Classical Period

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  • Created by: kt202
  • Created on: 12-04-18 12:17

Melody

  • simple and repetitive, (very catchy), built on scales and appregios,
  • short and clearly defined musical phrases with 2 or more contrasting themes,
  • built on motifs, these can form sequences,
  • melodies tended to be shorter than those of Baroque music.
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Texture

  • mostly homophonic,
  • more varied dynamic range,
  • use of octave unisons are common,
  • often light, with use of arpeggiations, chords. (early piano music was light in texture....e.g. Mozart),
  • occasional homophony.
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Harmony

  • functional, very simple,
  • harmonized with triadic harmony, especially in keyboard works with a broken-chord figure called alberti bass,
  • cadences at the end of sections, typically the perfect Vc-I (cadential 6/4 cadence),
  • use of primary chords, (diatonic harmony). modualtions to related keys.
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Rhythm

  • very defined and regular,
  • 2 or 4 bar phrase structures,
  • can be homorhythmic (melodies and rhythms are aligned),
  • strict sense of pulse.
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Forms

  • sonata form (ABA),
  • rondo form (ABCBA), or
  • minuet and trio form.
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Composers

  • Mozart,
  • Haydn.
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