S2 Rococo and
Classical Period
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St. Paul’s College - Ms Tsoi
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C. P. E. Bach - Keyboard Sonata in A major, H.186
What Baroque and Classical
period elements could you
observe?
(Dynamics, harmonies, form,
textures, ornaments…)
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Rococo Period (1730-1770)
● Rocaille - an elaborate ornamentation with
pebbles and shells, typical of grottos and
fountains
● France
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C. P. E. Bach (Berlin Bach) J. C. Bach (London Bach)
Tchaikovsky - Rococo Variations
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Classical Period
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Classical Period (1750-1820)
● Vienna as the cultural center
● Simplicity, elegance, clarity, balance,
attention to details
● Age of Enlightenment/Reason
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Printing technology
● Invented in 1796
● Sheet music helped in reaching to wider
audience
● Music and concerts became more common
to the public
● Music that sounds interesting and easier to
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understand
Rise of middle class
● Increase in economic and social power,
shift in target audience
● Decline of absolute monarchy, rise of
democracy
● New forms of music: sonata, string quartet,
symphony
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Inspired his early style
“Papa
Haydn” Mentor
Mentor Respect
turned to
conflict
Mozart Haydn Beethoven
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Mozart - Piano Sonata No. 12 in F major, K. 332
Circle all the dynamic
markings on your score.
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Baroque Classical
Terraced dynamics Gradual dynamics
(crescendo, diminuendo)
Minimal, simple and basic markings Clearer instructions on dynamic markings
(Rely on interpretations) (e.g. mp, mf, sfz, cresc.)
Dynamics for dramatic contrast Dynamics for fluid emotion expression
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Fortepiano (Pianoforte/Piano)
● Invented in early 18th century (around 1700) by
Bartolomeo Cristofori, an Italian instrument maker
● Gained popularity in mid-18th century
● Gravecembalo col piano e forte ("harpsichord with
soft and loud")
● Gradual dynamics became more popular (more
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nuanced and expressive)
Fortepiano
Harpsichord vs Fortepiano?
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Harpsichord Fortepiano
Plucking the strings Striking the strings with hammers
Sounds decay quickly Sounds sustain longer (some included
pedal)
Limited dynamic ranges Wider dynamic ranges
Play minor dynamic changes
4 - 5 octaves, usually 2 manuals 5 - 6 octaves, usually 1 manual
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Mozart - Piano Sonata No. 16 in C Major
Which hand plays the melody
and accompaniment
respectively?
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Homophonic texture
● Emphasize the melodic line (vs polyphony in
Baroque Period)
● Melody on the highest voice, accompaniment
in lower part (usually)
● Clarity: easier for audience to understand
● Attract broader audience (and musicians!)
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Cadences
● Harmonic configuration (chord
progression) that creates a sense of
resolution at the end of a phrase
● Tonic (I), subdominant (IV), dominant (V)
● Clear sense of tonality
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Alberti bass
● A kind of broken chord or arpeggiated
accompaniment
● Low - high - middle - high
● Sense of sustainability, smoothness and
flow (comparing with blocked chords)
● Usually found in left hand part of
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keyboard works
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Alberti bass in Super Mario
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Mozart - Symphony No. 25 in G Minor “Little Symphony”
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Phrases
● Regular, symmetrical phrase
structure
1 2 3 4
● Shorter phrases (four bar phrase)
end with cadence
1 2 3 4
● (Baroque: long, continuous, fewer
cadence)
1 2 3 4
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Try to sing along with the melody!
Bach - Toccata & Fugue in D Minor, BWV 565 Mozart - Symphony No. 40 in G minor, K. 550
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Melody
● More lyrical, singable melodies (in diatonic scale)
● Question-answer relationship
● Use of motif or theme
● Repetition: repeat without changing the motif
● Sequence: repeat at higher or lower pitch
● Imitation: change in pitch/rhythm, inverted…
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Mozart - Requiem in D Minor: Dies Irae
What mood does this piece
convey?
How does it sound different
to the other pieces in
Classical period you have
listened to?
