Cultural, Social, and Intellectual Life in London and Paris in the 1970s - Essay Example

Cultural Social and Intellectual Life on London and Paris in the 1970s When talking about classical music we consider the compositions of artists like Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven. The classical music represents the music that was mostly played in concert stages and opera theatres during the classical period of the 18th century. We look at this genre of music in an individual basis. This means that the character of a musical culture reflects on the peoples’ saturated musical needs, which are mainly expressed through the market mechanism. The classical music has its deepest roots in Europe. The music represents a period where the composers and thinkers of this genre consider the principles of Clarity Proportion. The classical era music represents tuneful melodies, less complicated and more balanced vocally and instrumentally (Bonds, 2009). During the 18th century, there was a transformation of the western culture, a lot of new ideas swept across the Europe. The society underwent reorganization, countries like France ushered in the age of Napoleon. It is in the 18th century that arts and architecture underwent a dramatic change. In this period such classical artists as Haydn Mozart and Gluck produced their unique compositions that were described with simplicity and restraint in their music. The genres such as symphony concerto and sonata underwent a significant evolution in the 18th century. These artists presented the musical sounds characterised with symmetry balance and clarity. The music, which was popular in the 1790s, coincided with the last part of the enlightenment period. This age emphasized reason, logic and knowledge. The classical era represents a musical period that reflected objectivity, clarity, balance and periodicity on the music produced (Parker, 2000). In the classical era, royalty did not influence the composition of music as it did in the other periods. The music represented a break from the past where traditions such as employment by royal patrons did not exist anymore. The music depended on the courts to receive an audience, and the theatre as a culture now became dominant in the society. We are looking at music in the era in which society was undergoing transition from customary, religious, and closed patterns into a more open, relativistic, individualistic and a secular system. The society at this time was focused on transforming from a period of order, wholeness and certainty. The society hungered for a certainty of truth, virtue and beauty. The artist of this time used the classical genre of music to meet the humanity’s longing for wholeness and reconciliation. For example, the artist Wolfgang Mozart, one of the greatest composers of his time, believed that music talked to listeners, it could move listeners. He specialized in the opera genre of music, the opera blended music, and drama and this did touch the emotions of many audiences. The artist considered religion and made a massive contribution to the music for the catholic and protestant traditions. The London and Paris cities were ones that had a large number of merchants, and a society filled with citizens who were considered to be of a high class. This group used the classical music as a form of entertainment. The German, Italian and French artists developed distinct styles of both vocal and instrumental music. The artists were aware of the differences of these styles and made use of them in entertaining their various groups of audiences. According to Bonds, it was possible for a French composer to come up with a piece of composition that presented an Italian style (2009). The European societies embraced such instrumental forms like the concerto and sonata. The introduction of instruments in the vocals compositions introduced a new height of entertainment. The classical era represented a change in view of people of the nature of the world and their relationship wit this world. Politically, the era represented a society that symbolized freedom. The artists of this era produced compositions that brought out the element of being natural. Music played a significant role in the society, for example, it improved the economic condition. Artist embraced better production methods of production yielding more goods and wealth. The society in the 18th century appreciates music and its role in society. Therefore, artists reacted to the increase of music by producing compositions that met the demands of their audiences (Chen, 2010). The composer at that time focused on simplicity balance and an interest in real emotions. These ideas were critical for the composer. The composers also focused on the textures. Usually melody and accompaniment was a characteristic of the classical music. The piano represented the most influential solo instrument for classical composer. Mozart and Hayden are among the famous classical composers who lived through the period when people struggled to liberate themselves. The artists went through two revolutions. They also lived in a world of royal patronage. Haydn made it the world of royal patronage. Beethoven, another classical artist, appeared when the consequences of the revolution had already been solved. He also did not face the strains of royal patronage, but he was welcomed into the ties of commercial spheres, publications and concert proceeds. This world was one that presented exciting potentials for an artist. This world made Beethoven one of the most enigmatic composers. Mozart and Hayden are part of the musical politics that was common in Europe during 1792-1805. This is a period with royal patronage; they patronized music in an effort to establish their social distance. When we consider the aristocracy, a class showed a deep love for music. This era used music to divide society into classes. This ideology represents the multifaceted ways and complex ways in which music interact with culture. Let us consider one of Hayden’s classical compositions, the “creation and seasons” which represents the concept of enlightenment in a metaphorical manner. The oratorios were especially enjoyed during the French revolution. These compositions highlight a number of crucial features of modernity common to London during the 18th and 19th century. The composition of classical music’s in Europe, especially in the cities such as London and Paris have become an enthralling genre to