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1 | Age of Enlightenment
Social and Cultural Influences
Peter
Kun Frary
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Europe's eighteenth century, aka, the Age of Enlightenment, witnessed the dawn of the late modern period, marked by pivotal events such as the French Revolution (1789–99), the American Revolutionary War (1775–83), and the Classical era in music (1750–1820). Meanwhile, the Tokugawa shogunate ruled Japan from 1603 to 1867, while the Mughal Empire governed a significant portion of India. In 1778, James Cook landed on Kauaʻi, and Benjamin Franklin forged an alliance with the French.
Paris et Helene | Jacques-Louis David, 1748-1825 | Classical art was inspired by ancient Greece and Rome. | Louvre Museum | Photo, ©Peter Kun Frary
 Classical Music Definition
The term “classical music” is commonly used by laypeople to describe music that falls outside the genres of pop, rock, folk, jazz, country, hip-hop, K-pop, and World Beat. Strictly speaking, classical music refers to European art music written between 1750 and 1820, a period of classicism in art and architecture—i.e., the Classical Era.
To put classical music in context, start by delving into the fundamental aspects of eighteenth-century culture.
 The Enlightenment
The Enlightenment, a pivotal European philosophy of the eighteenth century, questioned traditional values and doctrines, valuing reason and individualism over faith and tradition. Influenced by seventeenth-century philosophers like Descartes, Locke, and Newton, it was championed by figures like Benjamin Franklin, Goethe, Voltaire, Rousseau, and Smith.
Declaration of Independence | John Trumbull (1756-1843) | The American Revolution was influenced by the Enlightenment. | Wikimedia Commons
Enlightenment proponents preached individualism, universal human progress, religious tolerance, separation of church and state, public education, the scientific method, and free use of reason. These principles shaped the French and American revolutions, leading to civil rights movements, questioning of class privilege, and parliamentary reforms and democratic governments in Europe and the Americas.
 Global Age
The Classical era heralded the arrival of an increasingly cosmopolitan and global society. In Europe, monarchs were crowned outside of their homelands: German kings in England, Sweden, and Poland, and a Spanish king in Naples. National and class differences became less pronounced due to increased international travel and trade.
 Cross-Cultural Interactions
The intense colonization in Asia, Africa, and the Americas greatly increased opportunities for trade and employment, accelerating the growth of Europe's middle class. This global deployment of European traders and colonists also accelerated cross-cultural interactions. Indeed, the hybridization of non-Western music had been ongoing since the Renaissance; that is, an intermingling of Western instruments and musical traits with native music culture. However, by the nineteenth century, it was more common to hear a Spanish rondalla ensemble music on the streets of Mexico City or Manila than native music.
Diana and Cupid | Pompeo Batoni (1708-1787) | Metropolitan Museum of Art
 Patronage and Political Power
Eighteenth century Europe was characterized by the rise of monarchies with a strong centralized rule. Thus, smaller courts diminished in political and cultural influence except in northern Europe. German and Austrian courts had some independence, especially in artistic and social matters, and competed with each other in these areas.
Aristocratic patronage and, to a lesser extent, church patronage of musicians, dominated early eighteenth century Europe. By the end of the century, aristocratic power and cultural influence were in decline. Church patronage of music all but disappeared during the Classical era. As the nineteenth century dawned, the growing bourgeois or middle class largely replaced royal and church patronage through marketing of concert tickets and publication of sheet music.
Parthenon | Frederic Edwin Church (1826–1900) | The Greek Parthenon (c. 447 BCE) influenced neoclassical architecture designs of this era, especially government buildings. | Metropolitan Museum of Art
 Popularization of Music
The Enlightenment imbued Europe's growing middle class with dreams of equality. Indeed, it was believed that everybody should be enriched by the arts, not just aristocrats. Thus, eighteenth century comic opera was performed in public theaters using native tongues and spoken dialogue with stories about ordinary folk, rather than foreign tongues in private theaters with stories about kings and gods.
Eventually the middle class market undermined noble patronage and musicians began to cater to popular taste. Composers learned to meet audiences on their own terms since the tastes of the connoisseur were not valid for the middle class.
Scène de carnaval, ou Le Menuet | Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo, 1727-1804 | Metropolitan Museum of Art
 Role of Music
With the rise of the middle class, music was mainly about public entertainment. The masses preferred elegant spectacles such as opera, symphony, concerto, and ballet. Social dance music was also an important market for musicians.
Although patronage of cultured European aristocrats was in decline, a market for intimate and sophisticated salon or drawing room music still existed, especially solo song, piano solo and chamber music.
The Music Party | Louis-Rolland Trinquesse, 1746-1800 | Home music making was essential to eighteenth century culture | Alte Pinakothek | ©Peter Kun Frary
 Music Publishing
Home music making was an important hobby and status symbol for both the middle class and aristocracy. Subsequently, there was a burgeoning demand for printed music for amateur performance of piano and guitar solos, solo songs, and chamber music. Sheet sales filled a similar niche as modern CD, LP, streaming, and download sales. To hear the latest popular song or entertain guests and family, you bought the sheet music and played it yourself. Here’s a taste of music written for typical bourgeois homes:
Andante from Duo Opus 55, No. 3 | Fernando Sor, 1778-1839
Vocabulary
Classical Era, Enlightenment
©Copyright 2018-26 by Peter Kun Frary | All Rights Reserved
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