MUSICAL FORMS OF THE

CLASICAL PERIOD
 The term “Classical” refers to
the period that extends roughly
from the death of Johan
Sebastian Bach in 1750 to the
death of Ludwig van
Beethoven in 1827.
 The classical era has different
musical styles and characteristics.
 Written compositions focused on
instrumental works . Therefore,
when we say classical music, they
are mostly about instrumental
compositions
SONATA
 from the Italian word suonare that
means “to sound”, indicates a
piece to be sounded on
instruments.
 A sonata cycle, as the Classical
masters Haydn, Mozart , and their
successors understood the term,
consists of a series of three or four
contrasting movements.
 The name sonata is used specifically
for a chamber piece intended for one
or two instruments.
 Depending on the number of players
involved, the terms trio, quartet, quintet,
sextet, septet, octet, and nonet may be
used.
 The term CONCERTO is used for solo
instrument with the accompaniment of the
orchestra, and a symphony is for the
whole orchestra.
 FIRST MOVEMENT
 This is the opening movement and
considered as the most highly organized
and characteristics movement of a sonata
cycle.
 This is usually in a fast tempo such as
allegro. It is also known as the first-
movement form, sonata-allegro form, or
simply sonata form.
SECOND MOVEMENT
 This movement is most often the slow
movement of the sonata cycle. It offers a
contrast to the sonata-allegro that precedes. It
is the songful movement that gives the
composer an opportunity to present the
purely lyrical aspect of the musical art.
 The tempo is often an andante or adagio in A-
B-A form or theme and variations form.
 Variation is an important procedure
that is to be found in every type of
music.
THIRD MOVEMENT
 In the classical sonata, the third
movement almost invariably is a
minuet and trio.
 The MINUET, which originated in the
French court in the mid-seventeenth
century, embodies in triple time the
idea of grace of an aristocratic age.
 a MINUET is a piece of music with
three beats in a bar which is played at
moderate speed. A minuet is a fairly
slow and formal dance which was
popular in the seventeenth and
eighteenth centuries.
FOURTH MOVEMENT

 the classical sonata cycle often

ends with a rondo , a lively
movement suffused with the spirit
of dance
CHAMBER MUSIC

 Is written for small group of solo instruments .

It is suitable for performance in a room or
small hall.
 Its history dates back to the sixteenth century
when Giovanni Gabrieli(1557-1612), an
organist at St.Mark’s Cathedral in venice,
wrote a canzona for two violins, cornetti, and
two trombones published in 1615.
 In chamber music, each player has
an individual part to play, but all the
players must think and feel together
as a group. Thus, there is more
contact and coordination between
musicians in the performance,
providing more enjoyment for both
the players and the listeners.
COMPOSERS OF
THE CLASSICAL
PERIOD
WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART
(1756-1791)
 was born in Salzburg, Austria
 According to classical music history,
Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus
Theophilus Mozart is arguably the most
exceptional musician of the Classical era.
He was a composer, a violinist, a virtuoso
pianist, an organist, and a conductor. He
composed different genres of music : opera,
concerto, chamber music, symphony,
choral, and vocal and instrumental music.
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN
(1770-1827)
 was a German composer
and pianist. Beethoven
remains one of the most
admired composers in
the history of Western
music
 He was an artist imbued
with the idea of
revolution
FRANZ JOSEPH HAYDN
( 1732-1809)
 was born in Rohrau, Austria
 He began his musical training at a very
young age. He was one of the choir boys
in Vienna.
 He was instrumental in the development
of chamber music such as the 
string quartet and piano trio.[2] His
contributions to musical form have led
him to be called "Father of the 
Symphony" and "Father of the 
String Quartet
SINGSPIEL

 or “singing play” is a musical

comedy of light musical drama that
has much in common with a
Broadway musical.