| |
|
Before we go into the Classical stuff, it should be noted that something big happened between the Barouqe and Classical periods that really helped change the art scene, albeit at the cost of several hundred lives. Yes folks, its the French Revolution. The lower class eventually got sick of the Aristocracy screwing them, so they decided to kill most of them and start over.
This meant, among other things, that Roccoco was out. It's extreme detail, finery and extravagence reminded everyone of the upper class, so it was time for something different. People went back to Roman and Greek style stuff, possibly because with all the political turmoil, people wanted to be reminded of (in their mind) nice, stable governments that worked.
In arcitecture, this meant no more Corinthian columns. It's Ionic or Dorian or nothing, kids. Arches were not pointed anymore; they got more rounded and dome-like. Evidence of the popularity of Roman and Greek styles can be seen in America, where most of the government buildings in the early 19th century were built with these styles in mind.
The literature was popular in America, too. In the south, a sort of aristocracy was developing among the European schooled upper class, who brought back things like the Oddessy and the Illiad, which were very popular among the small portion of the southern population that could read. Oddly enough, names like "Virgil" and "Homer" were popular in the lower classes, and you can still find old southern families that name their first born son Virgil, despite them not knowing where the name came from.
In art, Greek and Roman meant more of a "grand" feeling to paintings and sculpture, more "noble" kind of themes. Everyday stuff was not as popular, and in my humble opinion, neither was subtlety. I can't name many artists from this period, so I would appreciate some help here.
In music, Classical and Romantic kind of run toghether. The piano had recently been invented, which meant more stuff was being written for it. Other instruments were being improved also, which began a different taste in the music. Unlike the harpsichord it replaced, with the piano the volume and dynamics were wholly up to the musician, which was something new. Thus, the music began to feel more...charged, I suppose. The kind of feeling you would expect from someone who has just been given the ability to control volume and dynamics for the first time. Decrescendos and Crescendos appeared.
Beethoven was doing his thing here, as was Haydn. Bach's seven or so sons were big too, but their popularity didn't last far after the 19th century as far as the common man went. Later on, towards the Romantic period, Moztart made his appearance along with Tchaicovsky (I'll correct the spelling later). With these two, their personal lives were even more apparent in their writing than the earlier composers (from our standpoint, as we know more about them now). Tchaicovsky was homosexual, and too frightened to tell anyone. A lot of his works were written specifically to one of his lovers. To see what Moztart was going through, go find the movie "Amadeaus". It's good, I promise. In Spain, classical guitar works, which had been developing a flavor all it's own, was becoming more popular also.
In the early 19th century, a guy named Schoenberg was developing a form of music that paid no attention to key or harmony of anykind. He predicted that his form would surpass the previous styles, and was dead wrong. No one could stand his stuff.
Interesting note: Schoenberg's form can be found in classic Sci-fi thrillers. Think of that sound of violin strings being pluked or srummed in no particular key very rapidly along with the picture of, say, a million giant spiders crawling around.
This period was the last time popular music would reamain in a single style.
Next up: Impressionism! Clash between two schools of art, and music starts splintering.
[ 04-02-2002: Message edited by: Johnny the Zen bastard ]
[ 04-02-2002: Message edited by: Johnny the Zen bastard ] |
|
|
