The Classical Period

Hi Roman,

This is my first time doing this, so if it is wrong, sorry . . .

Classical Period

The Classical Period lasted from 1775 to 1825, ending with the death of Ludwig van Beethoven. In dire contrast to the previous Baroque Period (and Neo-Classical Period), the Classical Period contained music that, for lack of a better word, could be described as universal in emotion, whereas the Baroque and Neo-Classical Periods could be said to contain music described as emotionally charged. The music of the Classical Period usually remained emotionally detached from the composer, and instead, portrayed one emotion that an entire audience could relate to such as joy or sadness.

The Classical Period had many distinct characteristics such as gradual dynamics, a structured and on-time beat, very severe form, and one melody and one harmony (in contrast to the polyphonies of Baroque Music). Gradual dynamics emerged as a result of the invention of the pianoforte or piano, as it is more widely called, since the new instrument was able to increase and decrease in sound gradually, whereas the earlier clavichord and harpsichord, which acted much like an organ, could not. This also caused ornaments, which had been highly prevalent in the Baroque Period, to become less prominent since dynamics could take their place in keeping the music interesting and lively. However, like the Baroque Period, the Classical Period was structured and on-time, without the rubato that would later characterize the Romantic Period (which followed the Classical Period). Also, strict new forms were established, such as the sonata form, which included 3 or 4 parts, each with its own exposition, development, and recapitulation. The sonata, which is played by one instrument, continued to remain popular throughout classical music as a whole, although the precedent for the way in which this music was written was set by Classical musicians such as Joseph Hadyn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Ludwig van Beethoven, who all wrote their own sonatas. Furthermore, in contrast to the polyphonic music of the Baroque period and lilting melodies of the Romantic period, the Classical period was usually structured to contain one melody and one harmony that interplayed together to create musical tension and relaxation. In a way, this interplay could be seen as a style that straddled the Baroque and Romantic Periods. Pieces such as Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata and Pathetique Sonata, Hadyn’s 104 symphonies and “Sun” Quartets, and Mozart’s Piano Concerto in C minor stand as prominent examples of music of the Classical Period.

(I also did an extra paragraph on why Beethoven was important in music; this whole assignment is pretty much based on the Muggle Studies guidlines, so . . . )

Ludwig van Beethoven has greatly impacted classical music. His work built on that of Mozart and Hadyn and expanded directly into the following Romantic Period. In the sonata form, Beethoven focused mainly on the development, whereas early composers had mainly focused on the exposition. In a way, his development of a motif throughout his pieces mirrored that of the development of the novel. Beethoven also introduced the idea of rhythm as a central entity in music, using it quite effectively in his compositions to propagate an idea. He also furthered the trend in larger orchestras. Thus, Beethoven was a dominating figure in the development of music as a whole.

Resources:
Me (I have credentials! If you need any, just PM me. Thankies!)
My piano teacher
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Haydn
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mozart
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beethoven%27s_musical_style_and_innovations

-Delta

No, not wrong, that was great Delta - and welcome to the library. You've just earned yourself a well-deserved 50 points.