Professional Documents
Culture Documents
period, then, is the total language of all its artists as they react to the artistic,
political, economic, religious, and philosophical forces that shape their environ-
HISTORY
ment. We will find that a knowledge of historical styles will help us place a musi-
cal work within the context (time and place) in which it was created.
Historical periods The timeline below shows the generally accepted style periods in the history of
OFWestern music. Each represents a conception of form and technique, an ideal of
beauty, a manner of expression and performance attuned to the cultural climate of
CLASSICAL MUSIC
the period—in a word, a style!
Critical Thinking
1. What is the difference between the genre, the form, and the medium for a composition?
2. How does a composer create a unique musical style? Give an example.
500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1420 1440 1460 1480 1500 1520 1540 1560 1580 1600
1600 1610 1620 1630 1640 1650 1660 1670 1680 1690 1700 1710 1720 1730 1740 1750
RHYTHM Single rhythm predominant; steady, Dance rhythms favored; regularly recurring
energetic pulse; freer in vocal music accents
HARMONY Chromatic harmony for expressive effect; Diatonic harmony favored; tonic-dominant
major-minor system established with relationship expanded, becomes basis for
brief excursions to other keys large-scale form
INSTRUMENTAL Trio sonata, concerto grosso, suite, Symphony, solo concerto, solo sonata,
GENRES prelude, fugue, chaconne, passacaglia string quartet, other chamber music
genres
FORM Binary and ternary forms predominant Larger forms, including sonata-allegro
form, developed
TIMBRE Continuous tone color throughout Changing tone colors between sections
one movement of works
PERFORMING String orchestra, with added Orchestra standardized into four families;
FORCES woodwinds; organ and harpsichord introduction of clarinet, trombone; rise of
in use piano to prominence
1700 1710 1720 1730 1740 1750 1760 1770 1780 1790 1800 1810 1820 1830 1840 1850
MELODY Symmetrical melody in balanced phrases and Expansive, singing melodies; wide ranging;
cadences; tuneful; diatonic, with narrow leaps more varied, with chromatic inflections
RHYTHM Clear rhythmically, with regularly Rhythmic diversity and elasticity; tempo
recurring accents; dance rhythms favored rubato
INSTRUMENTAL Symphony, solo concerto, solo sonata, Same large genres, adding one-movement
GENRES string quartet, other chamber music genres symphonic poem; solo piano works
VOCAL GENRES Opera, Mass, oratorio Same vocal forms, adding works for solo
voice and piano/orchestra
FORM Ternary form predominant; sonata-allegro Expansion of forms and interest in continuous
form developed; absolute forms preferred as well as miniature programmatic forms
DYNAMICS Continuously changing dynamics through Widely ranging dynamics for expressive
crescendo and decrescendo purposes
TIMBRE Changing tone colors between sections Continual change and blend of tone
of works colors; experiments with new instruments and
unusual ranges
PERFORMING String orchestra with woodwinds and Introduction of new instruments (tuba,
FORCES some brass; 30-to-40-member orchestra; English horn, valved brass, harp, piccolo);
rise of piano to prominence much larger orchestras; piano
predominant as solo instrument
1780 1790 1800 1810 1820 1830 1840 1850 1860 1870 1880 1890 1900 1910 1920 1930
1840 1850 1860 1870 1880 1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990
1860 1870 1880 1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010