In the 18th century, the middle class made more money. During the Classical Period, the middle class had a great influence on music. They wanted to hear concertos and symphonies, so they had public concerts. They wanted their children to learn music and play instruments. The composers began writing music geared towards the middle class. They wrote music that was easier to understand and play. Serious music changed to comic operas, popular folk tunes, and dance music.
Mozart and Beethoven were both master composers of the 18th century classical style music era. Classical music emphasized different moods of music throughout one song, fluctuating with the composer's emotions. There are a large variety of rhythmic patterns, creating the composers thoughts. Classical music has a more homophonic texture. The melodies are balanced, symmetrical, and easy to remember. Two simultaneous melodies may play among a number of various instruments creating a more complex texture. Dynamic change was expressed by crescendo and decrescendo. This was when the piano took over the harpsichord.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in 1756. At age 6 he could play the harpsichord and violin. He wrote minuets and fugues for songs. Between the ages of 8 and 12, he wrote a symphony, an oratorio, and an opera. His father put him on tour, where he played for a numerous amount of aristocrats. When he returned home, at age 15, to Salzburg, he was working for a prince archbishop who treated Mozart like a servant and would not let him play music. At age 25, Mozart went to Vienna to be a freelance musician. He had three successful operas; Die Entfuhrung aus dem Serail, Le Nozze di Figaro, and Don Giovanni. Mozart had an amazing way of making his music with ease, grace, and with balance. His music is very rapid, yet elegant and powerful. His piano concerts were among the best, because he composed them mainly for his own performances.
