-
Domenico Cimarosa
1749-1801 -
Melody
created with symmetrical phrasing and were singable. Musical gestures of fanfare, brilliance, singing style, hunting calls. etc emerged. Instrumental music became new avenue of expression. -
Form
Sonata form reached its peak in the Classical era. Rondos were very popular as well -
Church music
Particularly the arias, began resembling secular arias of the day. -
Opera
Opera was main form of entertainment at the beginning of the period, but was later replaced by instrumental concerts in importance by late 19th century -
Employment
Church and courts still gave composers and musicians the most steady jobs, -
Harmony
Harmonies are still predictable and uncomplicated -
Texture
Homophony was the texture of choice unless the composer wanted to evoke a different, more serious tone. -
Dynamics
Dynamics were very important during the classical era. Piano and forte contrasts appeared in succession. Expressive markings begin to pick up as well -
Timbre
Clarinet joined the orchestra as a permanent member, changing the sound of the orchestral wind section. Timpani still used for effects in forte passages. Fortepiano added new timbre to chamber and orchestral music. -
Instruments
Patented version of piano emerged in England 1777. From this point the piano only grew and expanded its versatility. Clarinet was added to orchestra in 1780's giving it a new tone color to manipulate -
Pietro Metastasio
1698-1782 -
Giovanni Battista Sammartini
1700/01-1775 -
Farinelli (Carlo Broschi)
1705-82 -
Franz Xaver Richter
1709-89 -
Prince Nikolaus J. Eszterhazy
1714-90 -
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach
1714-88 -
Christoph Willibald Gluck
1714-87 -
Johann Stamitz
1717-57 -
Charles Burney
1726-1814 -
Franz Joseph Haydn
1732-1809 -
Johann Christian Bach
1735-82 -
Luigi Boccherini
1743-1805 -
William Billings
1746-1800 -
Lorenzo Da Ponte
1749-1838 -
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
1749-1832 -
Antonio Salieri
1750-1825 -
Muzio Clementi
1752-1832 -
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
1756-91 -
Period: to
Classical Period