Key learning points

1. Texture and harmony had similarities and differences across the Baroque, Classical and Romantic eras.
2. A key Baroque texture is polyphony, while melody and accompaniment dominated the Classical period.
3. In the Romantic period, music was mostly melody and accompaniment, but was more varied and often complex.
4. Baroque and Classical harmony was diatonic and emphasised modulation to closely-related keys.
5. Romantic harmony was often chromatic and composers experimented with more complex modulations and chords.

Keywords

• Polyphonic - a texture with more than one equally important melodic line

• Melody and accompaniment - a texture consisting of a melody with a clearly separate accompaniment

• Diatonic - music which uses only notes that are based in the key (e.g. C major or F minor)

• Chromatic - music that uses notes from outside the key, creating more complex harmony

• Modulation - a change of key during a piece of music

Common misconception