The Baroque Period and the Classical Period
The Classical and the Baroque periods were very significant to the evolvement and development of music. As much as these styles are different, they possess several similarities because they are close in time. The Baroque period was characterized by musicians playing alongside amateurs in university music societies and clubs, catching up in coffee houses, taverns, and private homes (Han, 2021). It is similar to how today’s musicians get their names known overnight. Upcoming musicians find it difficult to have their names in every household after just playing overnight and to get their names well known, they regularly play at small venues alongside known musicians. During the Baroque period, musicians did not have their music records accessible as it is today readily accessible through various platforms (Han, 2021). Music was often found in churches and royal courts, and participating as a musician was a top honour.
Change in creative thinking stood out as a significant difference between the Classical and the Baroque periods. As we can vividly hear in J.S Bach’s music, Baroque music is polyphonic writing’s dominance and textual complexity. The Classical period dramatically shifted away from the dense and intricate style of composition towards vivid melodic lines and homophony and accompaniment (Jones, 2016). The classical period fell between the Romantic period and the Baroque period. The best-known artists from the classical period were Joseph Haydn, Beethoven, and Mozart. The period is also referred to as the Viennese period, and the Vienna City was the period’s cultural mecca, whereas the baroque music was first played in Italy before it travelled to the rest of Europe. Classical music was performed indoors, whereas baroque music was reserved for homes for the wealthy and churches.
Nonetheless, the classical period was much of a contrast to other periods of music that existed prior. Pieces composed in the classical period featured clarity in structure and sounded balanced. The main focus of the classical period was a clear structure and balance, whereas the baroque style focused on a continuous and a single move. The classical style focused on changes in emotional range and mood, and it was during this period, the piano was widely recognized due to its capacity to create dramatic dynamics crucial for classical music (Jones, 2016).
References
Han, L. (2021). Characteristics of music in the Baroque period (Master’s thesis).
Jones, D. W. (2016). Music in Vienna 1700, 1800, 1900. Boydell & Brewer.
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Question
On page 101 in your textbook, the caption accompanying the illustration reads: “During the baroque period, musicians often played with amateurs in music clubs or university music societies, getting together in private homes, coffee-houses, and taverns.”
Explain how this differs or is the same as our world today. After listening to all the compositions in this unit, select one and compare/contrast it to a song we might hear in our homes, coffee houses, or taverns. Then explain how The Baroque Period was different from The Classical Period. Include the exploration of the city of Vienna during The Classical Period. Incorporate in your exploration the music and lives of Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven in this city. Listen to their works in Unit IV. How are they different? How are they the same? Was their music played in private homes, coffee houses, and taverns?