4.+The+Classicism



__ **HISTORICAL THEMES** __

**The Industrial Revolution** New developments in the means of production led to increases in material goods and wealth. As production was centralized, urban society became more central to life in Europe and the Americas.

**The philosophy of the Enlightenment** This world view placed an emphasis on the natural rights of people, and on the ability of humans to shape their own environment. Writers such as Jean Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778) and Voltaire (1694-1778) helped shape these ideals.

**The political ideals of republican government** The Enlightenment's emphasis on the individual led to the elevation of the individual's role in political life. The idea of the social contract lay behind two of the most momentous events of the period, the American and French Revolutions.

__ **MUSICAL CONTEXT** __

**Art and "Nature"**   **The Social Role of Music**   **The Concept of Nature in the Arts** 
 * People's view of the nature of this world, and of their relationship to it, was undergoing fundamental change.
 * Political theories saw people as free agents in the world, with a nature that, if not fundamentally good, was at least not fundamentally bad.
 * The concept of "natural" became an important component in artistic thought.
 * Improved economic conditions -- fostered by better production methods -- yielded more goods and greater wealth.
 * "The pursuit of happiness" was available to a broader class of society.
 * Music began to be seen as "an innocent luxury".
 * European composers reacted to increased demand for music.
 * The "unnatural" and "artificial" gestures of Baroque painting and sculpture were replaced with "natural" ideals of simplicity and balance.
 * Allegorical subjects in art and literature were cast aside in favor of "real" people and situations, and the genre of the novel was born.
 * In music, simplicity, balance and an interest in real emotions were critical for the composer.

 **MUSICAL STYLE**

**The style of the Classical era is marked by many of these ideals, and it is reflected in a number of musical elements:** 
 * Simpler textures: Homophonic textures (usually melody and accompaniment) became the standard. Contrapuntal texture was used sparingly, and for specific purposes.
 * Simpler melodies: Classical melodies usually fall into even phrases, and often were organized into symmetrical "question and answer" structures. Many composers found inspiration in folk melodies.
 * The piano: The piano, with its ability to produce gradations of dynamics, became the most important solo instrument for Classical composers.
 * Simple, rational forms: Simple two- and three-part forms became the essential building blocks of all Classical forms, especially the Sonata Allegro form.