One of the main motivations that influenced the transition from Baroque to Classical is that music stopped being something that was only being played in places of religion and transformed into being an amazing work of art.
The most popular bits of music from the Baroque time frame were composed either for religious reasons or social events such as crowning celebrations, ceremonies, and so on. This still continued on during the classical time period. Mozart composed the majority of his music under the power of his Patron, however it was not for religious or ceremonious reasons; it was to flaunt his musical ability to the society. A symphony is a form of musical compositions written for an orchestra that should be split into numerous large sections. Symphonies began to be composed during the Classical period from 1750–1827. The earlier part of this period and the decade leading up to it are called pre-Classical, because there are symphonies that have been written before the classical era started.
The classical period took place between the baroque and the romantic era. The most known composers during this time Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven. During the classical era the light mostly shined on the 3 composers that I mentioned in the last paragraph, Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven. All 3 of them had their own share of fame throughout this period by writing music that not only had an effect themselves but on musical history. Born in 1732, Joseph Haydn was a composer with an Austrian nationality during the classical period. His music earned him the titles ‘Father of Symphonies’ and ‘Father of String Quartet’.
During his early stages of life, he revealed to have a gift for music. His cousin, who was a choirmaster offered him to be trained while being accommodated in his cousin’s home. Haydn left his home at the age of 6 with the attitude to never to return to Rohrau but if he did it would be for brief visits once in a blue moon. Youthful Haydn sang in a church choir and learned to play numerous amounts of instruments as well as obtaining so much knowledge of music. His life suddenly took a turn 2 years later where the musical director for St. Stephens Cathedral had viewed Haydn during a visit to Hainburg.
The musical director requested his service at the most important church in Austria’s capital, this led Haydn to move to Vienna in 1740. He stayed at the choir school for 9 years where he was educated on practical knowledge for music but did not gain enough knowledge for music theory. When Haydn hit the puberty stages of life he was expelled from the choir and choir school for his voice being deep. With no wealth and only a few assets he found security in fellow musician, Haydn decided to make a little money by doing ‘weird’ musical favors. A fortunate opportunity led him into the eye of Italian composer and vocalist teacher Nicola Porpora, who picked up where the choir school left off and accepted him as an accompanist and reformed his music. Eventually he was introduced to Karl Joseph von Fürnberg, an Austrian nobleman, and Haydn played chamber music in his home where he wrote his first string quartet.
In 1758 Haydn met a musical director for the Bohemain Count. Haydn was made person in charge of the orchestra of a group of 16 musicians in which he wrote his first symphony for. Haydn remained with the director for only a short period of time but because of his financial situation hwe was forced to let the ensemble go. Later Haydn was offered a position to service Prince Pal Antal Esterhazy. The Esterhazy’s were a very rich family of the Austrian empire and loved music.
The prince had a very professional orchestra that would consistently play in his home. The prince’s musical director was aging, the prince hired Haydn to be an assistant conductor in 1761. His career with the Esterhazy’s carried him throughout his life till his death in 1809. Haydn’s Symphony 94 in G major was introduced to the world on March 23, 1792. The symphony, or (‘Surprise’) starts off quietly and gently then starts to suddenly it becomes loud and uplifting. A source says that Haydn says ‘This will make the ladies jump!’.
This symphony was made for the men and women who had too much to eat and drink and doze off during his performance. The ‘Surprise’ was not meant to scare the audience but to make his work memorable and unforgettable. The symphony starts with a lively mood and numerous contrasting melodies, the second movement is where it becomes more fragile and gentle but following close after is the loud ‘SURPRISE’. The third movement carries on lively and energetic specifically paying much attention to the minuet. The last development is the liveliest of all, with energetic and hastening thoughts that convey the piece to a vigorous conclusion.