many of their cultural and musical centres. Superb classical music has been considered a true and real merit since the two revolutions’ and the enlightenment era in the 18th century. It is in this view that the European cultural circles have invested significant energy in the preservation of this genre of music. The popularization of the classical compositions is evident in various social levels through schools the classical music has also been utilized in the preparation of professional musicians. During the mid eighteen century, the widespread style was Rococo, which exemplified the sophistication and elegance of courteous life. The musical version of the style was Galant that laid a comparable highlight on classiness and lightness by substituting the compound systems of Baroque music with open flowing tunes. Classics in the field of music have qualities such as balance, clarity, moderation and simplicity. These qualities brought a change from the Baroque music and a superior dependence on simple harmony and melody. Diversity of dynamics, keys, melodies and rhythms along with recurrent modification in timbre and mood was common (Vicar,2000). This set a style was apparent in the rising taste for control and simplicity. The emerging position of the orchestra was not restricted entirely to the area of opera. The instrumental types took preference over the verbal ones. The orchestra developed into a moderately established performing component, which is the familiar forerunner of the band that we know at present. The growth of orchestral music encouraged the well-liked achievement of both the concerto and symphony. The symphony began as an operatic proposition, but its development was immense in the eighteen century, gaining recognition as an autonomous piece, with its conventional foundation being the four-movement model of the sonata. Haydn is an influential and original composer of all time. His compositions included hundred symphonies during the classical era. In Haydn's works, the stress of admired leisure and lofty artistic theory merge effortlessly. Every piece belts a novel and delicately judged equilibrium linking limpid convenience and the truthfulness of compositional expertise. He did The Creation in 1795, which communicates Hayden’s rich personality and inner world. His last musical piece was “The Seasons” that he finished in April 1801 (Chen, 2010). Mozart accelerated the growth and development of classical music. His taste for vividness, rhythmically intricate figures and tunes, lengthy cantilena tunes and virtuoso accompaniments combined with an admiration for inner connectedness and formal consistency. During the end of 1780s, Mozart compositions were famous operas, with his six belatedly symphonies that were supportive to redefine the genre, and piano concerti cord that stood at the peak of these types. Mozart and Haydn compositions reached a high level of standards, which was greatly appreciated and was influential to upcoming composers (Vicar, 2000). In London, Clementi’s piano sonatas distributed widely, and he turned out to be the most accomplished composer. Jan Ladislav Dussek was in London, and just like Clement promoted piano makers to broaden the variety and other characteristics of their instruments, and then fully develop the newly unlocked potentials. London also acts as the abode to the Broadwood’s piano manufacturing factory. London’s taste for virtuously might as well have promoted the intricate passagework and comprehensive statements on dominant and tonic. After settling in Paris, Luigi Cherubini did a composition called Lodolska, an opera fashion that helped him rise to fame, in 1791. Its style was contemplative and its instrumentation offered it credence, which was not accorded to the grand opera. His contemporary Etienne Mehul extends the instrumental effects with his 1790 opera Euphrosine et Cora din, which was followed with a sequence of accomplishments. The intensification of amateur orchestras and concert cultures, marking the significance of music as an element of middle-income life, added to a roaring market for virtuosi, piano music, and pianos to serve as exemplars. Hummel, Clementi, and Beethoven were all famous for their invention. Direct control of the Baroque continued to weaken; the shaped bass became less famous as a means of holding presentation jointly, the presentation practices of the middle eighteenth century continued to die out. The European classical music is an art of interpretation. This fact ensures the continuity of the existence of this genre of music. Classical music became a recreation for the middle class in the 18th century. Artists of the classical compositions who performed informal concerts in private homes could perform in sponsored public orchestral concerts after being freed from aristocratic control. An example of it is the Beethoven’s ninth symphony written partly in response to L50 commission in 1822 which represented a London philharmonic society. Various societies emerged, that supported the rise of the classical compositions as an essential part of entertainment in the 18th century (Vicar, 2000). Orchestral concerts became a vital part of festivals through to the 19th century. Mozart and Hayden, who fit perfectly in the classical era, explored the mid century life style, and developed the classical music into a more fully developed and personal one. Beethoven music straddles between the classical era and the romantic age. It is evident that the classical compositions of the various artists were influenced by the cultural social and intellectual life of the society. The European classical music of any country or region is evidently in correspondence to the historic development and background, economic capabilities and general cultural standard of particular regions (Vicar, 2000). The music represents the social values of the society. While listening to the music of a given society, an audience appreciates the cultural, social, as well as the intellectual values of the given society. The music also manifests the cultural leaders’ art managers and the position of the artists. References Bonds, M. (2009). Clasical Era. New Yorl: Pearson. Chen, J.-y. (2010). Musical Culture ans Social Ideology In Vienna CirCa 1800. Concentric: Literary and Cultural Studies , 189-215. Parker, M. (2000). The Classical Era. Musicnotes. Vicar, J. (2000). European Classical Music in Todays World. New York: Acta University Press. Read More