Music Notes IB
Music Notes IB
Music Notes IB
CLASSICAL
1. HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL
A. Social and political upheaval
i.
ii.
iii.
As the 18th century advanced, more people made more money. The
middle class wanted aristocratic luxuries like music and literature.
Thus the composer took middle class tastes into account.
B. Age of enlightenment
i.
Belief in progress, reason was the best guide for human conduct not
custom or tradition
C. Visual arts
i.
In the early 18th century, heavy baroque styles gave way to the
rococo style which was lighter, this change to lightness was also
paralleled by the music scene
D. Patronage
i.
ii.
iii.
Centered in Vienna
ii.
2. FEATURES
i.
B. Melody
i.
ii.
C. Contrasting moods
i.
ii.
iii.
D. Flexibility of rhythm
i.
E. Largely homophonic
F. Less ornamentation
G. Clear cadences and simple diatonic harmony with abundant use of
tonic-dominant chords
H. Use of the piano
i.
I.
i.
ii.
More music was written for amateurs who could not improvise over
a figured bass
ii.
ANALYSIS