... church or royal families in the early ages of the classical era. This frustrated many composers because they were often forced to write pieces that there master wanted. By the end of the classical era, though, a musical democracy was forming. Since the middle classes had money to spend and since they were well educated and interested in new music, public concerts helped make it possible for musicians to make a living without the assistance of royalty or the church. Individuals with money often paid composers directly to write specific pieces for them, giving musicians a new source of income. The capital of the classical era was Vienna. It was one of the largest cities in Europe and served as the political centre for a huge portion of the continent. People were constantly coming through the city, bringing with them ideas and knowledge from other cultures. The citizens of Vienna ...

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