/kloc-before the 0/9th century, most people in Europe took classicism as the only aesthetic standard, and they all denied other artistic styles that were inconsistent with classicism, that is, a stable, symmetrical and relatively harmonious artistic style. For example, Baroque, an artistic style incompatible with classicism, took the lead in adopting a critical attitude. /kloc-after the 0/9th century, people fully understood the artistic style and touching charm of the Baroque period, and gradually began to have a high evaluation of the whole art of Baroque. In music, people gradually realize that Baroque music is a very important period in the history of European music, and the artistic achievements made in this period have laid the foundation for the development of European music. Therefore, it can be said that understanding baroque music is very important for understanding the development of the whole western classical music and the basic style characteristics of western music.
After the Renaissance, many European countries were still in turmoil. As we all know, the British bourgeois revolution of 1640 marked the entry of European society into capitalist society, and the bourgeoisie, as a new independent political force, entered the historical stage. At the same time, this social system is in the transitional period from feudal society to capitalism, and the ideological and cultural field is also in the transitional period from Renaissance to Enlightenment. During this period, in the field of art, all kinds of arts are actively seeking their own development direction and exploring ways to further improve their own artistic expression means, which makes the whole art category full of vitality.
On the other hand, science and technology in this period also developed rapidly, because in the second half of the 16th century, with the outbreak of the religious war, new theology and new philosophy began to appear, bringing new ways of thinking, which greatly promoted the emergence of precision science, such as mathematics and modern physics, most of which were produced around Baroque, and artists also benefited a lot from it. During this period, great achievements have been made in painting, architecture, music and sculpture. They have some bold performances in modeling and concept, which are characterized by large scale, symmetrical and rigorous structure, and also pay attention to the contrast between decoration and drama.
Musically, musicians have given new vitality to the art of music through exploration and innovation. The main achievements of music in this period can be summarized as follows: firstly, the emergence of opera art, which originated in Italy and gradually spread to European countries. The second is the gradual improvement of large and small modes and modern harmony system. Baroque music is a foundation of European music, which has influenced the development of European music for more than 300 years, among which this major and minor mode and modern harmony system are a very important factor. Thirdly, vocal music and instrumental music, as two main forms of music art, began to develop independently.
The master of baroque music:
Johann sebastian bach Johann Sebastian Bach
George frideric handel george frederick Gandel (1685- 1759)
Vivaldi
Domenico Scarlatti
Gruk
Monteverdi
Classical period
Abroad, this type of music is called "classical music", which means "classical, orthodox and classical literature", so we in China call it "classical music", or more precisely "western classical music". First of all, conceptually, "classical music" is the name of a music category. However, even in foreign countries, there are many different explanations for the specific meaning of the word "classical music", among which the main objection comes from the different concepts of the era division of "classical music". In the narrowest sense,1works of "Vienna Classical Music School" represented by Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven from the second half of the 8th century to the 1920s, especially "classical music". The broadest explanation is to push the time forward to the Renaissance in Europe, from then until the later Baroque period, Viennese classical period, The Romantic Period, national music schools, impressionism until the modern music schools that appeared at the end of 19 and the beginning of the 20th century, and even all modern professional music that is not purely entertaining are collectively called "classical music".
First of all, we should know that Baroque is the abbreviation of a period, which usually refers to the range of 150 years, from 1600 to 1750. The musical works produced in this period are customarily called "Baroque Music". Of course, the concept of time is rigid, while the art form is relatively flexible. Some people may ask, what does "Baroque" mean? Actually, it has nothing to do with music. The word "baroque" comes from Portuguese, which means an imperfect pearl. Originally a term in the field of architecture, it was gradually used in the fields of art and music.
I have to mention the development of western music before the baroque period. From the middle of15th century to 1600, we used to call it "Renaissance". It is precisely because of the great differences between Baroque music and Renaissance music in many aspects that they are divided into two eras by later generations. The Renaissance advocating humanism is the symbol of western civilization, the beginning of literature, art and modern science, and has made some progress in music art ... but the lack of regular rhythm and the change of strong and weak tones is also the limitation of music creation skills in the Renaissance. The popularity of baroque music since then is closely related to its innovation and change in many fields. Someone once put the Renaissance and Baroque aesthetics together and made the following comparison-"If the Renaissance aesthetics is compared to a round pearl, while the Baroque aesthetics is an irregular pearl, it is a form that would rather break the uniformity of form than pay attention to the expression of strength". Therefore, we can vividly summarize the characteristics of baroque music, namely "strong contrast and slight exaggeration." Compared with the Renaissance music works, which strive for harmony, smoothness and overall stability, Baroque music has broken through this tradition and become more enthusiastic and flamboyant. Although this style has been criticized as "too ostentatious and irregular" in history, no one can deny the fact that baroque music has promoted the development of the whole western music history. Western art history holds that the music art achieved unprecedented rapid development in the Baroque period.
