The Classical Era Timeline Lecture Notes

1. The Classical Era 
1. Dates
1. Transition from the Baroque 1730-1760
2. Official Dates 1750-1820
3. Ends with death of Beethoven
2. Name
1. Comes from the revival of interest in Greek architecture and aesthetics.
2. Natural philosophy
3. A simplification and clarification of Greek influences on music
2. What is going on in the World?
1. 18th Century is known as the Age of Enlightenment,
1. Advances in philosophy and the natural sciences
2. Age of Revolutions
1. American Revolution
2. French Revolution
1. Reign of Terror
3. Industrial Revolution
3. Age of Empires
1. Nation states are expanding their powers abroad in an effort to combat the tides of revolution
2. Atlantic slave trade is in full swing, but opposition to the practice is growing
3. Britain rules India for more than 100 years
4. Napoleon crowns himself Emperor of France in 1804 
3. Developments in Music
1. Style
1. Sonata Allegro Form
1. Taking the wild fancy tendencies of the Baroque and tightening them into a very strict box
2. Stille Galant
1. Meaning lighter style.
2. Corresponds with rococo in art
3. The Symphony
1. enabled by the expansion and growth of the orchestra
4. The supreme musical form for orchestra
2. The pianoforte by Bartolomeo Christifori
1. The first keyboard instrument to use hammers to strike a string.
2. Pedals came later