The Classical Style

The Classical Style

Defining Classical Style

  • The Classical era in music spans from roughly 1750 to 1820, a transition that came directly after the Baroque period.
  • It is distinguished by its clarity, symmetry and balance in composition, inspired by the ideals of Ancient Greece and Rome.
  • This emphasis on formal structure and proportion contrasts to the ornate complexity and grandiosity of the Baroque era.

Key Characteristics of Classical Composition

  • Melody: Melodies in Classical music are clear, memorable and tuneful.
  • Rhythm: There is diverse use of rhythm. Classical composers often varied the speed and rhythm throughout pieces to maintain listener interest.
  • Harmony: Diatonic and functional harmonies are used, with modulations to related keys.
  • Texture: Predominantly homophonic texture, with melody and accompaniment, although composers were not limited to a single texture throughout an entire piece.
  • Orchestra: The standard classical orchestra began to take shape, with a typical lineup including strings, woodwinds, brass and percussion.

The Influence of Sonata Form

  • Sonata form dominated classical composition, and is a structure that remains popular even today.
  • This form is typically characterised by an exposition (presentation of themes), development (exploration and transformation of themes), and recapitulation (return of themes).

Classical Concerto and Form

  • Concertos of this period mainly consisted of three movements, typically arranged in a fast-slow-fast order.
  • They consist of a solo instrument and an orchestra. The solo sections alternate periodically with the orchestral sections.
  • The first movement is often in sonata form, the second in theme and variations or ternary form, and the third movement usually a dance or rondo.
  • Classical concertos provided a platform for musicians to show their virtuosity and often contained a cadenza - an elaborate, improvised solo passage inserted into a movement in a concerto.

Notable Classical Composers

  • Pioneers of the classical style included composers such as Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven. Their work largely defined the parameters of the Classical era.
  • Mozart’s concertos, in particular, represent some of the best examples of Classical concerto form.
  • Beethoven, while often associated with the Romantic period, also made significant contributions to the development of the classical style, particularly in his earlier works.