What is Classical music?

The Classical music period occurred

between the Baroque and the Romantic
periods and is generally accepted as being
between 1750 and 1820.

of mood and timbre are found in the

Classical period music compositions of
Christoph Gluck.
The different instrumental forms in
Classical period.

The characteristics of Classical music

1. Melodies are shorter in Classical era
music than Baroque music.
2. The orchestra increased in size and
range.
3. The woodwind became a self-contained
section in the orchestra.
4. The piano or forte piano replaced the
harpsichord as a solo instrument.
5. Importance was given to instrumental
music.
6. Music culture was caught at a
crossroad: the masters of the Baroque
style had the technique, but the public
hungered for new one.
7. Composers from this period sought
dramatic effects, striking melodies, and
clearer textures.
Significant events that led to the advent of
the Classical era.
1. Domenico Scarlatti- an Italian
composer, was an important figure in
the transition from Baroque to Classical.
His style of composing is intensely
related to that of the early Classical
period.
2. The Spanish Antonio Soler- composed
keyboard sonatas that are varied in form
with some pieces in three or four
movements.
3. Another important break with Baroque
music was the radical overhaul of the
opera by Christoph Willibald Gluckwho streamlined a great deal of layering
and improvisational ornament and
focused on the points of modulation and
transition.
4. Variety of keys, melodies, rhythms, and
dynamics along with frequent changes

Single movement instrumental forms

Binary form is characterized by the
presence of two complementary and
related melodic sections of equal
direction
Ternary form is frequently employed,
especially for slow movements where
the form is often called three-part song
form.
Compound ternary form is almost
invariably used for the dance-like third
movements of classical symphonies and
other instrumental works.
Fugal form is more common for
Classical composers to use fugal
techniques in the framework of another
form.
Multi-movement instrumental forms
Sonata form is the most important
instrumentl form of the Classical period
which developed out of the sonata da
chiesa, sonata da camera and the
Italian and French overtures of the
Baroque period.
Concerto is not an important form in the
classical period, but the solo concerto
for piano, violin, or other instrument,
with orchestral accompaniment, reached
a high point of development in the
Classical period.
The different vocal forms in Classical
period.
Single movement
Recitative
Aria
Song
Chorus

Multi-movement
Opera
Religious music