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May 7, 2018 · Learn about the features of Classical music, such as tonality, sonata form, orchestra and piano. Explore the composers and forms that shaped the Classical period from 1750 to 1820.
A foundational component of Western culture, classical music is frequently seen from the perspective of individual or groups of composers, whose compositions, personalities and beliefs have fundamentally shaped its history.
- c. 1730-1820
- c. 1400-1600
- c. 500-1400
Learn about the characteristics of classical music, such as beautiful melodies, homophonic texture, alberti bass, and cadenza. Find out the famous composers, instruments, forms, and structures of the classical era.
- Simplicity
- Accessibility
- Contrasting Moods
- Texture
- Themes and Melody
- Instruments Used in Classical Music
- Famous Classical Music Composers
- Summary
Unlike the previous Baroque era, the music of this time was made to be less complicated. In contrast to complex melodies and embellishments, this form used simple melodies and large ensembles to sustain them. This made it easier for musicians to read, making the music feel softer and more pleasant. Baroque music had embellished melodies, complex te...
It was in the late Baroque period that public concert halls were first built. This allowed for wide audiences to see and hear classical music performances. Early classical composers mostly still worked in aristocratic courts. However, public concerts started to become more popular across Europe. New listeners emerged due to the music’s catchy melod...
The mood of a Classical piece shifts either moderately or dramatically, reflecting euphoria and melancholy in opposition to one another. As this feature was one of the innovations of the time, it makes sense to compare it with Baroque music. Classical music doesn’t emphasize a singular devotion as Baroque music does. It is developed to incorporate ...
When composers began to focus on one melody, the homophonic texture became more popular. Chordal accompaniment is often heard in a single line as the texture of Classical compositions. Also, instrumental melodies tend to flow more at a gradual pace with fewer jumps than in the Baroque period because of this emphasis on melody. Afterward, the audien...
Themes and melodies in classical music are balanced and symmetrical. They incorporate a folk or popular character that makes them memorable and catchy. It’s common for classical themes and melodies to be made up of two phrases that are the same length. If the second phrase of a theme begins similarly to the first, it concludes more definitively. It...
The evolution of orchestration and the piano’s invention occurred during the Classical era. Since instrumental music has become increasingly popular, we have seen the birth of new forms of music. During the classical period, the orchestra took the shape that you can still see today. Also, the Symphony became a structured form of music. It is possib...
Famous classical music composers are commonly known as members of the Viennese School. It was considered the heart of European Classical music. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is the most significant and famous composer, not only of the Classic era but of all times. In the brief time he had, he produced hundreds of Classical compositions. Each represents f...
The classical music era spanned roughly 70 years, from 1750 to 1820. It is characterized by less complex compositions with thinner textures and homophonic harmony. Music underwent more transformations during this period than it had ever before. Concerts weren’t only for aristocrats anymore. The musical forms, instruments, and orchestras all took a ...
May 10, 2021 · Learn about the defining characteristics of the Classical period, such as melody, orchestra, piano and symphony. Discover the best composers and pieces to listen to from this 18th-century musical style.
The Classical era in music is compositionally defined by the balanced eclecticism of the late 18th- and early 19th-century Viennese “school” of Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, and Schubert, who completely absorbed and individually fused or transformed the vast array of 18th-century textures and formal types.
Learn about the characteristics, features, forms and composers of the Classical period of music from 1750 to 1830. Explore the musical features of Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven with examples and videos.
