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Interesting & Fun Facts About Classical Music

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Fun Facts About Classical Music

A lot of the insight and facts for this classical music lens came from my significant other, Jim. He has been listening to classical music since he was 2 years old. (At two, I was listening to "I Have a Dog, and Bingo is His Name".)

Anyhow, every so often he will put on a classical music CD and as the music plays, he throws out these interesting facts about the composers and the circumstances surrounding the music.

I am going to share that information with you.

Table of Contents

  1. Overview of The Classical Periods
  2. Some more reading on Classical Music
  3. Ludwig Von Beethoven
  4. Beethoven on Amazon
  5. Johann Sebastian Bach (German)
  6. J.S. Bach's Toccata & Fugue D Minor
  7. Toccata is Italian for Touched
  8. Franz Liszt
  9. Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2
  10. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
  11. Mental Floss Magazine
  12. Wynton Marsalis plays Hummel, Mozart and Hadyn
  13. Mozartkugeln - a candy named after Mozart
  14. Mozartkugeln
  15. Kochel and Opus
  16. George Frideric Handel
  17. Even of you think you don't like Classical Music
  18. Please share your classical music knowledge
  19. Chamber Music
  20. Peter Ilych Tchaikowsky
  21. Tchaikowsky's 1812 Overture
  22. For a Lighter Look at Tchaikowsky
  23. Disney's Fantasia
  24. Franz Joseph Haydn
  25. Hob. Numbers
  26. Antonio Vivaldi - 1678-1741 - Baroque composer
  27. Quiz
  28. Concerto
  29. If you enjoyed this lens, you might want to bookmark it
  30. Music Directory
  31. Classical Music for People Who Don't Love Classical Music
  32. I always love to hear your comments
  33. Music is Harmony
  34. My Five Featured Lenses
  35. My Shops on Ruby Lane and Ruby Plaza
  36. Creative Commons License

Overview of The Classical Periods

A Lizst of the Periods (Pun Intended)

There are actually five overlapping periods of classical music.
  • 1The Gothic Period - some place it at 1100 - 1450 and other more losely at 9th to 14th century.

    It was primarily liturgical music as characterized by a Gregorian Chants -- name after Pope Gregory I.

    During this period, a method of notating music was developed. A precursor to today musical notations.
  • 2The Renaissance - 1400 and 1500's

    The most usual works were : motets and madrigals

    Most Prominent Composers: Andrea Gabrielli, Giovanni Palestrina & William Byrd
  • 3Baroque - 1500, 1600 & 1700's

    The most usual works were: fugues, concerto's and early operas (often related to mythology). The music was ornate as was the furniture of the period.

    Most Prominent Composers : Johann Sebastian Bach, George Frederick Handel, Antonio Vivaldi
  • 4Classical - 1700 and 1800's

    The most usual works were: Concertos, symphonies, and sonatas

    Most Prominent Composers: Franz Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig Von Beethoven, Franz Schubert
  • 5Romantic - 1800's and early 1900's

    The most usual works were: Symphonies, operas, ballets

    Most Prominent Composers: Peter Ilych Tchaikovsky, Richard Wagner, Franz Liszt, Antonin Dvorak, Guiseppe Verdi, Johannes Brahms
  • 6Modern or Contemporary - through 1900's

    The most ususal works were: Symphonies, ballets, operas and film music

    Most Prominent Composers: Aaron Copland, Leonard Bernstein, George Gershwin, Dmitri Shastakovich

Some more reading on Classical Music

Reference Books

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Ludwig Von Beethoven

1770 - 1827 German

beethovenBeethoven preferred not to listen to his contemporaries works, for fear it would influence his own writing.

Beethoven called his smaller pieces "bagatelles" -- meaning trifles.

The symphonies he wrote are numbered 1 through 9. It's not know why the odd numbers are dynamic, while the even numbers are aesthetic or peaceful.

All of Beethoven's symphonies have four movements.

Beethoven was entirely deaf by the time he wrote his 9th Symphony --- considered to be one of his greatest works. He conducted the orchestra when he presented the 9th Symphony. Reportedly, the audience was on its feet applauding, but due to his deafness, Beethoven didn't realize it until someone turned him around to face the audience.

Beethoven on Amazon

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Johann Sebastian Bach (German)

1685 - 1750

johann sebastian bachDuring Bach's lifetime he was most famous as an organ virtuoso, rather than a composer.

