Orchestration underwent a profound and comprehensive transformation during the 18th century, significantly shaping musical styles and altering performance practices. This thesis explores the historical, social, and aesthetic frameworks that influenced changes in orchestral composition and the approach to writing for individual instruments. Emphasis is placed on the gradual transition from Baroque compositional thought to the Classical orchestral sound, characterized by clarity, balance, and contrast. Special attention is given to the influence of the Mannheim school, whose innovations laid the foundations for modern orchestration, and to the reforms of Christoph Willibald Gluck, aimed at enhancing expressivity, clarity, and dramatic effect in operatic art. Owing to the continuous development of instruments and the expansion of their technical capabilities, the thesis delves into individual orchestral instrument families – strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion, keyboard instruments, and plucked strings. Through a historical overview of their role and evolution, the gradual formation of the orchestra as a central vehicle of musical expression in Classicism is illustrated, along with its significance for subsequent periods. Composers Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Joseph Haydn made decisive contributions to the consolidation and advancement of new orchestration principles through their exceptional creativity and numerous innovations. This is demonstrated through the analysis of two selected works: Mozart’s overture to Die Zauberflöte, K. 620, and Haydn’s Symphony No. 103 in E-flat major, Hob. I:103, also known as the “Drumroll” Symphony. In addition to score analysis, the thesis addresses the conductor’s perspective on interpretation and rehearsal preparation, thereby providing a practical dimension. The concluding chapter discusses the impact of these historical developments on today’s historically informed performance practice, which aspires to recreate the authentic soundscape of the 18th century. The findings confirm that changes in orchestration were pivotal in shaping the Classical symphonic ideal, which continues to influence how the music of this era is understood, taught, and performed today.
|
