The

Classical Period
of Western Music History
circa 1750 to 1820 A.D.
 The Classical Period
c. 1750 to 1820
In the middle of the 18th century, European culture
began to move toward a new style in
architecture, literature, and the arts. This style
was known as Classicism, a style
that sought to emulate the ideals of Classical
antiquity, especially those of Classical Greece.

Note: the term “Neo-classical” (“Neo” meaning “New”) was

used to describe the new 18th century style in architecture,
literature, painting and sculpture, etc., so as to distinguish it
from the classicism of ancient Greece and Rome.
But since virtually all the music of classical
antiquity was lost with the Fall of the
Roman Empire, the basic term
“Classical” was used to describe the new
18th century musical style.
The use of the term “Neoclassicism”
as applied to music was later used to
describe a musical trend employed by
some composers of 20th century music.)
 The Classical Period

The Classical period in music history falls between the

Baroque and Romantic periods. The best-known
composers of this period are Franz Joseph Haydn,
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven.
Music of the Classical period has a lighter, simpler texture
than Baroque music and is less complex. It is generally
homophonic in texture – a texture that consists of
melody above a chordal harmonic accompaniment.
However, counterpoint, the predominant musical texture of
music of the Baroque period, was also still employed by
Classical period composers, especially in the
later Classical period.
 Baroque vs. Classical Period Music
Despite the fact that they are different periods of musical
history, there are still many similarities between music of
the Baroque period and music of the Classical period.
There is also considerable overlap between the two periods,
so there are no absolute rules
that determine what constitutes Baroque music
versus Classical period music.
That said, some of the general differences between
Baroque and Classical period music are detailed
on the following slides.
 Baroque vs. Classical
Period Music
In the mid-1700s, a new,
more expressive instrument,
the piano, gradually replaced
the harpsichord. A great deal
of music was written for the
solo piano during the
Classical period, which paved
the way for the phenomenon
of the
"piano virtuoso" to develop. Painting of young Mozart by
Saverio dalla Rosa (1745-1821)
 Portrait of Madame Recamier (1800)
by the French Neo-classical painter Jacques-Louis David (1748-1825)
 Ludwig van
Beethoven
composing
at the piano

During the Classical period, composers began using the piano

as the primary tool to aid them in composing music.
 The Orchestra Is Standardized
in the Classical Period
Although the concept of the orchestra was established during the
Baroque period, it wasn’t until the Classical Period that the
instrumentation of the orchestra became standardized.
During the Classical period, composers also began increasing
the size of the orchestra. By the end of the Classical period,
the instrumentation of the orchestra became standardized as:

2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons,

2 French horns, 2 trumpets, timpani & strings.
Seating plan for a standard Classical period
symphony orchestra
 Art In The
Classical Period

Portrait of
Napoleon in His Study
(1812)
by Jacques-Louis David
(now hanging in the
National Art Gallery
in Washington, DC)
Music in the Classical period was written to appeal
to the emerging middle class audience,
whereas Baroque music was typically intended
for the aristocracy or the church.
 St. Georges Hall in Liverpool (built 1841-1854)
is considered to be one of the finest examples of
Neoclassical architecture in Europe.
Opera was still very popular in the Classical period,
but the subjects of the operas began to change.
In the Classical period, fewer operas were written
about mythological characters as they were in the
Baroque period, and more operas were written
about the lives of ordinary people,
such as in Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro.
However, some Classical period operas were still
written about kings.
 Musical Style In The Classical Period
The style of music changed in the Classical period
to become generally simpler in a number of ways.
The complex style of polyphonic music (music with
many melodies simultaneously) that was prevalent in
the late Baroque period was replaced in the Classical
period by music that emphasizes single melodies with
an underlying accompaniment. The concepts of
proportion and balance as applied to
phrasing and musical structure were also very
important during the Classical period.
The art of the period is characterized by
grace, beauty of line, clarity of form, and
balance of structure.

The characteristics of Classical music are:

~ tuneful melodies
~ more flexibility of rhythm
~ basically homophonic
~ clarity of structure in musical form
~ greater variety and contrast of mood
 The length or duration of some musical works
gradually increased in the Classical period. This
became evident with the development of the
“Sonata-Allegro form.” This form became one of the
most important developments in Classical period
music, because it was adopted as the standard
structure (musical architecture) for the
first movements of Sonatas, Symphonies
and String Quartets.