4.1 The Galant Style and Pre-Classical Developments

The Galant style marked a shift towards simplicity and elegance in music from 1720-1770. It featured homophonic textures with clear melodies, contrasting the complex polyphony of the Baroque era. This style laid the groundwork for the Classical period's sonata form and symphony.

Pre-Classical composers like Johann Stamitz and C.P.E. Bach played crucial roles in this transition. Stamitz's Mannheim school standardized the classical orchestra, while C.P.E. Bach's Empfindsamer Stil emphasized emotional expression, influencing the development of Classical music.

Galant and Early Classical Styles

Characteristics of the Galant Style

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• Galant style emphasized simplicity, elegance, and clarity in musical composition (1720-1770)
• Style galant featured light, homophonic textures with clear melodies and simple accompaniments
  • Contrasted with the complex polyphony and ornamentation of the Baroque era
• Rococo, a related term, refers to the decorative arts and architecture of the period
  • Characterized by lightness, elegance, and ornate decoration (Fragonard's "The Swing")

Homophonic Texture in the Galant Style

• Homophonic texture, a defining feature of the Galant style, consists of a single melodic line supported by chordal accompaniment
  • Differs from the polyphonic texture of the Baroque era, which featured multiple independent melodic lines
• Homophonic texture allowed for greater emphasis on melody and harmony
  • Facilitated the development of sonata form and the classical style (Mozart's "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik")

Pre-Classical Composers and Schools

Johann Stamitz and the Mannheim School

• Johann Stamitz (1717-1757) was a Bohemian composer and violinist who worked at the court of Mannheim
• Stamitz played a key role in the development of the Mannheim school, a group of composers and musicians associated with the court orchestra of Mannheim
  • The Mannheim school was known for its innovative orchestral techniques and its influence on the development of the classical style
• Stamitz's contributions include the standardization of the classical orchestra and the development of the four-movement symphony (Stamitz's Symphony in E-flat Major)

C.P.E. Bach and the Empfindsamer Stil

• C.P.E. Bach (1714-1788), son of J.S. Bach, was a key figure in the transition from the Baroque to the Classical era
• C.P.E. Bach's compositions exemplified the Empfindsamer Stil (sensitive style), which emphasized emotional expression and individuality
  • Characterized by sudden changes in mood, dynamics, and harmony (C.P.E. Bach's "Württemberg" Sonata No. 1 in A Minor)
• C.P.E. Bach's works influenced the development of sonata form and the classical style
  • His treatise "Essay on the True Art of Playing Keyboard Instruments" was an important pedagogical work of the period

Emerging Expressive Styles

Empfindsamer Stil and Emotional Expression

• Empfindsamer Stil (sensitive style) emerged in the mid-18th century as a reaction against the perceived artificiality of the Baroque era
  • Emphasized emotional expression, individuality, and spontaneity in musical composition
• Composers of the Empfindsamer Stil sought to evoke specific emotions and moods through their music
  • Used expressive devices such as sudden dynamic changes, chromaticism, and irregular phrasing (C.P.E. Bach's "Sanguineus and Melancholicus" Sonata)

Sturm und Drang and Dramatic Intensity

• Sturm und Drang (storm and stress) was a literary and musical movement that emerged in the 1770s
  • Characterized by intense emotions, dramatic contrasts, and a sense of agitation or unrest
• In music, Sturm und Drang works often featured minor keys, syncopated rhythms, and sudden dynamic changes
  • Aimed to convey a sense of emotional turbulence and psychological depth (Haydn's Symphony No. 45 "Farewell")
• The Sturm und Drang style influenced the works of Haydn, Mozart, and early Beethoven
  • Paved the way for the heightened emotional expression of the Romantic era (Beethoven's Symphony No. 5)