Page 116 - (DK) The Classical Music Book - Big Ideas Simply Explained

114 INTRODUCTION

The court composer Italian composer The opera Doktor
of Frederick of Prussia, Domenico Scarlatti und Apotheker, a
Carl Philipp Emanuel publishes 30 Essercizi Singspiel (“sing-play”)
Bach composes (“Exercises”) as part of by Carl Ditters von
his Flute Concerto more than 500 sonatas Dittersdorf opens
in A major. written for keyboard. in Vienna.

1753 1758 1786

1755 1762 1787

Johann Stamitz’s In Vienna, Christoph Antonio Salieri
Symphony in E-flat major Willibald Gluck’s Orfeo ed premieres his
transforms the symphony Euridice overturns the Tarare, a tragédie
form with its sudden conventions of Italian opera, en musique, set to
changes in dynamics and creating a more dramatic and a French libretto,
new fourth movement. integrated entertainment. in Paris.

he 18th century was the was so influential that the term artificial nature of Baroque opera,
“Age of Enlightenment” “classical music” is widely used to began a series of “reform operas,”
T in Europe, a time when refer to long-established musical simplifying the music and aiming
the old political order was giving traditions in general. Among the for a more realistic drama.
way to a new, more inclusive first to adopt the new style were
society. The aristocratic courts two of J.S. Bach’s sons: Carl Philipp The Viennese scene
continued to provide patronage Emmanuel, a court musician who As the Classical style became
for the arts, but the rise of an bridged the gap between Baroque established, composers and
urban middle class created a and Classical styles of music, and performers tended to gravitate
new concert- and operagoing his brother Johann Christian, who toward Vienna, which was
audience with different tastes. made his name in London, staging becoming the cultural as well as
The music of the period also public concerts and popularizing geographical center of Europe,
reflected Enlightenment values the newly invented piano. Some with a prosperous population
of rationalism and humanism that of the most exciting developments, eager to hear new music. Three
looked to the aesthetic ideals of however, were happening in composers stood out from the
Ancient Greece, rejecting the Mannheim, Germany, where the others: Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang
extravagant counterpoint of the court orchestra enabled composers Amadeus Mozart, and Ludwig
Baroque era in favor of a more such as Johann Stamitz to explore van Beethoven.
detached style that emphasized new musical forms, including the Haydn, although a central figure
elegance and proportion. symphony and concerto. in the formation of this Viennese
The Classical period in music Opera was undergoing a similar musical scene, was not initially a
history began around 1750. It lasted transformation. Christoph Willibald part of it. He took a conventional
not much more than 50 years yet Gluck, dissatisfied with the stilted, job as Kapellmeister (musical

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