Musical Forms

of the
Classical Period
 The term “Classical” refers to
the period that extends roughly
from the death of Johann
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.
• In this period, piano with its soft and subtle
sound, gradually replaced the twangy sound of
Baroque era’s harpsichord. It was a glorious time
of piano. Also, the orchestra expanded with
woodwind instruments such as flutes, horns,
clarinets, oboe, and etc. These instruments
advanced and became more sophisticated;
therefore, turning out to be the best instruments
for Classical music. Besides, strings (violin, cello,
etc.) and percussion (drum, timpani, etc.) stayed
in their places with no great change.
 Musical Forms of Classical Period
1. Sonata
• First Movement
• Second Movement
• Third Movement
• Fourth Movement
2. Symphony
3. Chamber Music
 “The history of the sonata is the
history of an attempt to cope with
one of the most singular problems
ever presented to the mind of man,
and its solution is one of the most
successful achievements of his
artistic instinct.”
- Hubert Parry
 Sonata, from the Italian word sounare
that means “to sound”, indicates a piece
to be sounded on instruments.
 A sonata cycle, 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.
 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 characteristic
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.
• Exposition – the opening section of the sonata-
allegro form
- generally sets forth the two opposing keys
and their respective themes.
• The first theme and its expansion establish the
home the home key or tonic. The second theme
and its expansion establish the contrasting key.
The themes will be stated or exposed in the first
section, developed in the second, and restated
or recapitulated in the third.
• Recapitulation – the psychological climax of sonata form.
- follows the general path of the exposition, restating the
first and second themes more or less in their original
form. Most important of all is that the opposing elements
are reconciled; the home key develops triumphantly.

First Section – Exposition

Second Section – Development
Third Section - Recapitulation
Second Movement
• This movement is most often the slow
movement of the sonata cycle.
• 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.
Third Movement
• In the Classical sonata, the third movement almost
invariably is a minuet or trio.
• Minuet – originated in the French court in the mid-
seventeenth century, embodies in triple time the idea
of grace of an aristocratic age.
• Trio – originally arranged for only three
instruments, which persisted even after the
customary setting for three was abandoned. The trio
is presented between two minuets (A-B-A).
• This structure is elaborated through repetition of
the subsections, a procedure that the composer
indicates with a repeat sign.
•Scherzo – used by Beethoven as
substitute for the minuet in the
nineteenth-century symphony.
- an Italian term for “jest”, which is
marked by abrupt changes of mood.
- it is a three-part form, scherzo-
trio-scherzo.
Fourth Movement
•The Classical sonata cycle often ends
with a rondo, a lively movement
suffused with the spirit of the dance.
•Its symmetrical sections create a
balanced structure that is aesthetically
satisfying and easy to grasp.
•A-B-A-B-A is the form used in rondo
as an extension of three-part form.
•A-B-A-C-A is used if there are two
contrasting themes the sections may
use.
•A sonata written for the orchestra is
called a symphony.
•The term was derived from the term
sinfonia, which was applied to
various kinds of instrumental in the
seventeenth century.
 Ludwig van Beethoven has numerous
symphonic compositions.
Here are some of his works:
 Symphony No.1 in C Major
 Symphony No.2 in D Major
 Symphony No.3 in E-flat Major
 Symphony No.4 in B-flat Major
 Symphony No.5 in C Minor
• Chamber music is written for a small
group of solo instruments.
• It is suitable for performance in a room
or small hall.
• 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.