1750-1825

Characteristics of Classical Era and Romantic Era

Classical Romantic
•Simplified •Focused on
•Clearer emotions
•Structured feelings
•Orderly moods
•Balance •Imagination
•mystery and
spirituality.
 Classical Era Architectures

Glyptothek in Munich, Germany

Proportion , the sculptures are organized
and simple but beautiful.
 Classical Era Architectures

Rotunda of the University of Virginia

Proportion , organized
and simple.
 Classical Era painting & Romantic Era painting

Jacques-Louise David’s Oath of the Horatii of
1786
Image exhorted restrained emotion,
structured and order , the sculptural
predominate, and the subject is more
important than color. The subject is clearer.
Théodore Géricault's The Raft of the
Medusa of 1821
The painting shows a political attack. It
expresses murder, violence and death.
Comparison of Classical Music and Romantic Music Styles
Elements Classical Style Romantic Style
Melody Symmetrical melody in Expansive, singing melodies; wide
balanced phrases and cadences; ranging; more varied, with chromatic
tuneful; diatonic, with narrow inflections.
leaps.

Rhythm Regularity strong rhythms that Rhythmic diversity and elasticity;

move at a steady tempo. Much tempo rubato.
of the music is in 2/4, 3/4 , 4/4,
or 6/8. if a piece of movement
start in a certain meter it has to
stay there until the end.

Harmony Diatonic Structure – the chords Increasing chromaticism – expanded

are built from the seven tones concepts of tonality.
of the major or minor scale
Comparison of Classical Music and Romantic Music Styles

Elements Classical Style Romantic Style

Texture Homophonic texture – melody Homophonic texture is primarily
with accompanying harmony used but in the development section
(melody and harmony are sometimes used polyphonic texture.
moving at the same time).

Dynamics Continuously changing Widely ranging dynamics for

dynamics through crescendo expressive purposes.
and decrescendo.

Expression Emotional balance and restraint Expression in emotions, mood.

Feeling is emphasized.
 Classical Era Instrumental Genres

•Symphony - large work for orchestra, generally in three or four

movements.
Symphony
Classical Era Instrumental Genres

•Sonata - instrumental genre in several

movements for soloist and
small ensemble.
Piano Sonata
 Classical Era Instrumental Genres

•Concerto – the classical concerto introduced the cadenza a brilliant

dramatic solo passage where the soloist plays and the
orchestra pauses and remains silent.
Piano Concerto
 Classical Era Instrumental Genres

•String quartet – a musical ensemble of four

string players – usually two violinists,
a violist and a cellist.
String Quartet
Classical Era Instrumental Genres

•Chamber Music – instrumental music for

ensemble, usually ranging from two to about
ten players (two violins, viola, and cello, wind
instrument and piano).
Chamber Music
 Classical Era Vocal Genres
Religious
•Mass – is a form of sacred musical
composition to be sung by a
choir.

•Requiem – mass for the dead.

•Oratorio – a large musical composition for

solo voices, text is based on scripture.
MASS
ORATORIO
REQUIEM
Opera Buffa – a comic opera, light opera and happy ending.

Secular

•Opera Buffa – entertaining musical comedy,

light and happy ending.

•Opera Seria – Serious opera in which the

story is tragedy.
Fortepiano invented by
Bartolomeo Cristofori
became very popular.
Fortepiano was used by
composers to write their
music because it can
create loud sound and soft
sound.
 3 Famous Classical Music Composers

Franz Joseph Haydn Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Ludwig Van Beethoven

Born in Rohrau, Born in Salsburg, Austria Born in Bonn,
Austria in 1732 In 1756 Germany
In 1770
 That listening to Mozart’s music
can boost a person’s IQ?
-It activates both sides of the brain

-It increases the learning potential

-It improves creativity

 Some benefits of Mozart’s music

-it calms hyperactive children and adults

-it heals the body faster

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
1756 - 1791
•Classical style can be
indentified in Mozart’s
music combines of
contrast of mood from
lively to playful to
solemn and tragic.
Mozart’s Four Famous Opera
Cosi Fan Tutte
Marriage of Figaro
Don Giovanni
The Magic Flute
 Famous Compositions

• Piano Concerto No. 27

•Clarinet Concerto K. 622
•Elne Kleine Nachtmusik K. 525, I and III
•Requiem Mass