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Sturm und Drang (storm and stress)
● Artistic movement in late 18th century (mid Classical period)
● Intensity, nervousness, drama, depression, struggle
● React against rationalism
● Minor key, dissonance, unusual harmonies
● Syncopation, fast runnings, complex rhythm
● Contrast in mood and dynamics
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This is a typical setting for
orchestra in Classical
period.
Do you notice anything
different from a Baroque
orchestra?
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Classical orchestra and instrumentation
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Classical orchestra and instrumentation
● Increased in size, greater variety of instruments
● Lead by conductors (instead of concertmaster or keyboardist)
● Standardized setting with 4 sections: string, woodwind, brass, percussion
● Strings as the backbone: upper strings play the melody, lower strings play the
accompaniment
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Classical orchestra and instrumentation
● Woodwind and brass section add variety to the timbre
● Woodwinds play melody more often!
● Pairs of flutes, oboes, bassoons and horns (also clarinets and trumpets)
● Percussion adds the rhythmic sense
● (Other percussion may appear sometimes)
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Haydn - Symphony No. 100 in G Major “Military”
The nickname "Military"
derives from the 2nd
movement (and the end of
the 4th movement)
Why do you think that is?
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Symphony
● Large-scale composition for orchestra
● Often in 4 movements (sometimes 3) with
individual characteristics
● Fast sonata form - slow - light dance - fast
● Aristocrats hired composers and orchestra players
● Also in public concerts
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Military Symphony
I: Adagio - Allegro II: Allegretto
2/2, G major (tonic) 2/2, C major (dominant)
*Trumpet solo, timpani drum roll and “Turkish”
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percussions (triangle, cymbals and bass drum)
Military Symphony
III: Minuet - Trio: Moderato IV: Finale: Presto
3/4, G major (tonic) 6/8, G major (tonic)
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Beethoven - String Quartet in F Major “Razumovsky Quartets”
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String quartet
● Ensemble of first and second violin, viola, cello
● Derived from string ensembles, e.g. trio sonata (two
violins + basso continuo) and concerto grosso
● Often in 4 movements, similar structure with
symphony
● Most popular form of chamber music
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Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)
● “Father of the Symphony” (106) and “Father of the
String Quartet” (68)
● Famous for the sense of humour (e.g. “The Joke”
String Quartet, “Surprise” Symphony)
● Also known for his operas and oratorios at his
time, especially in 1770s and 1780s.
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Symphony No. 94 in G major (“Surprise”, II. Andante)
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Emperor Quartet, Op. 76, No.3 (II. Poco Adagio; Andante)
Inspired by English anthem
“God Save the King”.
Served as the national
anthem of both Austria and
Germany.
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watch?v=cIff7EB7pvc
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 - 1791)
● Child prodigy with absolute pitch and
extraordinary musical memory
● “A Musical Joke” includes terrible compositional
mistakes intentionally
● Composed a song to mock a soprano whom he
hated
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Requiem in D minor, K. 626: Lacrimosa
Mozart’s final work before his
death at 35. It was left
unfinished.
Myth said this work was
commissioned by an unknown
man. The Requiem was played
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in Mozart’s funeral.
The Magic Flute: Der Hölle Rache
Der Hölle Rache kocht in
meinem Herzen (Hell's
vengeance boils in my heart)
Sung by Queen of the Night,
one of the most famous arias.
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Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
● Known to be rude and hard to get along with
● Early period (until 1802) was greatly inspired by
Haydn and Mozart
● Hearing impairment in his 20s, complete deaf in
his 40s
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Piano Sonata No. 14 (Moonlight Sonata)
Sonata quasi una fantasia
("sonata almost a fantasy")
Dedicated to his student
whom he had fallen in love
with,
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Symphony No. 3 (Eroica Symphony)
Dedicated to Napoleon, but
tore the page with his name
when he declared himself
emperor.
2nd movement has been used
as funeral march of Roosevelt,
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Mendelssohn and J. F. Kenndy.
Symphony No. 5 (Fate Symphony)
First time the piccolo and
contrabassoon were used in a
symphony.
“Fate motif” symbolizes fate
knocking the door.
**V also means 5, and the
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morse code is . . . __ !