The Classical Period (1750-1825)
Your Classical Repertoire Choices
- Haydn - Sonata in e minor, Hob. XVI:34 1st movement
- Mozart - Sonata in C Major, K.545 1st movement
- Beethoven - Für Elise
- Kuhlau - Sonatina, Op.20 no.3 1st movement
Characteristics
Although many people refer to all serious music as “classical”, the Classical Period took place during the second half of the 18th century. The centre for classical music was Vienna where Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven all lived for much of their lives.
The harpsichord was gradually replaced by the piano because, unlike the harpsichord, the piano could be played loudly and softly. Early piano music had a light texture and often used Alberti Bass, a type of broken LH chord accompaniment. There were many solo pieces written specifically for the piano, the most popular being sonatas and sonatinas.
Classical music has a lighter and clearer sound that Baroque with an emphasis on graceful melodies, polished forms and elegant instrumental music. The orchestra increased in size and woodwind instruments such as the clarinet, oboe, bassoon and flute became more popular and evolved into a self contained section within the orchestra. Mozart was the first composer to write music specifically for these instruments.