🎹Music History – 1750 to 1850 Unit 2 – Enlightenment's Impact on Music

Key Enlightenment Ideas

• Emphasized reason, individualism, and skepticism of traditional authority
• Valued progress, tolerance, constitutional government, and separation of church and state
• Believed in the power of rational thought to improve society and advance knowledge
• Promoted the scientific method and empirical observation over dogma and superstition
• Encouraged a more secular worldview, challenging the dominance of religious institutions
• Advocated for individual rights, including freedom of expression and religious tolerance
• Fostered a belief in the potential for human perfectibility through education and self-improvement

Historical Context

• Emerged in the late 17th and 18th centuries, primarily in Europe and North America
• Coincided with significant political, social, and economic changes (American and French Revolutions)
• Influenced by the Scientific Revolution and the rise of empiricism and rational inquiry
• Occurred during a period of growing global trade and cultural exchange
• Reflected a shift away from absolute monarchies towards more democratic forms of government
• Took place against the backdrop of the Age of Exploration and the expansion of European empires
  • Led to increased contact with non-European cultures and ideas
• Coincided with the rise of the middle class and the growth of urban centers

Changing Role of Musicians

• Transitioned from being primarily employed by the church or aristocracy to working as freelance artists
• Began to compose for public concerts and a broader audience, rather than just patrons
• Gained greater creative freedom and autonomy in their compositions and performances
• Became more entrepreneurial, seeking out commissions and publishing opportunities
• Collaborated with poets, playwrights, and other artists to create new forms of musical expression
• Increasingly viewed as artists and intellectuals, rather than mere entertainers or servants
• Played a more active role in shaping public taste and opinion through their work

New Musical Forms and Styles

• Emergence of the symphony as a major genre, featuring multiple movements and larger orchestras
• Development of the sonata form, characterized by exposition, development, and recapitulation sections
• Rise of the string quartet as a popular chamber music ensemble
• Growth of opera as a dramatic and expressive art form, incorporating elements of theater and dance
  • Opera seria (serious opera) and opera buffa (comic opera) became distinct genres
• Increased use of chromaticism, modulation, and dynamic contrast for emotional effect
• Shift towards more expressive and individualistic styles of composition and performance
• Incorporation of folk and popular music elements into classical compositions

Notable Composers and Works

• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791): Symphony No. 40, The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni
• Joseph Haydn (1732-1809): The Creation, Symphony No. 94 "Surprise", String Quartets Op. 76
• Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827): Symphony No. 5, Piano Sonata No. 14 "Moonlight", String Quartet No. 14
• Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750): The Well-Tempered Clavier, Brandenburg Concertos, St. Matthew Passion
  • Although Bach predates the Enlightenment, his works were influential on later composers
• George Frideric Handel (1685-1759): Messiah, Water Music, Music for the Royal Fireworks
• Christoph Willibald Gluck (1714-1787): Orfeo ed Euridice, Alceste, Iphigénie en Tauride

Technological Advancements

• Improvements in instrument design and construction, such as the fortepiano and the clarinet
• Development of the modern orchestra, with standardized instrumentation and seating arrangements
• Advancements in music printing and publishing, allowing for wider dissemination of scores
• Invention of the metronome, enabling more precise tempo indications in compositions
• Refinements in the construction of concert halls and opera houses for better acoustics
• Introduction of the conductor's baton, facilitating clearer direction of larger ensembles
• Experimentation with new materials and manufacturing techniques for string and wind instruments

Impact on Performance Practices

• Increased emphasis on virtuosity and technical skill in solo performances
• Greater use of improvisation and ornamentation, particularly in cadenzas and solo passages
• Rise of the public concert as a social and cultural event, with larger and more diverse audiences
• Emergence of the professional music critic and the development of music journalism
• Changes in conducting styles, with more expressive gestures and attention to interpretation
• Shift towards more standardized tuning systems and pitch references (e.g., A=440 Hz)
• Growing importance of music education and the establishment of conservatories and academies

Legacy and Influence

• Laid the foundation for the Romantic era in music, which further emphasized emotion and individualism
• Influenced the development of nationalism in music, with composers drawing on folk traditions
• Contributed to the canonization of certain composers and works as "classical" masterpieces
• Shaped the modern conception of the composer as an autonomous, creative genius
• Established many of the musical forms, genres, and performance practices that continue to this day
• Inspired later movements in music, such as Impressionism and Neoclassicism
• Left a lasting impact on music education, theory, and criticism, as well as on wider cultural attitudes towards music and the arts