Music History and Composer Study

Spring 2015Lake Nona MS

Ms. Hobbs

Introduction

Music has been a part of culture for thousands of years. It has evolved over time to have a variety of sounds and uses.

People who study music have divided history into SIX general time periods of music.

Each time period has certain characteristics and composers that help define their era.

The six time periods are (in chronological order):Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical,

Romantic, and 20th Century (Modern)

Medieval (500-1400)

• Most medieval music was vocal.

• Any instrumental music was usually folk-like and social

• The church was an important place for

musicians

Medieval (500-1400)Gregorian Chant

Originally created and sung in monasteries by monks.

Chants were religious, often psalms or scripture.

Named after Pope Gregory the Great.

Renaissance (1400-1600)

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Drag picture to placeholder or click icon to add

Rebirth and Re-discovery

• Art and music become more important in society

• Renaissance fairs are held today, and are a spectacle of art, music, and theatre.

• Time of Christopher Columbus, Leonardo da Vinci, and Shakespeare

Giovanni da Palestrina (1525-1594)

Italian composer of sacred music

He greatly influenced the music of the Catholic Church. (He wrote over 100 masses!)

One of the first well-known composers of polyphonic music (music with harmonies)

Missa Papae Marcelli Pope Marcellus Mass

Pope Marcellus Mass by Pro Cantione Antiqua

Composed in honor of Pope Marcellus II

Written for six a capella voices – SATTBB (Soprano and Alto parts were not sung by women!)

Like all masses, consists of multiple movements (Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Agnus Dei)

Baroque (1600-1750)

Baroque Characteristics• The Baroque period

was a time of extravagance in all forms. Art, music, and architecture reflect a new sense of drama and excess.

• Instrumental music becomes more important.

• Music in general continues to be more expressive, less tied to religion.

Johann Sebastian Bach

(1685-1750)

• Born in Germany to a musical family

• Played many instruments, but was considered a

virtuoso on the organ

• Church musician throughout his life.

Composed an enormous amount of music for the

church.

• Had 20 children!

Toccata and Fugue in D Minor

Written by Bach for his most beloved instrument

A toccata is a composition written for a keyboard instrument composed in a ‘free style’ (no set structure).

A fugue is a very structured piece that repeats one particular theme/melody many times throughout, harmonized with different melodies.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ho9rZjlsyYY

George F. Handel(1685-1759)

Originally studied law because his father did not approve of his son becoming a full-time musician.

Lived in Germany, Italy, and England at different times in his life and composed in German, Italian, and English

Hallelujah Chorus from Messiah

Part of an oratorio (a musical work written for chorus, vocal soloists, and orchestra). Often with a religious text.

Most often performed during the Christmas season.

King George II stood upon hearing its magnificence; many audiences still stand today.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUZEtVbJT5c

Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)

Italian composer, also ordained as a priest. Because of this and his fiery red hair, he was nicknamed ‘The Red Priest’

Spring from The Four Seasons

Violin Concerto

A concerto is a musical work for solo instrument, often accompanied by an orchestra

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjpLxlSMJPo

Classical(1730-1820)

The Classical Time Period

• Music becomes more formalized,

structured, and ‘classical’ in the

sense of the word as we use it today

• The orchestra as we know it today begins to form in terms of

instrumentation and size

• The American Revolution takes place during this

period

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

(1756-1791) Child musical prodigy

from Austria.

Wrote his first composition at the age of 5, and his first symphony at the age of 8!

A symphony is a large-scale composition usually with 3-4 movements. Almost always performed by an orchestra.

Eine kleine nachtmusik

‘A Little Night Music’ or ‘A Little Serenade’

Written for string chamber ensemble of full orchestra

Four movements:

I. Allegro

II. Romanze: Andante

III. Menuetto: Allegretto

IV. Rondo: Allegro

Ludwig Van Beethoven

(1770-1827)

• German composer

• Began losing his hearing at the age of 20, and eventually became completely deaf.

• Wrote 9 symphonies

• His music is thought to be a sort of transition from

the Classical period to the Romantic period

Symphony no. 5

Four movement symphony written for orchestra

Four movements:

I. Allegro con brio

II. Andante con moto

III. Scherzo: Allegro

IV. Allegro

One of the best known symphonies of all time

First four notes are very memorable and reappear throughout the piece (BABABABAAAA)

Bonus! Symphony no. 9

Beethoven’s last completed symphony

“Ode to Joy”

Performed by orchestra, chorus, and vocal soloists. Symphony no. 9 is the first major example of a composer using voices in a symphony

Composed when Beethoven was completely deaf

Romantic(1780-1910)

Romantic Characteristics

Music in the Romantic era was more expressive, emotional, and reflective.

Composers began to let go of some of the strict structure of the Classical era

Music becomes more available to the common person (not as many “royalty-only” performances)

Johannes Brahms

(1833-1897)

• Composer from Germany.

• Wrote vocal and instrumental music.

• Though he was a musician his whole life, he achieved little success until he was 40 years old.

• He was a perfectionist, and was known to destroy pieces that he did not deem good enough

Wiegenlied: Guten Abend, Gute Nacht

Widely known as ‘Brahms’ Lullaby’. Literal translation from German to English is ‘Lullaby: Good Evening, Good Night’

Performed by only piano and solo voice

A melody known around the world

One of Brahms’ most simple compositions, though arguably his most famous

Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky

(1840-1893)

• Composer from Russia

• Composed mostly orchestral music

• Thought of as the first Russian composer to be known and

loved internationally

• Helped create and popularize the Russian classical sound

• Composed the suites for the famous ballets The Nutcracker,

Swan Lake, and Sleeping Beauty

The Nutcracker

Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker is a ballet suite. The story of the ballet is taken from E.T.A. Hoffman’s story The Nutcracker and the Mouse King

Performed by orchestra

Most often performed during the Christmas season

Premiered in 1892 in St. Petersburg, Russia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wz_f9B4pPtg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_UK--FYo4Q