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Characteristics of The Classical Period

The Classical period saw changes in texture from the Baroque with a lighter, less complex style. Instrumental music became more prominent and included new woodwinds and brass. Common forms included symphonies in 4 movements, string quartets, sonatas, and concertos. Major composers from this period were Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven who helped develop new forms like the sonata-allegro structure.

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Nallini Narayanan
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590 views

Characteristics of The Classical Period

The Classical period saw changes in texture from the Baroque with a lighter, less complex style. Instrumental music became more prominent and included new woodwinds and brass. Common forms included symphonies in 4 movements, string quartets, sonatas, and concertos. Major composers from this period were Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven who helped develop new forms like the sonata-allegro structure.

Uploaded by

Nallini Narayanan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Characteristics of the Classical Style

Period
(1750 – 1820)

• Textures are for more homophonic (melody and accompaniment


or perhaps “monody”) than the Baroque – although counterpoint is
still found
• Music has a regular harmonic rhythm
• Music is generally “lighter” and less “self-important”
• Music is not just for royalty now – first open concerts this period
• The piano takes on importance and the harpsichord all but
disappears
• Instrumental music becomes far more important than vocal music
• Instruments include:
o Violin, viola, cello, bass (Old style bows and gut strings)
o Oboe, bassoon, flute (without mechanical keys)
 The woodwind family adds clarinet
 Customarily 1 or no more than 2 in the orchestra
o Trumpet, horn (“Natural” or no valves)
 Customarily 1 or no more than 2 in the orchestra
 Trombone trios are still used in opera and oratorio to
represent other worlds
o Timpani (fixed pitch – non-tunable)
 Other percussion instruments begin to appear – mostly as
novelties
o Organ and piano are prominent, although there is some
harpsichord at the beginning
o Voice

Characteristics of Baroque Music, KC, IB Music , Page 1


• Predominant musical forms include:
o Chamber Music
 The string quartet is “invented” in this period
o Sonata
 Know what the differences are between this type and
the “Classical Period” version
o Symphony
 Four movements, usually:
• Sonata-allegro form
• A slow “ABA,” “sonata-allegro,” or occasionally
“theme and variations,”
• A Minuet or scherzo (Beethoven)
• A fast “theme and variations,” “rondo,” or “sonata-
allegro”
o Concerto
 A work for orchestra and instrumental soloist
o Opera
o Solo “Art Song”
 For vocalist and piano
o Other vocal forms (Oratorio, Mass, “Missa Brevis”)
• Increasing use of secular music forms
• Music is predominantly in Major or Minor keys

Characteristics of Baroque Music, KC, IB Music , Page 2


• Major Composers:
o Joseph Haydn
 String Quartets! And other trios and chamber works
 Symphonies! (104)
 Piano sonatas
 Oratorio
o Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
 Symphonies (41)!
 Operas!
 Piano sonatas
 Violin sonatas and other chamber works
o Ludwig von Beethoven
 Symphonies! (9) And symphonic overtures
 Piano Sonatas!
 Chamber music

Characteristics of Baroque Music, KC, IB Music , Page 3


• More terms – know definitions and what they sound like:
o Sonata-Allegro Form
 Introduction (?)
 Exposition
• First Theme Group
• Transition or Bridge
• Second Theme Group
• Closing Theme Group or Codetta
 Development
• Modulation
• Intervallic development
• Rhythmic displacement
• Sequence
• Key center
• Fragmentation
• Inversion
• Diminution
• Augmentation
• Orchestration
 Recapitulation
• Similar to the exposition but centering on the tonic
 Coda
• Not always there, but if so either:
o Reinforces the tonic, or
o Continues development
o Minuette Form
 ABA where:
• A = A-BA or A-B-A
• B = C-DC or C-D-C
o Alberti Bass
o Cadenza
o Rondo Form (ABACA)
o Harmonic Rhythm

Characteristics of Baroque Music, KC, IB Music , Page 4

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