What is Classical Music

——The First Impression of Classical Music

Classical music, as a treasure of high art, has a certain difficulty for appreciation. We may listen to moving movements or be fascinated by elegant melodies, even if we have never been exposed to classical music, we will think: why listen to classical music? How to listen to classical music? Professor Chan Wing-Wah gave his own answer to these questions.

On the evening of March 10, 2023, the first lesson of Ling’s Classical Music Lecture was given by Professor Chan Wing-Wah, the Associate Dean of the School of Music. At the beginning of the lecture, Professor Chan first led the discussion on “Why listen to music”. He believed that “Music can give us energy and a positive outlook on life.” He also mentioned that “Music is a common topic in the world”, which can connect us with people from different countries. For “how to listen to classical music”, Professor Chan thought the most important thing is, “You don't just listen, you also watch, read, feel, imagine, and enjoy.”

In the lecture, Professor Chan introduced the three dimensions of appreciating classical music: melody, harmony and rhythm with humorous language. He vividly described the origin of the staff and the development of multiple voices. Professor Chan then connected the movement of the wind and string to the mathematical discovery of the ancient Greek mathematician Pythagoras, explaining the discovery of the rules of the tone series and the invention of the tuning system. In the same period of history, there is the record of “Three Scale Fall and Rise Temperament” in Guanzi, a classical work written in the Spring and Autumn period. The two independent civilizations of the East and the West discovered the voice of nature almost at the same time, which made Professor Chan also appreciate that it was "the magic culture of mankind".

Finally, Professor Chan displayed some symphonies and concertos. Symphonic works from different countries have different styles, for example, Austria is known for its elegance, while Russia is often seen as a representative of “wide and rough”. Professor Chan vividly used Hamburg as an analogy to demonstrate the richness of the symphonic hierarchy. “I like to eat Big Mac because I like to listen to symphonies,” he joked.

In the communication with the students, Professor Chan linked the development of classical music to that of traditional Chinese music. Since the period of reform and opening-up, classical music has made great progress in China. At the same time, traditional Chinese music also needs us to inherit and promote it. We should try to explore the mode of adapting it to the present.

Music from the Baroque Era

——Walk into the Spiritual World, Evoke the Emotional Resonance

In the Baroque era, musical composition made rapid and significant progress, which can be said to form the earliest “classical music” to a certain extent. At that time, polyphonic music was the mainstream, and many works were strongly influenced by religion. Professor Michael Tsalka used Bach, one of the greatest composers of this era, as a representative,and discussed the interpretation and performance of his works.

In the second lecture on 16 March, Michael Tsalka, a renowned piano and harpsichord player and assistant Professor at the School of Music of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, took the audience closer to Johann Sebastian Bach, letting them glimpse the lingering light of the Baroque era from the Renaissance to the Industrial Revolution.

Bach’s music works were created from the early 18th century to the 1940s, and they always give people the impression of preciseness, precision, and restraint. When playing Bach’s music, most players also pursue such a style. However, Professor Tsalka took “the interpretation and performance of Bach's works” as the theme, aiming to let the audience and players break free from the stereotype and further understand different aspects of Bach.

Professor Tsalka pointed out that since Bach was a prolific composer and he lived hundreds of years ago, understanding his music style can be difficult. The way to play Bach’s music has been changing over the centuries. Professor Tsalka took the same piece of music performed by a philharmonic orchestra and a period instrument orchestra as an example to show the different playing styles of Bach’s music.

How should Bach's works be performed? Do we need to imitate classical playing styles when performing? Is there a danger of being too romantic or too old-fashioned? Professor Tsalka offered his own solution by comparing recordings of different players in 1925, 1933, and 2011, as well as the difference between the piano and the ancient harpsichord, to show that different styles can be eclectic and have their own strengths. At the same time, he quoted pianist Sebok’s point of view on the change of playing style before and after the Second World War, proving that the playing style changes with the times. As a result, he finally answered the debate of style: embracing all styles is the wise choice to face history and look to the future. After playing the quiet and gentle Baroque music, the lecture ended with a Q&A session and warm applause.

Music from the Classical Era

——From Divinity to Humanity, Freely Express the Heart

In the Classical era, composition technology became matured, and the homophony began to dominate. The focus of music changed from praising the gods to thinking about people’s own hearts. Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven are the representatives of this period who greatly impacted the later generations. Focusing on the works of these three famous composers, Professor Jin Zhuosheng presented many music pieces to the audience and introduced the evolution and development of music in the classical period.

On the evening of March 23, the third lecture of Ling’s Classical Music Lecture came as scheduled. Jin Zhuosheng, Assistant Professor of the School of Music, also the coordinator of this series of lectures, introduced the development history of music in the classical period to everyone.

