The Realm Of Classical Music

The Classical period of music has also been called the “Rococo” period. The Classical time period was between the 18th and 19th centuries. Spanning the years of 1750-1820. The transition from the Baroque period to the Classical took the music from polyphonic to homophonic where even though it seems like that would make the music less complex we look at a whole different type of complexity. The music typically contained two different melodies and a contrast in sections. This made the chords in the music much more defined and the tonal part of the music became more defined. The Classical period had a significant influence on several aspects of music. Chamber music had a sonata form. This means it had an exposition, a transition, and a recapitulation. Composition in the Classical time was mainly dominated by eclecticism which made the music more diverse. Concerto was driven at first by the Italians. They started the idea of the solo concerto. Orchestration was mainly developed during this musical time period. This is partly due to some of the most talented musicians that lived during this time. They did a lot of work in making the orchestra mainly string instruments. Some of these being the violin, viola, cello, and the contrabass, just to name a few. All of these things had a great influence in the way the music made the transition from the Baroque period to the Classical period.

Music is present in every culture’s past, present, and future. It has been around since 500 B.C. and was especially important in the Elizabethan Era. There were reinventions of music as it was widespread and popular. Without this essential time in history, modern music may have been completely different from what we have today. This era brought new uses for music, styles of compositions, new instruments, and the uprising of popular composers.

6. What are some characteristics of melody in Classical music? Short and clearly defined musical phrases with two or more contrasting themes.

3. Discuss the political events and sociological factors that made the Classical Period such a time of violent upheaval. (1 point)

In Bonn, on December of 1770, a child was born to a lower middle class Finnish couple; Johann and Maria. Given the name Ludwig after his grandfather, a choirmaster, this child would grow to continue the name of the musically inclined Beethoven family, and eventually supersede its reputation with his own genius. As a deaf composer and musician, Ludwig von Beethoven is one of the greatest paradoxes in the realm of music. From his upbringing, his triumph over his disability, and his world renowned success in music, it is still proclaimed that he is one of the most influential and well known classical musicians in the world.

In this essay I will be discussing the extent that Dmitri Shostakovich adhered to and rebelled from the conventions and traditions that were normalized in classical music and I will offer varied examples of the many times Shostakovich has obeyed and dissented within music throughout his career. The career span of Shostakovich extends from 1926 when he presented his first major work, Symphony No.1 to 1970 when he presented Quartet No. 7.

Nowadays classical music, including music from the canon, is used in a huge number of ways by people in modern culture; music is emotional underscoring, it is a field of force/perfume like an atmosphere, it is medicine, to alter your mood like a drug, it is also a key to mysteries of nature. (Robert Fink) Mostly William Tell Overture and ‘Largo al Factotum’ from Barber have primarily been used for chase/excitement sequences (Tell) or comedy (Barber). For example “The Rabbit of Seville” performed by Bugs Bunny in 1950 in the famous cartoon Looney Tunes. Other examples would be the opening sequence of Mrs. Doubtfire in 1993 and The Lone Ranger in 1948. Beethoven is ‘popular’ in pop culture and in the concert hall, for example, Fur Elise is a ‘popular’ piece. It is the soundtrack of modern life, providing a surfeit of musical wallpaper that delivers easy listening to nurseries, upscale supermarkets, doctors’ offices, cafes, and retirement homes. (Yang,

The Baroque and Classical periods are where we see the emergence of renowned composers like Handel, Bach, Vivaldi, Mozart and Beethoven. The music from these famous composers are some of the world’s most recognizable and beautiful classics of all time. Music of these eras are still being used in many of today’s movies and commercials. Musical characteristics developed from these eras are still used and heard presently in popular music.

Our heart and souls at all times sense rejuvenated and lively with every beat of finest music we hear. Music comes in a variety of diverse forms which are admired and renowned for their own unique styles. Classical music is one of the breeds of musical forms that exist since many years with its visible significance in the music industry. Classical music is a part of our globe from almost 1000 years and inspires millions of people with its liveliness and simplicity.

During the renaissance, Europe went through many changes politically, socially, and psychologically. Most of this change was due to the reformation of the church, and the humanist movement. The humanist movement focuses on revisiting Greek ideas, and the church supported these thinkers, artists, and musicians (Oxford). The church slowly became morphed with politics, to the point where the church was also the law. Different churches wanted to attract new patrons, so they tried to impress others through the use of art and music, and no longer just their words.

Ludwig Van Beethoven, (1770-1827) is a dominant figure of the 19th century European Classical music. He was born in Bonn, Germany, and spent most of his life in Vienna, Austria. Beethoven died at the age of 56, and his death was later found to have been caused by post-hepatitic cirrhosis of the liver, which provided clues to the origins of his deafness. His musical life is divided into three different periods: early, middle, and late.

music to hear too, than in the classical era. Music is cultural and filled with history; hence, it is

100, which include a slow introduction, dotted rhythms, trilled notes to add a pervasive air of expectation, stops and rests to introduce the essential element of silence, and a turn to the minor to foretell the forthcoming use of that mode to darken the

At this time last year, I would have considered all music before the 20th century to be classical. However, after taking a Dual Credit Music Appreciation course, I realized that “old” music cannot simply be grouped into a single category. There are so many differences that I had no idea existed. Throughout the years, music has changed and evolved, meeting the needs of listeners and performers. Different composers have been catalysts in this change as they have developed new styles and genres. Even though the classical period is directly subsequent of the baroque period, baroque and classical music have countless different qualities and characteristics.

Among the many musical types of the period, the classical period is best known for the symphony, a form of a large orchestral ensemble. The symphonic pieces generally had three movements, the sonata, the minuet and the finale. Building of the achievements of earlier composers,