According to National Day Calendar.com, September is
Classical Music Appreciation Month. I love classical music. It is great music
to relax by, to get energized, and much more than just instrumental music. From
the Medieval era to the Romantic period of the late 19th century,
classical music has brought advancements in instruments, musical tone and
expression with each style reflecting different periods of history. It isn’t
just music of the past but music which has led to other musical genres. It is
music that can be enjoyed today as it was many years ago. Music which has led
to the advancement of instrument we still play today. Let’s dive into a brief
review of each period and the importance it has on the development of music and
its enjoyment.
The Medieval era is generally considered to be between
500-1400 CE. Music during this era was heavily connected with the church.
Liturgical (sacred) music was performed in church and was mostly vocal with
choral music and chants. A chant is monophonic, meaning single melody with no
accompaniment or instruments and were distinctive by regions. In Spain and
Portugal, the Mozarabic chant was influenced by North African music. In Milan,
the popular chant was the Ambrosian chant named for St Ambrose. The Roman
Catholic Church began to standardize the Mass and chants through the combined
efforts of Pope Gregory I (540-604) and Charlemagne (742-814). According to
music historian, the Gregorian chant developed from the Gallican chant from Gaul
(modern day France) and the Roman chant. The music from the Medieval era is
important because it began the foundation for music notation. Music could be
shared between musicians and choral groups. The rhythmic notations of musical
notes and rests first appeared with formal structure between 1130-1300.
The Renaissance (1400-1600 CE) was a period of great discovery
in science, literature and in music. The invention of the printing press and
helped distribute music far and wide across Europe. Music became more than just
for church. It became music to enjoy in the home and in the community. Music
began to have a variety in range, rhythm, harmony and form. It is also the
period in which tonality (musical keys) began to develop. It became a vehicle
for personal expression. One of the most famous Renaissance composers, John
Dunstaple (or Dunstable) (c. 1390-1453) was an English composer of polyphonic
music. Numerous copies of his music have been found in Italian and German,
which is proof that his fame was widespread. Later in the Renaissance period
saw the rise of English Madrigal music around 1588 which is an a cappella style
with 3-6 voices. Many instruments we know today originated in the Renaissance
period. For example, organs, trumpets, tambourine, and the bagpipe. Other
instruments would be used to develop future instrument such as the viol which
had six strings and played with a bow. It was like a cello.
The Baroque period (1600-1750 CE) followed and the musical
style was more elaborate and ornate with the use of harmony rather than
modality. This period saw the development of the concerto, cantata, and the
sonata. Chamber music was a common style at this time with professional
musicians expected to be accomplished improvisers. Dance suites were also
popular which were designed for listening rather than dancing. Johann Sebastian
Bach wrote a dance suite known as partitas. Further advancements were made with
instruments. The harpsichord, an instrument like the piano, was a very popular
instrument for the autocracy to play in their homes and for the entertainment
of their guests. Other famous pieces from this period are Georg Frideric
Handel’s Messiah (1741) and Antonio Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons (1725).
the Four Seasons is a group of four violin concertos. My particular
favorite, and many others as well, is the “Spring” concerto which conjures
images of flowing creeks and the singing birds as winter breaks away to the
warmth of spring.
The Classical period (1750/1775-1820) is characterized by
simple, cleaner music which focused more on melody than the Baroque period.
Woodwind instruments were added to the orchestra. This is the period most
people will think of when they hear “classical music” with popular composers
like Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig Van Beethoven. Some music historians
see Beethoven as a Romantic composer (which I will discuss next), other view
him as the bridge between the Classical and Romantic periods. The Classical period
had many great composers who are often left behind with the popularity of
Mozart and Beethoven. Frank Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) was known as the Father of
the Symphony and Father of the String Quartet as he composed over 100 symphonies
and 60 string quartets. Muzio Clementi (1752-1832) was a composer I was not
familiar with until I did my research for this post. He is known as the Father of
the Pianoforte as he revolutionized the art of playing the piano, techniques which
are still used today. Lastly, Antonio Salieri (1750-1825) who became famous as
a jealous rival of Mozart; however, he was an accomplished composer in his own right
and gave music composition lessons to Beethoven.
The Romantic period (1820-1910) saw the growth of the
orchestra with the expansion of the woodwind and brass sections with music
which was very expressive and emotional. The composers of this period, such as
Chopin, Liszt, Wagner, Tchaikovsky and Brahms, the music had a new
preoccupation with nature and fascination with the past and legends and myths.
Chopin was known for nocturnes. He would publish 18 in his lifetime, three more
would be published posthumously. Music meant to represent the fields and
forest. Wagner would write Ride of the Valkyries for his opera, Die
Walkure, with its dramatic notes represents the mythological Valkyries as
they ride over the battlefields choosing warriors to take to Valhalla and those
who will remain on Earth. And almost all mothers have sung or hummed Brahms’ Lullaby
(1868) to their child as they rocked them to sleep. It is still a popular
song to sing to a baby at bedtime. The Romantic period would give away to more
experimental music with the emergence of Jazz in America in approximately in
1919.
In conclusion, Sir Isaac Newton said in 1675, “If I have
seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” We discover new
truths by building on previous discoveries. It is true with music. With
geniuses like Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin and others who attempt to play
instruments and notes in new ways helped developed the music we know and love.
Classical music isn’t just wordless music. It is music which invokes passion
and other emotions. It can help us imagine the beauty and power of nature. It
is music that helped bring our favorite genres today. I encourage everyone to
learn about these composers, their music, their advancements and you will see
how musicians of today have built new music from their genius.
For Further Reading
Muzio Clementi https://www.britannica.com/biography/Muzio-Clementi
The Greatest Composers of the Classical Period https://www.liveabout.com/top-classical-period-composers-724098
Classical Music Month https://nationaldaycalendar.com/classical-music-month-september/
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