Music - Western and Classical Music

Boroque composers use MAJOR and MINOR keys 

They found that MODULATING was a good way to create contrast in music 

New structures such as BINARY, TERNANRY, RONDO, VARIATION forms were created to organise music.

You can recognise Baroque music by:

• the dynamics as they change suddenly. Thery are always either loud or soft not inbetween or any gradual changes.
• Melodies are built up through motifs, so there is a lot of repitition.
• Simple Harmonies 
• Lots of ornaments 
• Texture which is contrapuntal or polyphonic
• a Basso Continuo 

Classical music grew out of baroque music, so its very similar but not the same:

• Less ornaments 
• Basic forms and Sonata form
• More subtle dynamics using crescendos and diminuendos. It doesn't just change suddenly
• Memorable melodies which are more basic 
• The piano was invented and the orchestra got bigger

BINARY FORM

Two contrasting sections which are played twice. Section A then Section B, so the form is like this: AABB.

TERNARY FORM 

Three parts, each section repeats. It goes like this: AABBAA.