Education: classical music
Let’s take a look at how this tradition developed from the 17th century to the present
WHEN we use the term “classical music”, we’re referring to the unbroken Western musical tradition that has its roots in the ancient civilisations of Mesopotamia, Egypt, Ancient Greece and the Roman Empire. This musical tradition stretches back so far that we’re not sure what it sounded like in ancient times.
String, wind and percussion instruments look very different today to what they did back then. It’s important to know that music is an art form that draws from an ancient tradition but is constantly renewing and evolving.
Here’s an overview of centuries of musical development. We start in the 1600s, which followed the Middle Ages (500 to 1400) and the Renaissance (1400-1600).
THE BAROQUE PERIOD (1600-1750)
The word “baroque” might come from the Portuguese word barocco, which refers to a large uneven freshwater pearl. Baroque refers to a lavish, sometimes ostentatious style of art and decoration.
Baroque music is tuneful, highly organised and contains intricate note patterns. The melodies are meticulously worked out and elaborate. There’s usually a contrast and conflict between parts of the piece of music and between the different instruments. The music can be quite dramatic.
The best-known composers from this musical era include Johann Sebastian Bach, Antonio Vivaldi, Domenico Scarlatti, Georg Philipp Telemann and George Frideric Handel.
The baroque period lay the foundations of musical expression for the following centuries. It’s when the idea of a modern orchestra first took hold. During the baroque period, the music genres opera (including overture, prelude, aria, recitative and choral), concerto, sonata and modern cantata also came into their own. In the same period, the violin and cello developed from the earlier simpler violas. The harpsichord – the early precursor to the piano – was also invented in this time.
Early in the baroque period older music modes (scales or fixed sequences of notes) were still in use, but by the early 18th century the modern harmonic scale systems of minor and major keys became the standard in Europe. This type of music was popular within aristocratic circles and was often performed for guests at open-air dinners while operas were performed for the public at concert halls.
Wealthy ladies played the spinet, a small type of harpsichord. The wealthy and the nobility had musicians entertain them during meals. The 1733 composition Tafelmusik (“table music”), by German composer Telemann, is an example of this type of music.
THE CLASSICAL PERIOD (1750-1830)
The term “classical” also refers to a specific period in Western art and music when artists and composers took inspiration from the Ancient Greeks. During the Classical period a form of music became popular that dominates instrumental compositions to this day: the sonata. Along with this, the further development of the modern concerto, symphony, trio and quartet led to a new peak in the refinement of musical expression and structure.
The music from this period is defined as ordered, balanced and dignified. Instead of the intricacy of baroque music, the music from this period has great structural clarity – it’s lighter and less complex. The structure is just as important as the harmony and musical key. Music from the classical period is also easier to hum.
Catchy, clear and simpler melodies triumphed over baroque’s complicated polyphony (where two or more melodies are played at the same time).
Well-known composers of this era include Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Joseph Haydn and
Ludwig van Beethoven.
The invention of new instruments made their task of creating beautiful music so much easier. The most important development of the time is the piano. Before this, the harpsichord with its rather thin, twangy sound was baroque music’s main instrument. The piano, on the other hand, can produce softer, more subtle sounds – a huge improvement – as well as more variation in sound.
The orchestra expanded. Baroque orchestras used to have mainly string instruments, sometimes with woodwind accompaniment, plus a harpsichord. During the classical period woodwind instruments (such as the clarinet, flute, horns and oboe) improved so much they got their own section in the orchestra. Orchestras started looking the way they still do today. The string quartet also made its first appearance.
THE ROMANTIC PERIOD (1820–1900)
The romantic period was a golden era for virtuosos (masters of musical technique and artistry). Virtuosos dazzled adoring audiences with their ability to perform extremely complicated music with seeming ease.
The emotional range of the music as well as the number of instruments used widened.
Compositions were often intense expressions of emotion and the cheerfulness of the Classical period was left behind. New woodwind instruments – such as the contrabassoon, bass clarinet and small side-blown flutes – made their appearance in orchestras, adding depth and colour. The percussion section also grew in size with the addition of xylophones, drums, celestas, harps, bells and triangles.
The music from this era sounds free and unencumbered by limitations of form. Much of the music is programmatic – which means there’s a storyline that describes something such as a feeling (love, sadness) or a nature scene (for example when the music mimics a tumbling brook or horses galloping).
Frédéric Chopin, Felix Mendelssohn, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Franz Schubert and Robert Schumann are the great composers of this time.
MODERN PERIOD (1900-NOW)
Though modern classical music is easy to define, it’s not always easy on the ear. The No 1 rule for this period is that there are no rules. Most composers working in this time aim to break the rules in an effort to be unique.
The chaos and trauma of World Wars 1 and 2 also contributed to the bewildering diversity in modern classical music as it seems to have caused composers to set out in different directions. Sergei Prokofiev, Igor Stravinsky and Aaron Copland are a few of the important composers of the 20th century. Modern music gave them the opportunity to transform the ideas of traditional classical music with their own artistic approach and thereby the freedom to create something entirely new.
Modern classical music is a journey of discovery. Listeners love some compositions, but hate others. The diversity is enormous. You might think music must have a melody but there’s a lot of modern classical music that’s without melody – sometimes to the point of seeming madness.
Also, if you think music must be performed on musical instruments, you’re in for a surprise. In 1950, for example, American composer Leroy Anderson composed The Typewriter in which – you guessed it – an old-fashioned typewriter is used as a percussion instrument!
Another extreme example of modern classical music is 4’33” – a piece in three movements by American experimental composer John Cage. Composed in 1952, the sheet music indicates to the musicians they mustn’t play their instruments. Thus, the piece is four minutes and 33 seconds of silence! Weird, right?
A more recent development is the postmodern and contemporary eras. Minimalism is usually considered the first postmodern style. It was born partly as a reaction to the alleged inaccessibility and sterility of the music of modern composers such as Arnold Schoenberg, Pierre Boulez and Cage. Indeed, what can you do to top four minutes and 33 seconds of silence?
Early minimalist composers include La Monte Young and Terry Riley, who were influenced by the repetitive nature of traditional Indian music and rock music.
Philip Glass is considered one of the most influential contemporary composers. He describes himself as a composer of “music with repetitive structures”. People often describe his work as enchanting and almost hypnotic. He’s composed music for movies such as The Truman Show, Kundun and The Hours.