At the age of 20, in 1705, Bach walked 200 miles from Arnstadt, Germany to hear Dietrich Buxtenhude (1637 -1707) play the organ. Many of Buxtenhude's works influenced Bach.

When you see "C.P.E. Bach" this refers to music composed by Johann Sebastian Bach's son, Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach. Similarly, W.F. Bach is J.S. Bach's other son, Wilhelm Friedemann Bach. Both sons were composers.

J.S. Bach's Toccata & Fugue D Minor

Disney Fantasia 1940

Featuring Leopold Stokowski ( 1883 -1977) conducting the Philadephia Orchestra.

Very easy listening.
Toccata and Fugue in D Minor - Fantasia (1940)
by Pokellan | video info

3,213 ratings | 1,102,328 views
curated content from YouTube

Toccata is Italian for Touched

"Originally it was a short movement,often merely a prelude, in which the player's 'touch' was displayed through rapidity and delicacy."---as defined in "The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music" Third Edition

Franz Liszt

1811 - 1886 Hungarian

Franz LisztHe was a great pianist and composer of the Romantic period.

Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2

With an assist from Tom and Jerry.
Tom and Jerry Hungarian Rhapsody No 2 Liszt
by thesileboss | video info

2,001 ratings | 2,384,228 views
curated content from YouTube

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

1756 - 1791 German

wolfgang mozartIn Mozart's short lifetime he produced over 600 compositions -- over 40 or which were symphonies.

In an article entitled "The 25 Most Powerful Songs of the Past 25 Years", (written by Jennifer Drapkin, Kevin O'Donnell and Ky Henderson, published in "Mental Floss" magazine Nov-Dec 2011): The Number 22 Most Powerful Song is Mozart's "The Magic Flute" "Music That Makes Sewage Disappear" A sewerage treatment plant in Treuenbrietzen, Germany has found that playing Mozart's "The Magic Flute" over loud speakers "make sludge-eating microbes digest faster." Acccording to the plant's chief operator, they believe "the reverberations quicken the pace for breaking down refuse."

"Mozart and Salieri" is an opera by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov in which Mozart is poisoned by Salieri. Mozart and Antonion Salieri (1750-1825) were contemporaries and bitter rivals. After Mozart's death, rumors circulated that Salieri poisoned Mozart. After the opera was written, even more people believed it was true. The rumor has been investigated and the conclusion is that it is not true.

Mozart wrote five trumpet concertos for his friend Joseph Leutgeb

Mental Floss Magazine

"Where knowledge junkies get their fix"

Full of interesting tidbits -- such as the information about Mozart's music helping microbes digest sewerage. We look forward to receiving our copy every month.
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Wynton Marsalis plays Hummel, Mozart and Hadyn

Trumpet Concertos

Hummel's trumpet concerto -- a beautiful classical music piece featuring the trumpet. Made even more beautiful by Wynton Marsalis.

Many renditions of the trumpet concerto are played by artists using a standard B flat trumpet. Wynton Marsalis plays a piccolo trumpet and the difference is noticable.
Haydn, Hummel, L. Mozart: Trumpet Concertos

Haydn, Hummel, L. Mozart: Trumpet Concertos

Amazon Price: $4.36 (as of 02/23/2012)Buy Now

Wynton Marsalis' trumpet playing in Hummel's Trumpet Concerto is absolutely beautiful. It's clear and sweet and just perfect.

Mozartkugeln - a candy named after Mozart

Furst ConfectionersIn 1890, in Saltzburg, Austria, Paul Furst introduced the Mozartkugeln and named in it honor of Mozart

It is pistachio marzipan, cover with nougat and dipped in dark chocolate.

Unfortunately, Furst never sought a copyright or other protection for his candy invention and thus today there are imitators. The original Furst Mozartkugeln is only available through their shops or their website.

Furst Confectioners Website

Mozartkugeln

There are Mozartkugeln made by manufacturers other than Furst
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Kochel and Opus

Ludwig Von Kochel (1800 -1877) developed a system of numbering and cataloguing Mozart's works. These are the "K" numbers which stand for "Kochel". Thus, you will often see a Mozart work as: "Symphony No.4 in D major, K.19"

Beethoven used his own system for cataloguing his works and called them "Opus". Mendelsohn also used Opus to catalogue his work.

(By the way, the plural of Opus is Opuses).

