Humanities Study Guide

Humanities Study Guide

sexual freedom, political ideals, and exotic travel. His masterpiece and classic Don Juan portrays that kind of life. Theater Pierre Beaumarchais wrote a play called The Marriage of Figaro, which reflected the frustrations and desires of the middle class. It was prevalent during the time and remains influential to this day. Gotthold Ephraim Lessing led the German effort to rebel against the styles of the nobility. His works condemned Neoclassical formalism and depicted characters with more direct and genuine feelings. Wolfgang von Goethe created his masterpiece Faust, a two-part drama that symbolized the romantic desires to burst free of constraints. The result indulged all aspects of the human experience. Music Two very influential names stand out during this era: Mozart and Haydn. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is considered a genius. His operas balanced music and drama, and are still performed to this day. He reflected the frivolity and gaiety of Rococo style as well as the sophistication and wisdom of the time period. His pieces and performances were often tailored to the taste of his audiences. He was the master of what came to be known as the galant style: clear, lively, and "natural," according to audiences of the time. Joseph Haydn was the first to invent the symphony. Symphony is an orchestral composition that is usually made up of four movements. Typically, there is a fast section, followed by a slow and lyrical movement, then a graceful, dance-like movement with a moderate tempo, and finally a fast, animated movement at the end. Each movement in a symphony is written in a specific formal pattern. The Romantic era brought in a new form of music and musical talent. Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and gifted musical genius. He was known for shifting between major and minor keys, developing a more extended first movement within a piece. He used motifs, recurring musical themes, and ended with a powerful closing coda . His most famous piece is Symphony No. 5 . Frederic Chopin was another musical genius of the time. He was a French composer and virtuoso pianist. Piano students study his French Nocturnes to this day.

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