Classical

By Classical music, most people today think of serious music of any kind, as opposed to jazz, rock, pop or other similar genres, but the term classical is strictly applied to music written between 1730 - 1820.

Features of the classical period include: 22858575 22852950 (`@````````` 266 263 5 110183775 110178150

· Mainly homophonic – melody above chordal accompaniment,

· More variety and contrast within a piece: of keys, melodies, rhythms and dynamics.

· Shorter melodies and clearly marked cadences and phrases.

· The orchestra increases in size and range; woodwind becomes a self-contained section

· The harpsichord was replaced by the piano (or fortepiano):

· The Sonata form was developed

Typical composers and there works: click on the composers to find out about them.

Beethoven, Mozart, Haydn, and Schubert

Fact file:

Name: Haydn

Nationality: Austrian

Birth and death: (1732 - 1809)

Specialist genres: Symphonies, string quartets, opera, oratorios and masses

Major works: 15 surviving opera's, 104 symphonies and many concertos, sonatas and masses.  

Name: Mozart

Nationality: Austrian

Birth and death: (1756 - 1791)

Specialist genres: Opera, symphonies, piano concertos, string quartets.

Major works: Così fan tutte (1790), Le nozze di Figaro (1786), 21 piano concertos, 5 violin concertos; concertos for clarinet and other wind instruments. 41 symphonies: 24 string quartets: 17 masses and other chamber music.   

Name: Beethoven

Nationality: German

Birth and death: (1770 - 1827)

Specialist genres: Symphonies, piano concertos, string quartets and piano sonatas.

Major works: Symphony No. 9 (1824),

Name: Schubert

Nationality: Austrian

Birth and death: (1797 - 1828)

Specialist genres: Songs, piano music, symphonies and chamber music.

Major works: Over 600 song, No. 8 (unfinished, 1822), No 9 (the Great, 1828)

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period of music