New Styles, Ideas, and Forms
Music and instruments created. They were documented only in the artwork of the time.
Greeks developed complex music theory.
Greek music included other arts like poetry. They thought that music was invented by gods
and that it could effect and change behavior.
Romans developed complex music theory, techniques, and instruments.
Most of the music of the time period was secular/religious, used in church worship.
Polyphony (2 melodies at a time) was invented in 400 A.D.
In general, music, rhythms, and techniques became more complex over time.
Baroque Era (1600 to 1750)
New Styles, Ideas, and Forms
Our current system of tonality, with 12 tones in each octave, created.
Major and minor scales first used.
The first opera, called Dafne, was written in 1597 by Jacopo Peri. Opera was developed.
Continuo accompaniment (played by 1 keyboard and 1 bass instrument) first used.
Trio sonatas used 2 melody instruments and continuo accompaniment.
The oratorio was created- a religious piece for solo voice, chorus, and orchestra.
The first orchestral concertos, called "Concerto Grosso" were performed.
Composers and Compositions
Johan Sebastian Bach, George Frederic Handel, Antonio Vivaldi
Performance Info
The flutes of the time were made out of wood and had a "lighter," quieter sound.
Trills start on the upper note of the trill.
Art, Literature, and History
Baroque art focused on scientific discovery and specific rules (proportion,
anatomical studies...) Michelangelo, Raphael, Rembrandt, Donatello
Forms of literature- novel, lyric poetry, drama (Shakespeare/Hamlet,
Cervantes/Don Quixote, Swift/Gulliver's Travels)
World History- popular monarchs had absolute control over their subjects, philosophers
like Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau focused on reason, rationalism, and scientific
discovery in the Age of Enlightenment
Classical Era (1750 to 1820)
New Styles, Ideas, and Forms
Classical music was became popular because it had dignity and clarity.
Popular forms included symphony, string quartet, opera, instrumental music, chamber music.
Sonata form widely used, Concerto developed.
Music first arranged by exposition of the theme, development, and recapitulation.
Composers and Compositions
Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeaus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, Christoph Willibald Gluck
Performance Info
Sometimes, trills start on the upper note.
Art, Literature, and History
World History- The revolutions that led to the Romantic era began. The U.S. fought for
its independence and George Washington became the first president. The French revolution
was also taking place, and Spain declared war on England.
Romantic Era (1820 to 1900)
New Styles, Ideas, and Forms
Imaginative and emotional music, free form, solemn and individual.
Sometimes imitated nature.
New forms included German lieder, instrumental overture, character piece, symphonic poem.
Nationalism- composers showed the feelings and culture of their people.
Composers and Compositions
Romantic- Ludwig van Beethoven, Franz Schubert, Felix Mendelssohn, Hector Berlioz,
Frederic Chopin, Richard Wagner, Johannes Brahms, Gustav Mahler, Richard Strauss.
Nationalistic- Antonin Dvorak (Czech), Peter Ilich Tchiakovsky (Russia), Camille Saint-Saens
and Gabriel Faure (France).
Performance Info
Pieces were written to be expressive and emotional
Art, Literature, and History
Romantic art focused on dramatic and imaginative paintings of nature. The impressionists
also painted during this time period. J.M.W. Turner, Caspar David Friedrich,
Eugene Delacroix, Edgar Degas, Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Georges Seurat
Literature focused on nature, emotion, imagination, the supernatural, and individuality.
(Mary Shelley/Frankenstein, Victor Hugo/The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Les Miserables,
Alexandre Dumas/The Count of Monte Cristo, poets: Blake, Wordsworth, Coleridge,
Byron, Shelley, Keates)
World History- Many revolutions took place during this time period. (French invasion
of Russia+defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo, 1812, revolutions in Greece, Russia, Mexico,
Venezuela, Belgium, France, Texas, and more, 1820-39.
Modern Era (1900 to present)
New Styles, Ideas, and Forms
Composers experimented with harmony, tonality, and ways to make sounds (multiphonics).
Impressionism- music suggests images of nature. (Main composer- Claude Debussy)
Nationalism movement continued.
New jazz styles influenced some modern music.
Neoclassical- music based on the forms of earlier time periods.
Composers and Compositions
Igor Stravinsky (some Neoclassical), Arnold Schoenberg, Claude Debussy (Impressionism),
Paul Hindemnith, Carl Stamitz (Neoclassical), Nationalist- Bela Bartok (Hungary), Charles
Ives, Aaron Copland (U.S.), Sergei Prokofiev, Dimitri Shostakovich (Russia).
Performance Info
Figuring out the style or movement that the modern composer was a part of can help to
perform the piece.
Art, Literature, and History
Literature World History