The classical period or style covers the period from c1750 to c1830.
Don’t get confused between the classical period or style of music and the term ‘classical music’ which is used in a general sense to refer to all traditional Western instrumental, orchestral, vocal and choral music since the end of the Middle Ages. Sometimes the specifically classical period or style is written with a capital C (‘Classical’) to distinguish it from classical music generally.
The name ‘classical’ refers back to ancient Greece. The classical period in music was part of a broader movement in art, literature and architecture that was inspired by the style of the ancient Greeks – particularly their fondness for order and structure. The aim was to achieve perfection. Classical music is ‘cleaner’ and simpler – less complicated, multi-layered and ornate – than baroque music before it.
Key features of the classical style
- A tune! Most music of the classical period has a clear tune. There is little of the polyphony (weaving together of different tunes) that you get in baroque music. This means that music from the classical period often sounds much simpler than baroque music. It is also homophonic (based around chords).
- Dynamics – loud one second, quiet the next (but not as much as romantic music). Music from the classical period keeps changing volume. It keeps changing in many other ways as well. You will notice these as changes of mood.
- Composition styles – the same types of composition keep coming up over and over again in music of the classical period. For example, you will come across lots of symphonies, sonatas and concertos. Each of these is a style all of its own!
- The piano was used more in classical composition rather than the harpsichord.
- The number of instruments in the orchestra grew. In the baroque period the orchestra was mainly made up of string instruments. During the classical period more woodwind instruments were included (clarinet, oboe and bassoon).
Notable composers
