The Relationship of Music and Money in the Classical Era

 “Believe me, my sole purpose is to make as much money as possible; for after good health it is the best thing to have.” - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart 

The relationship of music and money has always been an interesting thing to contemplate. For centuries, musicians have struggled to get by, which is the reason for the present day stereotype of musicians being poor. In Medieval times, music was commonly performed only in churches and royal courts, so the musicians of the time were largely church workers and servants of royalty. These people depended on other people for their own survival, and there was no actual money to make in music. The same was true throughout the Renaissance and into the Baroque era as well. Bach served the church, but Handel tried his hand at making a living through writing operas before returning to serving royalty. Into the classical era, however, things changed. Before, concerts were an event that occurred at parties, dances, and other events put on by the aristocracy. Then, the idea of for-profit concerts was introduced (Wright). Suddenly, concerts were available for everyone to attend, not just the noblemen of society. Ticket prices were affordable enough that everyone could attend concerts, although some people could afford tickets with more comfortable seats than others. It was during this time when the most famous composers and musicians had the opportunity to do something no-one else before them had ever done: use music to make money. Mozart took this idea and ran with it, obtaining absurd amounts of money very quickly from concerts, performances, and composing (Maranzani). Mozart is credited as being the first musician to make a living as a freelance artist. He didn’t serve any royalty, nor a church. He was the first person to live this extravagant “rock star” lifestyle. 

Mozart's Theme and Variations on Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

The Popularization of Music

In the 18th century in Europe and America, music was not being exempt from other changes that were going on. The basis of an audience for certain performances from orchestras increased greatly and was a big factor in contributing to the new profit of music. Music was originally performed in churches and courts, with very little of the public hearing it. Multiple walks of life at this time contributed to organize their own type of concerts. These new concerts were advertised similarly to how today’s concerts advertise them. Harpsicord was another big part of the changes going on in this time. Because people didn’t want to just attend concerts; people wanted to make music on their own. The instrument that started this as the “household instrument,” the introduction of the piano. The piano was replacing the harpsicord mainly because of the dynamic contrast. When all these changes in music and other things were occurring in the 18th century, it was known as the Age of Enlightenment.

The Scientific Revolution and the Age of Enlightenment | World History | Khan Academy

The Rise of the Piano

The piano was invented around 1700 in Italy, and became immensely popular among the affluent middle class who aspired to create their own music. The introduction of the piano allowed for a lot more variety in one instrument at that time, which changed music in general. The pianos made in the 1700s had a range of 4 octaves and could be played loudly or softly. The dynamic range was a clear advantage over the harpsichord as it was limited to minute differences.  Once the pitch range was extended to 8 octaves over the next hundred years, the harpsichord could no longer compete with the piano. Composers began to use dynamic markings to identify the softer or louder sections of the piece. By the end of the nineteenth century, most middle class households had a piano for ametur music studies. They were usually played by young women as a sign of status and gentality. A more simple homophonic style of piano music began to be produced and sold. Haydn himself wrote 52 piano sonatas among his numerous other musical compositions. The introduction of piano and shift of music into the home increased the profitability of music. Music in the home took off after the piano came about which changed music forever.

The Importance of Place in Music

“From Vienna radiated their powerful musical influence,” Author Craig Wright proclaims Vienna held the same musical culture as modern places like New York's Broadway and Hollywood film music, and he is not wrong. Vienna, home to many of the greatest musicians, composers and artists, poured music greatness out of every street it could. However, was Vienna the only place a freelance artist could make it? In London “people followed music stars with pop-fan avidity. The composers, the players, the singers, and all their hijinks had everyone’s tongues wagging—and tickets sailing out the door,” (Shapiro). London musicians wracked in cash from opera’s to composing and performing. It’s stated in the article that musicians would come to fighting if another stole their musical ideas. Musical culture ripped out of London like a hungry bear and spread throughout Europe but many musicians remained in London to make bank until they died. Yet Paris, just like London, has many of their own musical freelance artists. “While the first operas were experimental, opera was soon met with considerable enthusiasm in Paris, especially the operas based on the Italian opera of the time,” (Hanson). Musicians began to flock towards Paris for its promising musical prospects. Halls were filled with boisterous music as bands played and new singing styles were born. Just like Vienna and London, Paris music culture and wealth began to spill outwards to other countries and began to blend and share ideas. Even though Vienna is accredited with the biggest wealth of musical culture in its time, many other cities and countries had their own busy music scenes that contributed to its time. In closing many cities in the late 1700’s could and did support musical artistry and freelance work and it did not seem to matter where they performed they still earned a living.

 

The Emotional Cost of Music

"Here he manifested such a love for music, that he was supplied with a violin and a teacher; and in the course of three or four years he became sufficiently proficient to be admitted as one of the second violins in the orchestra of the opera at Lisbon” (James Silk Buckingham).

Not many people think about who might be behind the scenes and the stages of the 18th century. We’ve read in class about the big names of classical composers, such as Handel, Mozart, Haydn, etc., but what about the other, lesser-known individuals who added to the foundations of music? To relate my curiosities to my group’s topic this week, the money behind the music, I wanted to shine a light on a few musicians whose physical cost and struggles made a difference in our music culture. One such musician is Joseph Emidy (1775-1835) who was of African descent, and who was originally brought to Britain on accounts of slavery. At first he was enslaved in Portugal and was made to play in the orchestra for the Lisbon Opera. Then after that he was forced to play as a fiddler aboard an English Naval ship, and it wasn’t until after 1804 when he was freed and started his real career as a violinist. Emidy was a teacher, a performer, and a composer, and he was the leader of the Truro Philharmonic Orchestra which was founded in Cornwall, England in the early 19th century. Joseph Emidy is still known and praised for his work in Cornwall to this day, and the cost of slavery he had to endure will never be forgotten. Another musician I discovered is George Augustus Polgreen Bridgetower, who worked closely with Beethoven as a fellow composer. He was also an extremely skilled violin virtuoso, and was yet another musical influencer of the time who’s hard work should not go unnoticed. There are many more musicians that I could name, but it would take days. There are so many important people who made a difference in our musical culture from back in their day that still holds power in our culture today. 

Credits

Intro Paragraph & Posting Blog - Aidan Hille

The Popularization of Music - Carl Reese

The Rise of the Piano - Jake Kesling

The Importance of Place in Music - Ryan Lelli

The Emotional Cost of Muisc - Hannah McVay

Works Cited

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