Generally speaking, baroque music has the following characteristics: its sense of rhythm is particularly strong, active, short and rhythmic; Delicate melody, jumping and continuous; Adopt the polyphonic technique of multi-melody polyphonic music; Composers generally emphasize the emotional ups and downs of their works, so much so that the speed and intensity of music were valued at that time; The tonality of the repertoire has also developed from a single conservative church mode in the Renaissance to a major and minor mode. At the same time, western orchestral stringed instruments also developed rapidly during the Baroque period. The appearance of violin and the formation of plucked clavichord provided more expressive force for Baroque music. With the development of other musical instruments, the orchestration of some specific baroque music can develop in a diversified and large-scale direction. However, ancient musical instruments such as organ, harpsichord and violin are still widely used.
In terms of musical forms, the Baroque period was much richer than the Renaissance. The demand of the royal family and nobles for music has prompted many baroque musicians to explore many new forms of music expression, and the rise of opera (not the origin, the origin of opera should be traced back a long time ago) is the most prominent point. Although the opera in the Baroque period was criticized by some experts as "affectation", it was a foundation for the development of opera since then. Other forms of expression in the field of vocal music include drama, classic songs, oratorios, passion and mass, all of which are strongly religious. This shows that in the Baroque period, religious music still occupies a great weight in western music. During the Baroque period, instrumental music developed rapidly with various forms of expression, including concerto, solo concerto, orchestral suite, various dance music, prelude, fantasia, toccata, fugue, sonata and so on. A large part of them developed and evolved, thus becoming a more mature form later.
The great development of baroque music also benefited from the emergence of a large number of outstanding composers in this period. The earliest famous composer in Baroque period should be Italian Monteverdi, who was born in 1567. He is known as "the outstanding figure in the transition from Renaissance to Baroque", "the father of opera reform" and "/kloc-the most outstanding composer in the 7th century", but now he seems to be neglected by us, at least among ordinary music lovers in China, few people are familiar with Monteverdi and his works. Vivaldi is a famous composer. In fact, he is Italian like Monteverdi, but he was born 100 years later than Bi Meng Verdi! So Monteverdi can be called the originator of baroque music. In addition, French music in Baroque period should not be underestimated, represented by coupland. Larmor, who was also born in France, was also a famous musician in the same period. He was once known as "/kloc-the most outstanding composer in France in the 8th century". Larmor and coupland jointly constructed the brilliance of French Baroque music, and both of them were excellent composers in the field of plucked clavichord. Teleman and J.S. Bach are representatives of German musicians in the Baroque period. In fact, Handel is also a German, but most of his works were completed in Britain, and he became a British national, so he is usually regarded as an English composer. The name Teleman may seem strange, but when he was alive in the18th century, his reputation even surpassed Bach's, but his works were not widely circulated.
Maybe everyone will feel a little complicated after reading the above words, because it is very laborious to classify music as a free art form. However, we should simplify the concept of classical music as much as possible. Generally speaking, compared with the early music of the Renaissance and the modern music schools that appeared at the end of19th century, western classical music developed fastest in the Baroque period and was most easily accepted by the public until the emergence of the Impressionist music schools. Therefore, this introductory series of short songs will mainly introduce you to a western classic music work from the 17th century to the end of the 19th century, which is a span of nearly 300 years, and it is also the concept of "classical music" that we specifically refer to. Of course, there are some outstanding and famous works beyond this time span, such as the music of the 20th century Soviet modernist composer Shaw Stekovic.
If we only look at the appearance, then the most basic function of music is just to please the audience's ears. If we want to explore the deep connotation of music, then I think music is a way for composers to express their feelings and emotions; For listeners, it is to get the emotional comfort they need from music and get the spiritual world. The above two points reflect two characteristics of music-entertainment and ideological. Even popular songs are not purely entertaining, but thoughtful. However, the ideological content contained in classical music is more profound, implicit, changeable and intriguing. He can show the deepest and fiercest emotions and the most ups and downs of emotional changes. Classical music is not as straightforward as pop music, but it leaves us more room for reverie, thinking and aftertaste, so it can stand the test of time and years. Some people say that once you like classical music, you will find another life partner besides your lover, and classical music will never divorce you. Although the metaphor is ridiculous, it is also quite philosophical.
Romantic music
First, romanticism in music.
