Musical Style: Classical

Classical period  1730 - 1820

Structural clarity was sought in all fields of art, and in music this meant moving away from Baroque polyphony and towards melody with harmony.  As the musical technology advanced, musicians could play in more varied ensembles.  The size of the orchestra steadily grew, as did the range of sounds and effects composers could demand from their players.  Instrumental soloists such as violinists and pianists became more and more virtuosic performers.

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Social factors

The economics of music changed, too.  Composers wrote for patrons and used local musicians known to the families concerned.  Parts for this type of music making had to become simpler - with occasional pieces for virtuosi on particular instruments.  Music could be copied and circulated more easily throughout Europe, feeding the growing cult of composer celebrities.

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Notation

Melody lines were notated in increasing detail with phrasing and dynamics.  Gradually the signs used became standardised, although manuscripts from individual composers are still recognisable to experts.
Movements were unified with distinctive moods and rhythms or tempo.
The Baroque habit of making each movement devoted to a single "affect" or emotion faded away. Form as we know it was born - with contrasts between sections, managed with key changes, stridently rhythmic themes next to lyrical ones...

Earlier keyboard instruments such as the harpsichord and clavichord gave way to the fortepiano or 'square piano', which while offering much lesser volume and power than pianos today, nevertheless offered composers something entirely new - the ability to change the sounds produced with touch alone.  The sustain pedal brought still greater ranges of colour to the palette of the composer and performer.

Try to play a movement from a sonata by one of these great classical composers for the piano:

•     Clementi
•     Haydn
•     Mozart
•     Beethoven - possibly Farewell to the piano or Sonatina in G
•     Schubert - possibly a transcription of Standchen or his Sonata for the Young
•     Czerny, Diabelli and Kuhlau are less well known but have great things to offer at grade 3 level and beyond