The Classical era (1750–1827)

The Classical period of music was an era that lasted from approximately 1750 to
1827, Many composers and musicians were based in the Austrian capital of
Vienna, which was the musical center of Europe during the time period.
Classical era music is sometimes even referred to as ‘Viennese Classicism’. , home
to Gluck, Haydn, Salieri, Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert.
The name classical is applied to the period because in art and literature, there was
keen interest in the classical artistic of Greece and Rome.

Characteristics of Classical Period Music

Important forms of the Classical period include the string quartet, opera
(including opera buffa and opera seria), trio sonata, symphony (traditionally written
in sonata form), string quartet, and solo concertos for a variety of instruments.
These musical forms have several elements in common.
1. 1. Simplicity: Compared to the Baroque period music that preceded it,
Classical period music places greater emphasis on simplicity, tonal harmony,
single-line melodies, and enlarged ensembles. Unlike the extravagant
melodies and ornamentations of high Baroque music, the new style of music
framed somewhat simple melodies and buttressed them with large
ensembles.
2. 2. Classicism: Admiration for the art of Classical antiquity manifested in the
musical taste of the eighteenth-century Classical era. The standard musical
forms that dominated the musical compositions of the Classical period aimed
to embrace order, simplicity, strength, and a celebration of humanity—all of
which aligned with a reverence for Classical Greece.
3. 3. Increased accessibility: During the Classical period, many composers
still worked in the courts of aristocrats, but public concerts were
commonplace throughout Europe, which allowed members of the middle
classes to partake in the musical forms. This made Classical era music
somewhat more egalitarian than much of Baroque music, which was often
presented as chamber music exclusively for upper-class audiences.