Western Classical Tradition 1650 to 1910 (AQA)

Baroque Period (c. 1600–1750)

Characterized by ornate, expressive, and highly decorative music influenced by the Age of Absolutism, religion, and courtly life.

Contrapuntal Textures

Musical texture featuring multiple independent melodic lines played simultaneously, creating richness and complexity.

Long Ornamented Melody

Baroque melodies often feature long, flowing phrases with extensive use of trills, mordents, and sequences.

Major-Minor Tonal System

The tonal system that became standard in the Baroque period, moving away from earlier modal systems.

Functional Harmony

Chord progressions in Baroque music that lead naturally to other chords, reinforcing the key.

Terraced Dynamics

A characteristic of Baroque music involving abrupt shifts in volume rather than gradual changes.

Musical Forms (Baroque)

Common forms include binary, ternary, ritornello, fugue, suite, and concerto grosso.

Notable Baroque Composers

Key figures such as Johann Sebastian Bach, George Frideric Handel, and Antonio Vivaldi.

Classical Period (c. 1750–1820)

Defined by clarity, balance, and order, moving towards homophonic music structures.

Homophonic Structure

Music characterized by a clear melody supported by chordal accompaniment.

Diatonic Harmony

Harmony that focuses on chords within the key and logical progressions with clear cadences.

Gradual Dynamic Changes

Dynamics in Classical music that included techniques like crescendo and diminuendo for emotional depth.

Musical Forms (Classical)

Forms such as sonata form, minuet and trio, theme and variations, rondo, and symphony.

Notable Classical Composers

Prominent figures like Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Ludwig van Beethoven.

Romantic Period (c. 1820–1910)

Emphasized emotion, drama, and individual expression, often incorporating programmatic elements.

Expressive Melody

Romantic melodies characterized by long, dynamic phrases and greater use of chromaticism.

Chromatic Harmony

Complex harmony of the Romantic period involving dissonance and unexpected key changes.

Wide Dynamic Range

A characteristic of Romantic music featuring extremes in volume and dramatic shifts.

Flexible Musical Forms

Forms in the Romantic era, such as program symphonies, symphonic poems, operas, and art songs.

Notable Romantic Composers

Key figures such as Franz Schubert, Frédéric Chopin, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, and Richard Wagner.

Concerto Grosso

A Baroque form featuring a small group of soloists contrasted with a full orchestra.

Opera vs. Oratorio

Opera combines music, drama, and staging, while oratorios are religious compositions without staging.

Emotional Expression

The conveyance of deep feelings and experiences prominent in Romantic music.

Expanded Orchestra

The growth of orchestral size and diversity from the Baroque to Romantic periods, enhancing sound richness.

Leitmotif

A recurring musical theme representing characters or emotions, particularly in Wagner's operas.

Symphony

A large-scale orchestral work, typically structured in four movements during the Classical Period.

Lied (Art Song)

A composition for solo voice accompanied by piano, popularized in the Romantic period.

Complex Chromatic Chords

Chords used in Romantic music to enhance emotional impact and tension.

Dynamic Techniques in Romantic Music

Techniques such as rubato and dynamic extremes enhancing expressiveness.

Growth of Orchestra Sizes

The increase in orchestral instrumental sections leading to richer sounds in Romantic music.

Symphonic Poem

A single-movement orchestral work that tells a story or depicts a scene.

Seminal Works of Johann Sebastian Bach

Key compositions include Brandenburg Concertos, The Well-Tempered Clavier, and Toccata and Fugue in D Minor.

Famous Works of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Notable pieces include Eine kleine Nachtmusik, The Magic Flute, and Symphony No. 40.

Notable Compositions of Franz Schubert

Key works like Erlkönig, Ave Maria, and Unfinished Symphony.

Signature Work of Richard Wagner

A major composition is The Ring Cycle.

Program Symphony

A multi-movement orchestral work telling a story, exemplified by Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique.

Evolution of the Piano in the Classical Period

The rise of the piano as a key instrument allowing for expressive dynamic variations.

Differences Between Opera Seria and Opera Buffa

Opera seria is serious and dramatic, while opera buffa is light-hearted and comedic.

Nationalism in Romantic Music

Incorporating folk melodies from composers' native countries to evoke emotional connections.

Thematic Development

The process of expanding and developing a musical idea or motif throughout a composition.