Summary of Music Time Periods

Baroque Period 1600 - 1750

The period in which music changed from polyphonic (2 or more melodies woven together) to homophonic (melody + accompaniment)
Introduction of keys (major and minor) replaced modes
Vocal and instrumental music were now oth important with secular music gaining more popularity over sacred church music
The period of the music reflected the flamoyance of the time that gave rise to large architecture
Composers
Germany: !" #ach$ %andel$ Telemann
Italy& 'omenico "carlatti$ (orelli$ Vivaldi
England& )urcell$ (%andel)
France: *ameau$ (ouperin$ +ully
Works
,eyoard& %arpsichord$ organ$ clavichord
-pera$ -ratorio$ (antata& solo voices$ choirs$
chorus$ orchestra
Violin$ .lute$ (ello& "onatas and suites
-rchestral works& concerti /rossi$ suites
Forms of Works
#inary 0"
Ternary 0#0
"imple *ondo 0#0(0
Theme and Variations
Classical Period 1750 1830
1usic in this time period was more restrained
(larity of form was important
%omophonic style was now more important than polyphony with popularity of the 0lerti #ass
In the later half there was growing interest in dynamics as the piano gained popularity
Composers
Germany: %aydn$ #eethoven$ 1o2art$ /luck
Italy: #occherini$ (lementi
Works
,eyoard& "onatas
"ymphonies
(oncertos
(hamer music
+ieder
-pera
Forms of Works
#inary 0#
Ternary 0#0
"imple *ondo 0#0(0
*ondo "onata 0#0 (episode) 0#0 ((oda)
Theme and Variations
Sonata form: Exposition: A (bridge) (Codetta) !e"elopment: (goes
t#ro$g# different keys) %ecap: A ridge
Romantic Period 1830 - 1920
/reater use of e3pressive techni4ues
5se of more imaginative titles$ less structured forms$ colour and variety$ use of chromaticism6
0lso includes periods of 7ationalism which saw composers use traditional folk rhythms and Impressionism where composers such as 'eussy used
music to hint at an image6
Composers
Early %omantic:
Germany: #eethoven$ "chuert$ "chumann$
+is2t$ 1endelssohn$ "trauss
France: (hopin
Italy: )uccini
&ate %omantic:
/ermany& #rahms$ 8agner
*ussia& Tchaikovsky
Works
"hort piano pieces often used dance forms
and names such as 1a2urka$
)olonaise and 8alt2
'rogram ($sic: which aims to create a
picture through the use of sound
"ymphony& (oncerto$ allets
(hamer 1usic
&ieder: /erman art song where the piano is
as important as the singer
Forms of Works
#inary0#
Ternary 0#0
"imple *ondo 0#0(0
*ondo "onata 0#0 (episode) 0#0 ((oda)
Theme and Variations
Contemporary Period 1920 - Present
*adical e3perimentation with music using 7eo *omanticism$ Impressionism$ e3pressionism (e3pressing the inner self)$ neo classicism( return to the
classical view of music)$ !a22 influence$ use of .olk 1usic$ (hromaticisms
*hythms and forms are less structured
Composers
A$stralian& "utherland$ 7orton$ #rumy$ %yde$ %olland
%$ssian: "travinsky
Englis#: #ritten