MUAR 211 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Fortepiano, Keyboard Instrument, Kapellmeister

• School: McGill University
• Department: Music - Arts
• Course: MUAR 211
• Professor: Jerry Cain

Document Summary

Vienna, austria: capital of the austro-hungarian empire, imperial seat of the hapsburg. Dynasty, and one of the most important musical-cultural centers in europe in the 18th and. 19th centuries; the city most associated with 3 of the most influential musicians of the. Esterh zy family: the wealthiest and most powerful of the hungarian royal families, close relatives of the imperial family in vienna; haydn worked for them for over 30 years, and eventually became kapellmeister in the palace of esterh zy. Patron/ patronage/ patronage system: patronage system = inherited wealth and privilege; patron = person who gives financial support to another person (a boss). Invention of the piano (c. 1700): keyboard instrument that strikes the strings with little hammers and then silences them with dampeners; capable of playing louder and softer than the original fortepianos; became the dominant keyboard instrument of classical era. Classical orchestra (c. 1750 - 1800): based around a core of bowed strings.