Galant style

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The galant style was an 18th-century movement in music, visual arts and literature. In Germany a closely related style was called the empfindsamer Stil (sensitive style). [1] Another close relative is rococo style.[ clarification needed ] The galant style was drawn in opposition to the strictures of the Baroque style, emphasizing light elegance in place of the Baroque's dignified seriousness and high grandeur. [2] [3]

Contents

Music

In music, the galant emphasis was on simplicity, immediacy of appeal, and elegance. [4] [5]

Fashion

In fashion, galant featured perfumed handkerchiefs and powdered wigs for both sexes. [6] The fantastic exotic asymmetry of bizarre silk patterns were symptomatic of galant tastes.[ citation needed ]

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The Concerto for Flute and Orchestra was written by Josef Reicha in 1781, shortly after he went on a Grand Tour in the mid to late 1770s. Though the work was composed in 1781, far beyond the date music historians have deemed as the beginning of the classical era, it displays many characteristics of the galant musical style characteristic of the pre-classical post-Baroque music of the eighteenth century. Records do not indicate whether Reicha began composing the work while he was visiting the cosmopolitan centers of Europe but we may assume that he was indeed inspired by what he heard and saw based on the prevalence of galant musical characteristics presented throughout the work including (1) a simplistic, song-like, and clear melody, (2) short and periodic phrases, (3) a reduced harmonic vocabulary that emphasizes tonic and dominant, and (4) a clear distinction between soloist and accompaniment.

References

  1. Daugherty, James F. "The Classical Period (1775-1825)". University of Kansas . Retrieved 2014-02-24.
  2. Hoffer, Charles (2012). Music Listening Today (4 ed.). Cengage Learning. p. 123. ISBN   9780495916147. LCCN   2010940572 . Retrieved 2014-02-24.
  3. Bachus, Nancy, ed. (2006-07-01). The Baroque Piano: The Influence of Society, Style, and Musical Trends on the Great Piano Composers. Alfred Music. p. 69. ISBN   0739042955 . Retrieved 2014-02-24.
  4. "Style Galant". Lcsproductions.net. Retrieved 2014-02-24.
  5. White, Chappell (1994). From Vivaldi to Viotti: A History of the Early Classical Violin Concerto. Gordon and Breach. p. xiv. ISBN   2881244955 . Retrieved 2014-02-24.
  6. Daniel, Ralph Thomas. "Western music: The sonata and concerto". Encyclopædia Britannica . Retrieved 2014-02-24.

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