Question

1. what were the years of the classical period?

1. where does the term \classical\ come from?

1. who were the three master composers of this era?

1. what group of people had a big impact on the music of this period?

1. what did composers do to please middle class tastes in music?

1. what city was the center of musical activity? (extra credit if you can also name the country where this city is!!)

Explanation:

1. The Classical Period in music is generally considered to be from 1750 to 1820.
2. The term "classical" comes from the Latin word "classicus", meaning "of the highest class", and was used to refer to the art and culture of Ancient Greece and Rome, which were seen as models of excellence. In music, it came to be associated with the balanced, structured style of the period.
3. The three master composers of the Classical Period are Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Joseph Haydn.
4. The middle class had a big impact on the music of this period. As the middle class grew, they had more interest in and ability to support music, leading to changes in musical style and patronage.
5. Composers made music more accessible and appealing to the middle class by using simpler, more tuneful melodies, clear structures (like sonata form), and writing music for smaller, more domestic ensembles (like piano sonatas or string quartets) that could be performed in homes.
6. Vienna, Austria was the center of musical activity during the Classical Period. Many of the great composers of the time lived and worked there.

Answer:

1. 1750 - 1820
2. From the Latin "classicus" (relating to Ancient Greek/Roman excellence)
3. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, Joseph Haydn
4. The middle class
5. Used simpler melodies, clear structures, wrote for domestic ensembles
6. Vienna, Austria