
works: Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, Symphony No. 40 in G Major, and Sonata No. 11 in A Major K311.

Image painted by Joseph Kal Stieler (1820) currently

located at Beethoven Haus, downloaded from Wikimedia.org.

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)

Ludwig Van Beethoven was born in Bonn, Germany to a family of musicians and studied
music at an early age. He was the composer who bridged the late Classical era and the early
Romantic era. He was a talented pianist and composer. His famous compositions include 32 piano
sonatas, 21 set of variations, 9 symphonies, 5 concertos for piano, 16 string quartets and choral
music.

His works include the “Missa Solemnis” (1818-1823) and opera “Fidelio” (1805). His known
symphonies are: Symphony No. 3 (Eroica), No. 5, No. 6 (Pastoral), No. 9 (Choral), which adds voices
to the orchestra. He began to go deaf in 1796 but this did not become a hindrance. He continued
composing through the help of an assistant and hearing gadget. Some of his famous compositions
were made when he was deaf.
 Characteristics of Beethoven’s works:

- His music veered toward larger orchestras.

- Sound was centered on the violas and lower registers of the violins and
cellos to give his music a darker mood.
- All themes in a piece are tied together by one motif.
- He developed musical themes and motifs extensively by means of
modulation
- He used more brass instruments and dynamics

In the middle of the 18th century, Europe began to move toward a

new style in architecture, literature, and the arts, known as
Classicism. It was also pushed forward by changes in the economic
order and in social structure. Instrumental music was patronized
primarily by the nobility.

VOCAL and INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC

SONATA

A multi-movement work for solo instrument, Sonata came from the word “Sonare” which
means to make a sound. This term is applied to a variety of works for a solo instrument such as
keyboard or violin.

1st Movement: Allegro – fast movement

Albeti Bass

Below is an excerpt from the 3 movements of the Sonata No. 16 in C Major K545 by W.A. Mozart.
Listen to each phrase of the movement.
 2nd Movement: Slow tempo: (Andante, Largo, etc.), mostly lyrical and emotional.

3rd Movement: Minuet: It is in three-four time and in a moderate or fast tempo.

SONATA ALLEGRO FORM

The most important form that developed during the classical era consists of 3 distinct
sections: Exposition, Development and Recapitulation.

1. Exposition - the first part of a composition in sonata form that introduces the theme

2. Development is the middle part of the sonata-allegro form wherein

 themes are being developed

3. Recapitulation - repeats the theme as they first emerge in the opening exposition

CONCERTO

Concerto is a multi-movement work designed for an instrumental soloist and orchestra. It

is a classical form of music intended primarily to emphasize the individuality of the solo
instrument and to exhibit the virtuosity and interpretative abilities of the performer. The solo
instruments in classical concertos include violin, cello, clarinet, bassoon, trumpet, horn and piano.
A concerto has three movements: fast, slow, and fast.

3 movements:

1st Movement: Fast: Sonata-allegro form with expositions of the orchestra and then by the soloist.
2nd Movement: Slow: Has more ornamentation than the First movement.
3rd Movement: Fast: Finale: usually in a form of rondo, resembling the last movement of the
symphony and usually a short cadenza is used.

SYMPHONY

A multi-movement work for orchestra, the symphony is derived from the word “Sinfonia”
which literally means “a harmonious sounding together”. It is a classical music for the whole
orchestra, generally in four movements.

4 movements of the symphony:

1st Movement: Fast: Sonata-allegro form

2nd Movement: Slow : gentle, lyrical – typical ABA form or theme and variation
3rd Movement: Medium/Fast: uses a dance form (Minuet or scherzo)
4th Movement: Fast: typically Rondo or Sonata form

CLASSICAL OPERA

Opera is a drama set to music where singers and musicians perform in a theatrical setting.
The two distinct styles of opera, Opera Seria and Opera Buffa, were developed during the Classical
Period. The Opera Seria (serious opera) usually implies heroic or tragic drama that employs
mythological characters, which was inherited from the Baroque period. “Idomeneo” by Mozart is
an example of Opera Seria. The Opera Buffa (comic opera) from Italy made use of everyday
characters and situations, and typically employed spoken dialogues, lengthy arias and was spiced
with sight gags, naughty humor and social satire. “The Marriage of Figaro”, “Don Giovanni”, and
“The Magic Flute” are examples of popular Opera Buffa by Mozart.
WHAT TO PERFORM

INDIVIDUAL ACTIVITY:

“Commercial Break”

Procedure:

1. Advertise a product of your own choice wherein classical music will be used as background
music.
2. Make a video presentation.
Criteria for grading:

1. Choice of music (must be a Classical Period piece and appropriate for the product)------30%
2. Originality (use of own concept) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 40%
3. Creativity (use of props, costumes) --------------------------------------------------------------------- 30%

T OT AL 100%

SUMMARY
At the end of the unit, you must have knowledge of the following concept.

Classical music refers to the period from 1750-1820. It is also known as the “Age of
Reason” or “Age of Enlightenment” because reason and individualism rather than tradition were
emphasized in this period.

During this period, different instrumental forms of music were developed. These were
sonata, concerto and symphony. The three greatest and most popular composers of the period
are: Franz Josef Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig Van Beethoven.