The Classical period
I can identify key musical features of the Classical period.
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- Year 10
- AQA
The Classical period
I can identify key musical features of the Classical period.
Copyrighted materials: to view and download resources from this lesson, you’ll need to be in the UK and
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Music from the Classical period (1750-1820) has certain defining characteristics.
- These include melody and accompaniment texture, and simple melodies with limited ornamentation and balanced phrasing.
- The orchestra grew larger and, as well as the concerto, the symphony became a key genre. It has four movements.
- The first uses sonata form, with an exposition, development and recapitulation. The third is often a minuet and trio.
- The sonata became a key genre (particularly for keyboard instruments), with three contrasting movements.
Keywords
Classical period - the period of Western classical music between 1750 and 1820
Symphony - a long composition for orchestra, usually consisting of four shorter pieces (movements)
Sonata - a three-movement solo composition, and a structure with exposition, development and recapitulation
Balanced phrasing - melodic phrases which are equal in length and have complementary melodic shapes
Common misconception
Sonata form and a sonata are the same thing.
This is a common misconception. Sonata form is a structure in a piece that has a exposition, development and recapitulation. A sonata is a three-movement composition for solo instrument. The first movement of a sonata is normally in sonata form.
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