Musical Styles in History+

Middle Ages or Medieval (400-1450)

earliest notated music
church music common
harmony and rhythmic concepts introduced
Composers: Hildegard, notre dame composers, Machaut Raimbault de Vaquieras
melody: conjunct smal range, occasional expressive leaps
Rhythm/meter: non metric, free (early), syncopated (late), triple meter
harmony: modal, open sounding sonorities
texture: monophonic (early) non-imitative polyphony (late)
vocal genres: chant, organum, chanson, motet, mass
instrumental genres: Dance Music
expression: pure, a cappella (sacred), without vibrato
borrowed material: sacred music based on chant
performance sites: church, court

Renaissance (1450-1600)

printing an distribution of music
musical focus from church to palace (monarch)
development of national styles
composers: Josquin des prez, palestrina, susato, monteverdi, farmer
melody: arched, smooth, asymmetrical lines, diatonic, chromaticism
Rhythm/meter: regular, gentle pulse, duple meter prevalent, occasional shifts to triple
harmony: modal, moving toward tonality, consonant sonorities
texture: imitative polyphony, homophony to emphasize the text
vocal genres: mass, motet, madrigal, chanson, lute ayre
instrumental genres: Dance Music, various solo lute and keyboard works, ensemble music
expression: pure, a cappella (sacred), without vibrato, word painting (secular)
borrowed material: sacred music with cantus firmus (early) moving toward freely composed
performance sites: church, court, home

Baroque (1600-1750)

invention of opera
development of instrumental music and genres
total harmony developed
oratorio = great Baroque sacred genres

Classical (1750-1825)

public concerts
symphony orchestra common here
large scale compositions developed

Composers: Prominent composers of the Classical era include Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven, who contributed significantly to the development of classical music.

Melody: Classical melodies are characterized by their lyrical quality, balanced and symmetrical phrases, regular cadences, and diatonic nature with few wide leaps, creating a sense of elegance and clarity.

Rhythm and Meter: Classical music features clearly defined rhythms with regularly recurring accents, often incorporating dance rhythms to add a sense of lightness and grace to the compositions.

Harmony: Diatonic harmony, emphasizing tonic-dominant relationships, is favored in Classical music, with expanded harmonies forming the basis for large-scale musical structures and forms.

Texture: Classical music often exhibits homophonic textures, with a chordal and vertical perspective, where a single melodic line is supported by harmonies, creating a harmonious and balanced sound.

Vocal and Instrumental Genres: Vocal genres in the Classical era include opera, Mass, Requiem Mass, and oratorio, while instrumental genres encompass symphony, concerto, solo Sonata, string quartet, and other chamber music forms.

Form: Ternary forms are predominant in Classical music, with the Sonata Allegro form being a key development, emphasizing absolute forms over programmatic content in compositions.

Dynamics: Classical music showcases continuously changing dynamics through techniques like crescendos and decrescendos, adding expressiveness and drama to the musical narrative.

Timbre: Classical composers explore changing tone colors between different sections of their works, utilizing various instrumental combinations to create diverse and rich soundscapes.

Performing Forces: Classical compositions are typically performed by a string orchestra with woodwinds, some brass instruments, and timpani, comprising a 30 to 40 member orchestra, where the piano emerges as a prominent solo instrument.

Virtuosity and Expression: In the Classical era, virtuosity is showcased through limited improvisation, mainly seen in cadenzas and concertos, while emotional expression is characterized by a balance of emotions and restraint, reflecting the elegance and sophistication of the period's musical style.