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Jean-Philippe Rameau (1683-1764)
Jean-Philippe Rameau was a French composer and music theorist of the early Classical era. He's best known today for his harpsichord music, operas, and works in other theatrical genres. -
Giovanni Battista Sammartini (1700-1775)
Giovanni Battista Sammartini was an Italian composer of the Classical era. He was an important influence on the Pre-Classical symphony and the Classical style later developed by Haydn and Mozart. Sammartini also created over 2,000 works. -
Frederick the Great (1712-1786)
Frederick the Great was a Prussian king, flutist, and composer of the Classical era. He was known for playing the flute and composing symphonies and lyrics to operas. Fredrick also loved to have other famous composers perform for him in his court, such as C.P.E. Bach. -
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (1714-88)
C.P.E. Bach was a German composer, teacher, and harpsichordist of the Classical era. He was notably the son of J.S. Bach and a harpsichordist to King Fredrick II of Prussia. Bach was also known for keeping his father's legacy alive and for his religious music, symphonies, concerti, organ sonatas, and chamber music. -
Christoph Willibald Gluck (1714-87)
Christoph Willibald Gluck was a German composer of the Classical era. He spent four years studying composition with Giovanni Battista Sammartini, from whom he learned the new Italian style of instrumental music. Gluck was known for his Italian operas and trio sonatas. -
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Genres
Concerti, operas, sonatas, arias, string quartets, and symphonies were all popular. -
Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)
Joseph Haydn was an Austrian composer of the Classical era. He helped establish the forms and styles for string quartets and symphonies. Haydn also had an exceptional voice at a young age and was invited into many various choirs, but expelled when he hit puberty. He also played many instruments and had to teach himself music theory. -
Giovanni Paisiello (1740-1816)
Giovanni Paisiello was an Italian composer and director of the Classical era. His operas were admired for their realism and dramatic power. Paisiello was also a gifted singer and was in the service of many various royalties. -
Antonio Salieri (1750-1825)
Antonio Salieri was an Italian composer and teacher of the Classical era. He was known for his operas especially, but he also composed sacred music. Salieri also taught Beethoven, Schubert, and Liszt. -
Maria Anna Mozart (1751-1829)
Maria Anna Mozart was an Austrian musician and teacher. She was notably the older sister of W.A. Mozart and was also known for her singing talent. -
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was an Austrian composer of the Classical era. He's the most famous composer of this era. At three, Mozart was picking out chords on the harpsichord. At four, he was playing short pieces and at five, composing. Mozart also had a precise memory of pitch and scribbled a concerto at the age of five. -
Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War is widely considered to be the first global conflict in history, and was a struggle for world supremacy between Great Britain and France. It lasted until 1763. -
Maria Theresa von Paradis (1759-1824)
Maria Theresa von Paradis was an Austrian composer of the Classical era. She studied under Salieri and had amazing voice and piano skills. Theresa also went suddenly blind at the age of three, which made everything she did that much more amazing. -
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was the transition to new manufacturing processes in Britain, Europe, and the United States. This transition included going from hand production methods to machines. -
American Revolutionary War
The war was fought over the issue of U.S. independence from the British Empire and ended in 1783. -
Declaration of Independence
The United States Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. The Declaration explains why the Thirteen Colonies at war with the Kingdom of Great Britain regarded themselves as thirteen independent states, no longer under British rule. With the Declaration, these states took a first step toward forming the United States of America. -
First Upright Piano
The first upright piano was made around 1780 by Johann Schmidt of Salzburg, Austria. -
French Revolution
This was a period of radical political and societal change in France that began with the Estates General of 1789 and ended with the formation of the French Consulate in November 1799. Many of its ideas are considered fundamental principles of liberal democracy today. -
Trombone Alteration
The construction of the trombone changed a bit during the Classical period around 1800. The most obvious change was in the bell, which was slightly more flared.