Classical Period (1750-1825): Style Traits, Genres, and Composers

Posted on Aug 15, 2024 in Music

Classical Period (1750-1825)

Style Traits & Genres

Orchestra Size: Typically 25-30 players, sometimes up to 60.

Symphony

A 4-movement work for orchestra.

Sonata Form

• Exposition: Introduces the themes.
  • First theme in the tonic key.
  • Bridge.
  • Modulation to a new key.
  • Cadence (in the new key).
  • Pause.
  • Second theme in the new key and of contrasting character.
  • Closing section (in the new key).
• Development: Explores and transforms the themes.
  • Introduction of new themes.
  • Variations on original themes.
  • Rapid key changes.
  • Turbulence and excitement.
  • Polyphonic texture (e.g., sequences).
• Recapitulation: Restates the themes in the tonic key, similar to the exposition.
• Coda: Provides a sense of closure.

Listening Examples

• ****: Mozart – Symphony No. 40, First Movement (Sonata Form – Very Popular)
• ****: Haydn – Symphony No. 94, Second Movement (Theme and Variations)
• *****: Mozart – Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, Third Movement (Minuet and Trio – Very Short)
• ******: Beethoven – String Quartet in C Minor, Fourth Movement (Rondo Form)
• *: Berlioz – Symphonie Fantastique, “Idée Fixe” (Sonata Form)

Forms

• Sonata Form
• Rondo Form (A B A C A)
• Sonata Rondo
• Theme and Variations

Chamber Music

• 2-9 players.
• One player per part.
• Equality of parts.
• Popular with professionals for its teamwork without a conductor.
• Popular with amateurs as it doesn’t require a formal orchestra.

Concerto

Utilizes Sonata Form with an exposition for the orchestra, an exposition for the soloist, a development section (featuring new themes, running notes, and interplay between soloist and orchestra), a recapitulation, a cadenza, and a coda.

Baroque vs. Classical

Key Composers

• Haydn: Known for his prolific output and adherence to classical conventions.
• Mozart: Celebrated for his genius and innovative compositions.
• Beethoven: Bridged the Classical and Romantic periods with his powerful and expressive works.

Emerging Trends

• Virtuoso performers like Niccolò Paganini (violin) and Franz Liszt (piano).
• Expansion of movement length.
• Chromatic harmony.
• Art Song (Lied): Works for solo voice and piano based on poetry.

Programmatic Effects

Music that evokes specific imagery or tells a story. Examples include:

• Galloping horses depicted through piano music.
• Narration through vocal elements.
• Characters represented by different instruments or vocal parts.
• Sound effects mimicking natural phenomena.

Symphony Poem

A single-movement programmatic work for orchestra, often in a traditional form like sonata or rondo, or in a more free-form structure.

Example: A Symphony Based on a River’s Journey

This hypothetical symphony uses various musical techniques to depict the river’s flow and the scenes along its banks.

• River Theme: Introduced by flutes, later joined by clarinets and other instruments.
• Scenes of the Banks: Depicted through contrasting musical themes and textures.
• Dusk: Represented by muted colors and a sense of tranquility.
• Dawn Breaking: Marked by bright brass fanfares.
• Rapids: Conveyed through energetic rhythms and powerful instrumentation.
• River at Midwest: Symbolized by a major key and a sense of expansiveness.
• Through Prague: Represented by a march-like theme.
• River Fades: Music gradually diminishes in volume and intensity.

Style Traits of the Classical Period

• Contrast of Mood: Significant changes in mood within movements or themes.
• Rhythm: Variety of rhythmic patterns.
• Texture: Primarily homophonic.
• Melody: Tuneful, easy to remember, balanced, and symmetrical, often consisting of two phrases of equal length.
• Dynamics: Gradual changes in dynamics, including crescendos and decrescendos.

Genres of the Classical Period

• Symphony: A large-scale work for orchestra, typically in four movements.
• Concerto: A work for solo instrument and orchestra, often featuring virtuosic passages for the soloist.
• Chamber Music: Music for a small ensemble, typically 2-9 players, with one player per part. The most well-known form is the string quartet.
• Opera: A dramatic work utilizing orchestra, chorus, soloists, acting, costumes, and scenery.
• Keyboard Works: Works for solo keyboard instruments, such as the piano.
• Vocal Works: Including concert masses, oratorios, and secular vocal pieces.

Style Traits of the Romantic Period

1. Expanded range of tempo, pitch, and dynamics.
2. New and improved instruments, leading to larger orchestras.
3. Emergence of the virtuoso performer.
4. Extremes in size and emotion.
5. Chromatic harmony.
6. Interest in far-off places, nationalism, and exoticism.
7. Program music.
8. Expressive use of tone color.
9. Individuality.
10. Usage of emotional subject matter.