Assignment:
Discussion
In one to two paragraphs please respond to the below essay and give your thoughts.
The Baroque and Classical periods were very important to the development and evolvement of music. Although these styles are different, they have some similarities since they are so close in time. This analysis will discuss the Baroque and Classical periods and their individual characteristics. Compositions of the Baroque period will be compared with music from today for similarities. The city of Vienna will be discussed in terms of its influence on the Classical period and three famous composers, Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven.
Additionally, it will describe the similarities and differences between the Baroque and Classical periods. The Baroque period last from 1600 until 1750 and it was comprised of three phases. Our text focuses primarily on the last phase, the late Baroque period. During the Baroque period, the opera was developed and composing with major and minor scales emerged. Music was very melodic with rhythms and inflections of speech. (Kamien, 96). It was during this time that contrast of sound became important. Specific to the late Baroque period, harmony became important to music.
According to the text, Baroque music was singular in its mood and that was evident in the mood and melody. (Kamien, 97) Composers used the music to convey a singular emotion throughout the entire composition. Baroque composers used descriptive musical language to depict meanings of words.
For example, happiness was depicted with higher tones or sharp, quick notes, whereas gloominess was conveyed with lower and slower notes. Usually a polyphonic texture was used, which mean that two melodic lines were used creating a competing sound for the listeners. Also, the bass continuo was used in Baroque music. The bass continuo was, "the bass line played by a low stringed instrument beneath the melody" (Fuller, "Baroque Music"). The Baroque period was also the period when the concept of the orchestra emerged.
At this time, the orchestra was comprised of a small number of players usually from the violin family. If other instruments were used they would vary from piece to piece and would be made to sound like each other. (Kamien, 99) The quote from page 101 in the text, "During the baroque period, musicians often played with amateurs in music clubs or university music societies, getting together in private home, coffee-house and taverns.", is slightly similar from our world today. Musicians who are not household names usually can be found trying to make a name for themselves by playing with other musicians. The text describes musicians of the baroque period being underpaid and of a lower status than those who played for the nobility (Kamien, 102). Typically, musicians had to do whatever necessary to earn money including writing compositions for bigger opera houses.
Today, to become a musician, one must work tirelessly, performing in small venues, hire on with other bands or perform for events. This is not unlike the aspiring musicians of the Baroque period. They different from today's world in the fact that music was not easily accessible to everyone like it is today. Music was usually found in royal courts or churches and being to participate as a musician was an honor. This honor usually came from complying to difficult prerequisites including "voluntary contributions" (Kamien, 102). T The composition by Antonio Vivaldi entitled, La Primavera (Spring), was the best representation of a Baroque period composition. It was very light-hearted and descriptive in melody. The audience could transport themselves into each season because of the way the music flowed. This piece was chosen because of its familiarity and for its simplicity.
It is easy to hear this composition to be heard in a private home or coffee-house. In comparison, A Woman's Work composed by Kate Bush uses descriptive effects to create imagery for the audience. Whereas Vivaldi's composition evokes a happy emotion, Kate Bush's song is somber and haunting. The song in general is an emotional piece describing the feelings that one experiences while a loved one goes through a challenging event. The music allows the listener to envision the pain and suffering that a person feels to the point that they feel it also. There is a continuous melody that is accompanied by other instruments at peaks and valleys. For that reason, it is believed that this song can be played in private homes and coffee-houses like those of the Baroque period. The Classical period evolved from the Baroque period and is quite different in style. The Classical period was a time where things were about form. It was derived from Greek and Roman principles.
The article, The Classical Period, states that "The name classical is applied to the period because in art and literature, there was keen interest in, admiration for, and emulation of the classical artistic and literary heritage of Greece and Rome." The primary focus was balance and clear structure. While the Baroque style centered around a singular and continuous mood, the Classical style emphasize changes in mood and emotional range. (Kamien, 154) Rhythm became an important factor to music because of its variety of patterns and versatility. Melodies were simplistic and easy to remember. The piano emerged as the star because of its ability to create dramatic dynamics which were essential to Classical music. The orchestra also evolved during this time. The main differences from the Baroque period is the number of musicians and the instrument groups. There were four distinct instrument groups that had different roles in the orchestra instead of sounding alike. The city of Vienna was the cultural mecca during the Classical period. The text states that Vienna was, "a bustling cultural and commercial center with cosmopolitan character." (Kamien, 159) Vienna was the place to be and be seen, oftentimes being the playground for the nobility.
As a result, the newest music and trends were established in Vienna. Musicians flocked there for fame and fortune. Music of the Classical Period reflects the changes that society was going through. According to the article, The Classical Period, "Music was still being composed for the church and the court, but the advent of public concerts reflected the new view that music should be written for the enjoyment and entertainment of the common person". The middle class was more prosperous during this time which meant that music could be enjoyed more than just at church or in royal courts. The most famous composers of the Classical Period were Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven.
They were all similar with just enough differences. Haydn was a true rag to riches story. His story starts out with Haydn as a choir boy in Vienna, working as a servant for a wealthy family in Hungary until gaining recognition upon his return to Vienna. Haydn is credited with developing the symphony and the string quartet. He truly enjoyed composing and is responsible for multiple types of music (i.e. concertos, symphonies, etch). On the other hand, Mozart was like a child prodigy. He went to Vienna as an act independence after being under the strict direction of an authoritative figure.
In Vienna, Mozart could flourish and gain acclaim with a new style of music. Like Haydn, Mozart wrote concertos however, his were dramatic and restrained. The audiences in Vienna did not always love Mozart, thus evident by him dying with major debts. Beethoven came from a family of musicians and was considered a musical genius at a young age. (Kamien, 193) Beethoven studied under Haydn and other teachers and prided himself on his hard work and perfectionism. He was loved entirely by the people of Vienna, evident in the income and gifts that he received in return for his compositions and mastery. Even after becoming completely deaf, Beethoven created absolute masterpieces that reflected his personality. His compositions were full of drama and excitement, which is why the people of Vienna appreciated him; they never knew what to expect.
In conclusion, the Baroque and Classical periods were very influential to the development of music. The Baroque period introduced elements of music such as the orchestra and vocal music. Even though the Classical period evolved from the Baroque period, the styles are completely different. In some cases, their characteristics can be identified in some of today's music. Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven were some of the most renowned composers of the Classical period. Although they had influence on each other, their music was different and had different impacts on the Viennese society.