The Enlightenment

            

           The eighteenth century marked the beginning of a new away of thinking. This thought process would bring thought and performing arts into a new generation. The movement of new thinking, called the Enlightenment, brought scientific thought and social justice together because of the minds of such philosophers as Voltaire and Rousseau. This whole period broke down social structures and sought to improve education. No longer was society only focused on themselves, but rather the entire population around them (“all men are created equal”).

            Music and its influence over society were changing as the demand for music was being spread to every class system. Changes in musical structures and forms were adapting to what the public wanted to hear rather than the higher, upper class. Musical forms such as opera, symphonies, and chamber music (string quartet, sonatas) were beginning to take shape in this pivotal time of music. Their structures were being created around the most interesting parts of baroque music. For example, a baroque opera was only formed with the people of wealth and what they wanted. Once musical appeal shifted to almost every class structure, new forms of opera (such as comic opera) were created to feature real people in real situations. Composers were making music that was simpler with amusing plots. Also, looking at the structure of an aria within an opera, the form was made simpler, with it being in ABA format. This was designed to make the movement sound more lyrical and songlike.

            With the start of the Enlightenment period, composers and their individual sound was making an influence on the musical world. Mozart and Franz Joseph Haydn were making a name for themselves by making innovations to the way music was traditionally composed. Haydn’s operas were lyrical, inventive, and moving, while Mozart began creating masterpieces at a very young age. The work of these two men marked the beginning on new composing and new listening. No two pieces were the same, leaving the audience on their toes through their careers.

            I found the Enlightenment to be the beginning modern music; music that I found an interest in. Looking at the Mozart and his opera “Don Giovanni.” There are parts of the opera where I can easily pick out characteristics of the Enlightenment. Mozart’s use of bringing real life situation, such as adultery, makes it seem like Mozart was a composer for the people. He seamlessly brings together the idea of equality between two people, and music. For example, the dialogue between Zerlina and Don Giovanni was equality split between the two characters. Don Giovanni would either ask a question, or make a point and Zerlina would respond. Evidently, it seemed like the two characters had their own sound, which made it easier for the audience to follow. This music was created for the people and this mindset would later influence the great artists of the future.

            Above is a my favorite piece my Mozart, “Lacrimosa” written for this Requiem Mass in d minor.