Classical and Baroque Music: Characteristics & Genres
Classical Period Music (Late 18th C. – 1827)
The Classical period in music history covers approximately the second half of the eighteenth century until 1827, the year of Beethoven’s death.
Key Features
- Emphasis on simplicity and clarity in both harmony and melody.
- Fully tonal harmony, replacing the Baroque basso continuo. Harmony is based primarily on the three basic chords: tonic, dominant, and subdominant.
- Interest focused on the main melody, which is typically orderly, regular, and structured (e.g., 8-bar phrases).
- Other voices primarily serve an accompaniment role.
Vocal Music
Opera Seria
This period saw a reconciliation of French and Italian opera styles, establishing key principles:
- Simplicity
- Relevance of the orchestra
- Introduction of the overture to set the mood
- Music serving the script and characters
Opera Buffa
Comic opera, often originating from humorous scenes inserted into Opera Seria.
Requiem
Music composed for the Catholic Mass for the Dead (Missa pro defunctis), generally omitting the more joyful sections of the Mass. Mozart’s Requiem is a famous example.
Orchestral Music
The standard orchestra became definitively established in the late eighteenth century, typically consisting of:
- String Section: Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass
- Woodwind Section: Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon
- Brass Section: Trumpet, Horn, Trombone
- Percussion Section: Timpani, Cymbals
String Quartet
A chamber music ensemble composed of 2 violins, 1 viola, and 1 cello.
Sonata
An instrumental work, typically in several movements. The first movement often follows a three-part structure (Sonata Form):
- Exposition (A): Presents two main themes, usually in the tonic and dominant keys.
- Development (B): Explores and varies the thematic material.
- Recapitulation (A’): Restates the exposition themes, usually remaining in the tonic key.
Classical Concerto
A musical form based on the alternation and interplay between a solo instrument and the full orchestra.
Symphony
A large-scale orchestral genre, typically structured in four movements:
- Allegro (often in sonata form)
- Lento (Slow movement)
- Minuet (or later, Scherzo)
- Allegro/Presto (Fast finale)
Joseph Haydn is often considered the “Father of the Symphony”.
Baroque Period Music (c. 1600 – c. 1750)
The Baroque period spans from the seventeenth century to the first half of the eighteenth century. Its approximate chronological limits are often placed between the appearance of the first opera around 1600 and the death of J.S. Bach in 1750.
A key development in this musical context was the growing separation and distinction between vocal and instrumental music. The period is characterized by a dynamic and innovative musical language.
Characteristics
- Monody: A style featuring a single vocal melody with instrumental accompaniment. This simplification from complex polyphony allowed for clearer text comprehension and greater emotional expressiveness.
- Basso Continuo: A continuous bass line, often played by cello or bassoon, with harmonies filled in by keyboard (harpsichord/organ) or lute. It provides the harmonic foundation for the music.
- Establishment of Tonality: The system of major and minor keys became firmly established. The tonic (the first note of the scale) is the central and most important note, defining and naming the key. The distinction between major and minor modes is based on the specific distribution of tones and semitones.
Vocal Music: Profane
Opera
A staged musical form combining drama, music, and sometimes dance. Its origins can be traced to musical interludes (intermedi) performed between the acts of plays. The first widely recognized opera is L’Orfeo by Claudio Monteverdi, composed in 1607.
Sections of the Opera
- Overture: An instrumental section that begins the opera. Originally sometimes called a fanfare, it served to capture the audience’s attention or signal a royal entrance.
- Recitativo: A style of vocal writing that follows the natural rhythms of speech, accompanied by basso continuo. It is used to advance the plot and deliver dialogue efficiently.