To get acquainted with the world of classical music, it is better to choose concerts in Vienna, where they are held almost every day. Performers from the Vienna Symphony Orchestra in historical costumes present works by Strauss, Mozart, Beethoven, Haydn and other classics.
Characteristics of the Viennese classics
Viennese classics is the direction of European music of the second half of the 18th and the first quarter of the 19th centuries. This direction is characterized by the presence of accompaniment, cross-cutting themes, as well as work on the form and theme. Vienna classicism differs from other directions of classical music by its logic, versatility and clarity of artistic thinking and form. The compositions harmoniously combine comic and tragic notes, natural sounding and accurate calculation, intellectual and emotional themes.
In the music of the Viennese classics, dynamics is clearly expressed, which is fully reflected in the sonata form, which explains the symphony of many works of this genre. It is with this direction - with symphony, that the development of the main instrumental genres of the era of Viennese classics is associated: chamber ensemble, concert, symphony and sonata. At the same time, the final formation of the four-part sonata-symphonic cycle took place. The system of forms, genres and rules of harmony developed by the Viennese school of classics is still in effect.
The heyday of Viennese classicism fell on the era of the development of the symphony orchestra, its definition with the functionality of orchestral groups and a stable composition. The main types of classical chamber ensembles were formed: string quartet, piano trio, and so on. Of the solo instrumental, piano music stood out the most.
Vienna classics
For the first time the term "Viennese classics" was mentioned in 1834 by the Austrian musicologist Raphael Georg Kiesewetter in relation to Haydn and Mozart, a little later other authors added Beethoven to this list. The Viennese classics are considered representatives of the First Vienna School.
Each of the three masters of the Viennese classics has contributed to the development of this style of music. Beethoven, like Haydn, preferred instrumental music, but if Beethoven gravitated towards heroism, then Haydn - towards folk-genre images.
The more versatile Mozart showed himself equally in both instrumental and operatic genres, but gave preference to lyrics. Mozart's operatic compositions helped in the development of various directions of this genre: lyric, musical drama, socially accusatory comedy and philosophical opera-fairy tale.
The three different composers are united by an excellent mastery of the techniques of composition and the ability to create a variety of music: from baroque polyphony to folk songs. Vienna at that time was the capital of musical culture, the central platform for its development.