Romanticism originally refers to stories written in Roman style, and later refers to novels or knight stories, and later includes legendary novels. The rise of artistic romanticism was first seen in the literary works of18th century, which showed all personal feelings, interests and talents to the fullest. Musically, romantic composers strongly show their hobbies, which is incompatible with classicism dominated by form. Classical music is as bright as lines; Romantic music, on the other hand, pays attention to color and emotion and contains many subjective and utopian factors. However, this is only a difference in principle. According to the wishes of methodical music historians, it is never so easy to draw a clear line between different creative styles, such as classicism and romanticism. A simple definition is not feasible. These definitions are always too simplistic, because many very important factors are ignored. For example, if it is asserted that classical music is objective and romantic music is subjective, doesn't that mean that Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, like computers, never create works that reflect personal feelings? This is obviously absurd. Similarly, if romantic composers "get rid of" the principle of traditional forms, then this actually denies that they continue to use these forms, or even use classical forms when it is impossible. For example, Verdi ended his comedy opera Falstaff with a fugue. In addition, it should be clear that classicism and romanticism existed for some time. Weber, an important romantic opera composer and German idealist, died one year before Beethoven, while Schubert died only one year later. However, in fact, there are differences between the two music schools that we can easily grasp, and most of these differences are due to non-musical reasons. In The Romantic Period, the composer's position in society has changed fundamentally. They are no longer employees of cities, courts or churches.
Beethoven only won real independence to some extent, because no matter how generously the nobles let him go his own way, most of his livelihood still depended on the protection of the nobles. Now, in theory, the composer is completely his own master, in fact, he is also a public servant. In order to meet the needs of the public, various concert societies and music festival networks have developed rapidly. If a composer, such as Mendelssohn, can provide this large number of dominant middle class with the music they like to listen to, he is successful; On the other hand, if he ignores the aesthetics of the times and only creates for himself or his ideal descendants, then he must be an "eccentric" isolated artist in the eyes of the public. This kind of composers often think that they are outstanding figures and prophets of future art, and the use of the word "artist" is not meaningless, because composers throughout the nineteenth century think of themselves in this way. They have a good reason to call themselves that, because once they get rid of private protection and join the society, they begin to get in touch with literary writers and other creative colleagues. In fact, Weber, Schumann and Berlioz wrote some books about music besides composing music, while Wagner not only wrote his own plays, but also wrote many books and papers about music, drama and philosophy. It is hard to imagine why he still has time to compose so many music works. A new generation of composers have a strong interest in all kinds of new ideas in society, whether scientific, national or artistic. Most importantly, they are fascinated by literature. Their predecessors were only satisfied with expressing pure musical ideas with instrumental music, while romantic musicians devoted themselves to making music keep pace with language in the breadth of expression. Of course, composing music for lyrics has always been one of the practices of composers, but instrumental music was popular at that time to express or describe a specific scene or even tell a story. It began with Beethoven's contemporary Weber, and later developed into Liszt's and Richard strauss's symphonic poems describing sexual intercourse. /kloc-in the first half of the 9th century, the romantic literature in the natural countryside turned into romantic literature with a wider scope than life, represented by Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice (18 13) and emily bronte's Wuthering Heights (1847). There is a world of difference between the two English novels, which can be summarized by Walter W Pate's definition of romanticism. He thinks romanticism is "adding a grotesque color to the United States". Therefore, it is not surprising that romantic music also shows a strange supernatural thing to a great extent, as Berlioz did in his Fantasia written in 1830. Composers soon developed a new interest in the surrounding nature, which is not a simple nature in Beethoven's pastoral, but a capital "nature", a force that has a special connection with them, because they are above all sentient beings. Whether it is literature or music, another feature of romanticism is that it places great emphasis on a single person, rather than a person who, as a member of society, is carefully classified into a certain class and cannot get rid of it at all. Therefore, the emphasis on independent personality makes composers consciously pursue personal characteristics and sometimes become egoistic. In this way, they are getting farther and farther away from those classical composers who have suppressed some of their creative talents because they follow the rules.
Trying to summarize the characteristics of romantic music in a few words can easily make readers mistakenly think that romantic composers are all degenerate. Although some of them did cheat, on the whole, they have enough self-control ability to keep their freedom from crossing the line. Most of them still use traditional symphonies, sonatas, quartets and other forms, although there are new things in these forms that are different from Mozart's and will infringe on his aesthetics (remember, aesthetic likes and dislikes are always changing, so this generation thinks that "excessive" behavior is the norm in the eyes of the next generation, and yesterday's "naughty children" have gradually grown into today's respected "old uncles". [Note: Gauthie, a French poet, was called a "naughty boy" when he participated in the romantic movement in his early years. "Old Uncle" is the British name for Grace, a politician who once served as prime minister. )。 There have always been two different schools within the Romantic Movement, one is radical represented by Berlioz, Liszt and Wagner, and the other is conservative represented by Mendelssohn, Brahms and brukner. Studying early romanticism can explain how the split came about, and also distinguish composers whose importance lies in orchestral music (Mendelssohn, Berlioz) from those whose importance lies in other aspects (such as Schubert in songs, Schumann in songs and piano music, Weber in operas).
