The musical center of Europe became centered in Austria. Musical styles shifted from being largely ornamented and ornate to to being clean and uncluttered. Aristocracies replaced the church and monarchies as the dominant influence of the arts and sought impersonal yet melodic and graceful tunes .
A new genre appeared with the classical period: the Symphony - a three to four movement orchestral work.
Wolfgang
Amadeus Mozart (1756 - 1791) - "At the age of four he could learn a piece
of music in half an hour. At five he was playing the clavier incredibly well. At six
he began composing, writing his first symphony at the age of eight" (www.ipl.org/exhibit/mushist/cals/mozart.htm). One of his most incredible work - one that he did not finished as he died
before it was completed:
(musical selection: "Requiem")
Ludwig
van Beethoven (1770 - 1827) - an extremely accomplished musician and composer.
By 1800, he had become aware of his deafness. Though this nearly ended
his career as a musician, he wrote some of his most powerful and unorthodox pieces after
putting aside considerations of suicide.
(musical selection: "Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Movement")