Musical Forms and Devices: Classical

Overview

The Classical period spanned from around 1750 to the early 1800s.
Classical music sought to balance expressions of feeling and dramatic intensity with elegance, diversity in form, and clear, direct melodies.

Styles of Composition

There was a concentration on structural clarity in compositions, in terms of melodic expression and instrumental colour.
Classical compositions often adhered to a form, with common forms being sonata, symphony, concerto, and opera.

Instruments and Ensembles

The main instruments used included strings, woodwinds, brass and percussion.
Pianos began to replace harpsichords and organs.
The standard orchestra emerged during the classical period and string quartet became a significant genre.
The concept of the modern symphony orchestra originated.

Key Composers

Representative composers in this period include Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Franz Joseph Haydn.

Form

The symphony, a multi-movement work for orchestra, became a central form in this period.
The sonata form includes exposition, development and recapitulation sections, often with a coda, and is common in symphonies, concertos, and string quartets.

Harmony and Tonality

They continued from the Baroque period, using major and minor tonalities.
However, during the Classical period, the harmonic complexity of pieces increased.
Functional tonality is a characteristic of the period, with a hierarchy of chords, where the tonic chord is regarded as the principal chord.

Melody and Rhythm

Melodies were often symmetrical and clearly defined through being set off by clear-cut cadences.
Rhythm variations also played a more significant role.
The use of dynamics and crescendo/diminuendo had a more important role in the Classical period.

Texture

The main texture of classical music is homophonic, that is a melody with chordal accompaniment. However, variety in texture is common.
Polyphonic texture was not completely abandoned in the classical music.

As you navigate through your grasp of Musical Forms and Devices: Classical, remember these key factors for a balanced understanding of the topic.