Both Kochel and Opus catalogs are chronological by the date the work was published.

George Frideric Handel

1685 -1789 German-British

george handelMost people are familiar with Handel's Messiah, written in 1741. It is a choral piece, and has the famous Hallelujah Chorus -- where the word "Hallelujah" is repeated.

Handel composed "Water Music" for King George I of England in 1717. The king liked it so much he had the orchestra play it three times.

Handel the "Fireworks Suite" for King George II of England in 1749. The was to be a performance in the park with a specially designed wooden backdrop and fireworks. The music was a hit but the building collapsed and caught fire during the performance.

Even of you think you don't like Classical Music

You might like Handel's water music. It is very enjoyable.
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Please share your classical music knowledge

If you know any interesting tidbits about classical music or a classical composer (G-rated only). Please let me know in your comment. Also let me know if I may add it to my lens. Thanks

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Chamber Music

It's a instrumental group of musicians. As their performance is intended for a smaller room, often private, it is a smaller group. There is usually only one performer for each part of the piece.

Peter Ilych Tchaikowsky

1840 -1893 - Russian

TchaikovskyA very prolific composer, Tchaikowsky has many well know works. Ballets include Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty and the Nutcracker Suite. His music includes Romeo and Juliet as well as the 1812 overture.

Tchaikowsky's 1812 Overture

By the Boston Pops on th 4th of July - Cannon Finale

Written in 1880 by Tchaikowsky to celebrate Russia's defeat of Napoleon in Moscow in 1812.
Big Cannon Finale! Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular: Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture: 4th of July, 2009
by BetsysView | video info

107 ratings | 73,293 views
curated content from YouTube

For a Lighter Look at Tchaikowsky

Disney's Fantasia - Nutcracker Suite- Dance of the Sugarplum Fairies

The 1812 Overture is bold and loud. The Nutcracker Suite is softer. You have probably seen a holiday season presentation of The Nutcracker ballet. Disney's take is very whimsical and oh so beautiful. Enjoy!
Fantasia || Dance of the sugar plum fairy
by anodien1983 | video info

143 ratings | 31,078 views
curated content from YouTube

Disney's Fantasia

A Great Way to Introduce Your Children (or Yourself) to Classical Music

Fantasia includes many great classical works at set to beautiful animated images. This was a full length motion picture in the 1940's -- still relevant today.
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Franz Joseph Haydn

1732 - 1809 Austrian

haydnHaydn didn't like people falling asleep during his concerts, so he wrote the Surprise Symphony. It is real quiet and relaxing until the end when the music gets louder and ends with a bang.

Haydn died in 1809, but in 1820 his body was exhumed to have his remains moved. It was discovered that his head was missing. Joseph Carl Rosenbaum and Johann Neponuk Peter stole the head for scientific purposes. They were interested in phrenology and wanted to study his skull.

Hob. Numbers

Anthony van Hoboken catalogued all of Haydn's works. He organized them according to type rather than chronologically. (Opus and Kochel numbers list the works chronologically.)

His catalog is called the Hoboken-Verzeichnis.

Antonio Vivaldi - 1678-1741 - Baroque composer

He wrote over 40 pieces.

Because his pieces are so much alike, his critics say he only wrote one and all the rest are just modifications of the first.

Quiz

I heard two of these questions on Jeopardy. As I hear more, or find them from another source, I will add them. Meanwhile, try your hand at these.

Concerto

At some point in a concerto a soloist is featured. The soloist part is usually embellished to show off the virtuosity of the soloist. Thus, you will hear of a "piano concerto" where the pianist is featured; or a "violin concerto" where the violinist is featured.

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Music Directory

Classical Music Website Directory

Classical Music DirectoryMusic Directory - A Web directory listing the best music sites.

Classical Music for People Who Don't Love Classical Music

Or......for people who hate classical music

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Classical Music for Kids 

Introduce a Child to Classical Music

Classics for Kids

Classics for Kids

Amazon Price: $4.43 (as of 02/23/2012)Buy Now

The selections on this CD are easy for a child to listen to an appreciate. It includes the Nutcracker Suite and March of the Wooden Soldiers.

How about a Chopin Liszt for a music lover 

Chopin Liszt Pad

Chopin Liszt Pad

Amazon Price: $3.95 (as of 02/23/2012)Buy Now

When I saw this on someone's desk it was an LOL moment. Nice play on words!

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