Second, the formation of romantic music
Early romantic music, like other sister arts, originated from the "Enlightenment Age" in Europe and the liberal democratic thought of the French Revolution, which was decades later than literary romanticism. Beethoven's late works became the pioneers of early romanticism, and then all composers can be classified as romantics. From the time point of view, 19 century is the heyday of romantic music.
Third, the representative figures of romantic music
As mentioned above, in the late works of classical composers Beethoven, Rossini and Weber, the romantic musical style has been exposed, and it is they who created the Romantic School. Composers born around 1800 formed the center of early romanticism. Schubert and Berlioz are representatives of early romantic music, and they formed their own unique schools from the traditions of Gluck, Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven. Later, romantic music was further improved by Mendelssohn, Schumann, Chopin and Verdi, and reached its peak in the era of Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky, Liszt and Wagner. These composers and pianists formed the center of mid-term romanticism. As for the works of modern famous artists such as Mahler, Richard strauss and Rachmaninov, they belong to the late romantic music.
Fourthly, the historical position of romantic music.
The position of romantic music school in the history of music is self-evident. This period is not only rich in great musicians, but also has an unprecedented range of music genres. Songs without words, nocturnes, art songs, narrative songs and symphonic poems are novel and unique, which is a great "treasure house" in the history of human art. Romantic music is also a bridge: Weber accepted the traditions of Gluck and Mozart and spread them to Wagner in modern times; Schubert is Beethoven's successor in instrumental music, and his romantic art songs have been passed down to this day through Schumann and Orff. Berlioz's title music originated from Beethoven's "Pastoral" symphony and was later associated with impressionism in modern France.
Romantic Music School is a new school after Vienna Classical Music School.
Produced in the early19th century.
The creative characteristics of artists in this period are advocating subjective feelings and nature.
Love and fantasy for the future. The artistic expression forms have also undergone new changes than before.
It shows the formation and development of romantic ideas and styles. Romantic music and classicism
Music is unique in that it inherits the tradition of classical composers. On this basis, there are also
New exploration. For example, it is emphasized that music should be distinguished from poetry, drama, painting and other music.
Combine art and advocate comprehensive art; Advocate title music; Emphasize individual subjectivity.
Sense of expression, works often have autobiographical color; The work is full of fantasy and describes the great self.
But there are many works, because nature is calm, there is no contradiction, and it is an ideal realm; heavy
Relying on drama, he studied national folk music and literature, and drew nutrition from it, and his works were well-known.
National characteristics. In terms of artistic form and expression, it inherits the classical music school, but in terms of content
There is a big difference, and exaggeration is also used a lot. In the form of music, it suddenly
It breaks the restriction of the balanced and complete formal structure of classical music and has greater freedom. Qianle
Chapter II The theme of instrumental music is varied, mainly instrumental works, such as impromptu, nocturne, etudes,
Narrative, fantasia, prelude, lyrics and all kinds of dance music-mazurka, waltz.
Qu, Polka, etc. Among many instrumental music works, piano music is in the majority. Vocal music works
There are a large number of artistic songs in the songs, and many vocal works are connected in series to form a divertimento.
For example, Schubert's The Beautiful Mill Girl and Winter Journey are all innovations of romantic music schools.
The artistic theme of. Harmony is an important tool to express romanticism and an extension of dissonance.
Yamato is freely used, and seventh and ninth chords, as well as semitones and modulation, are frequently used in music.
Now, the scope and expression of harmony have been expanded, and the color of harmony has been enhanced. The composer founded
The multi-movement title symphony and the single-movement title symphony are both romantic music.
Important form.
Romantic music has attracted much attention for its unique strong, free and unrestrained style and classical style.
The rigorous, elegant and dignified musical styles form a strong contrast. If Beethoven's
If music is only black-and-white movies or printed matter, then romantic music works are like watercolors and five paintings.
Color oil painting. This period produced two different schools of romantic music. one
One is conservative romanticism represented by Brahms, and the other is positive romanticism.
Justice. Romantic music period is also the most fruitful period in the history of European music development.
It greatly enriched and developed the fine tradition of classical music and made bold innovations.
Many music treasures of this period are still deeply loved and welcomed by people.