Professor Jin started with the definition of music in the Classical era. He pointed out that the standard for dividing music between different periods such as the Baroque era and the Classical era is not a specific time. Instead, it is the change in the style of the music itself. According to Professor Jin, people began to think about their own happiness rather than religious piety under the Enlightenment ideology. The creation and appreciation of music gradually sank from the aristocratic class to the common class, and music began to shoulder more social responsibilities. As a result, music shifted from a serious style that praises God to a secular style that expresses elegance and beauty.

Professor Jin presented a wide range of music in the lecture, from the Messianic odes of Handel to the greatest symphony of Beethoven in his later years. Those pieces allowed listeners to see the emergence of the element “joy” in classical music. The analysis between Bach’s fugue and Mozart’s music shows how music changed from polyphony to homophony. The comparison between the harpsichord and the piano reflects the advancement of piano manufacturing technology, and demonstrates how the social development from Baroque to Classical periods influenced the development of music.

Professor Jin also introduced the differences between sonata and sonata form, explaining how sonata developed into multi-movement ensemble, concerto, and symphony genres with the sonata as one of the movements. Moreover, he explained the establishment of the sonata form in the homophony music period. Then he used the string quartet genre to introduce the inheritance and development of the music style of the three masters of the classical Viennese music school, Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven.

The lecture ended with Beethoven’s magnificent “The Symphony No. 3 in E flat major”, and the glorious history of the Classical era has left a unique trace in the hearts of the audience.

Music from the Romantic Era

the German and Austrian Composers

——Delicate Lyricism and Rich Charm

The music of the Romantic period plays an important role in the history of Western culture and art. It boldly innovated based on enriching and developing classical music, giving birth to countless musical masterpieces. Schubert, Schumann, and Brahms are the representatives of German and Austrian composers. Their creations are in the same line while having their own unique characteristics.​ By playing their music, Professor Jin Ping introduced those three masters to the audience, bringing an immersive experience to everyone.

The fourth lecture on the evening of March 30 was given by Professor Jin Ping, the Associate Master of the School of Music and the Vice-chairman of the Assembly of Fellows of Ling College. He used Schubert, Schumann, and Brahms as the key to open the door of German and Austrian Romanticism for the audience.

Schubert is a representative of the transition period between the Classical and Romantic eras. Professor Jin introduced Schubert’s art songs, from Gretchen at the Spinning Wheel which pioneered the genre of art songs, to The Erl-King composed after it. He pointed out a major characteristic of Romantic music: the influence of literature on music. Professor Jin guided the audience to experience the relationship between accompaniment and vocals in the exquisite music The Trout, pointing out the delicate use and progressed skill of piano during this period.

As a music critic and activist, Schumann’s contribution to Romantic music is indelible. He was unable to become a pianist due to an accidental injury, but this propelled him towards the path of being a composer and music critic. Professor Jin narrated to us the relationship between Schumann and other composers of that era, pointing out that Schumann used his magazine New Journal for Music as a position to cheer for his colleagues such as Mendelssohn, and spared no effort to support younger generations such as Berlioz, making indelible contributions to the development of Romantic music.

Professor Jin pointed out that Brahms’ music is different from that of most romantic composers. Brahms opposed the music trend of being influenced by literature and simulating objects at that time. Instead, he advocated using rigorous classical structures and techniques to bring music back to itself. Beethoven is a person who would write and correct everywhere on his manuscripts, while Brahms is someone who would rather burn all his imperfect and unfinished manuscripts. By comparing them, Professor Jin vividly portrayed the image of Brahms as strict and self-disciplined. Professor Jin also found the tongue-in-cheek songs in the Academy Festival Overture which tells little jokes about Brahms, trying to make students recognize a Brahms who is different from our ordinary impression.

The lecture came to an end with a Q&A session, and the response from the students was very enthusiastic.

Epilogue

Ling’s Classical Music Lecture received a warm response and won an excellent reputation among teachers and students. All seats are occupied for the first four lectures. We hope students can fall in love with classical music in their spare time, since by listening to and feeling the classic works, they can get more fulfilling life experiences.

Music travels through history, getting indelible marks from the times. Every small note can reflect the thoughts and emotions of a nation, a country, and a period of time. They convey the essence of human civilization. There is a kind of move that can only be found in music since the pulse of music can resonate with the softest place deep inside everyone’s heart.

Following the clues of time, we have visited famous artists from the Baroque and Classical eras, and then we came to the Romantic period. After introducing Austrian and German composers, the next three lectures will concentrate on the national music school, the French and Italian composers, and the music of the Late Romantic period. Opera, impressionist music, and modern music are also waiting for you. Please pay attention to the news of upcoming lectures and continue supporting Ling’s Classical Music Lecture!