What are the musical features of the classical era?

Answer 1

Some of the very best, and I suggest you listen to some. The "classical era" ran from about 1750 to about 1815 when it transitioned into the Romantic period with the likes of Brahms and Beethoven. Really that is the period for "Classical Music" although people tend to refer to any orchestral music from about 1500 to today as "Classical Music" It was defined as classical music because all the arts, including architecture, of that period was influenced by classical Greek style and the composers felt they wanted to try to get the feel too. The main composers of the period are Mozart and Haydn. Their music, for the most part, was written to be played by groups of musical friends because there was no tv back then, so although they both wrote full-sized symphonies and concertos for just about every instrument (Mozart was said to have hated the Flute but he wrote plenty of music for it) there are many many pieces for quartets (4 people) and quintets (5) and up to as many as a nonet (9). One of the advantages of the new music era is that there are billions of inexpensive "classical CDs" of Mozart and Haydn for 3 or 4 bucks each, and you should get some. If you start with a "Best of" CD you'll get a good taster to decide if you want the full version. I strongly suggest you go buy the Mozart Clarinet Concerto in A Major, which also comes with a couple of smaller pieces, usually the Clarinet Quintet or the Oboe Quintet. Also look for something that has the Piano Concerto 21, although the second movement is usually referred to as Elvira Madigan, as it was used in a film of that name and it usually turns up on any decent Mozart sampler. Mozart wrote some 41 symphonies, the first when he was aged 6 and they are all quite different, bit all light and melodic, which is typical of "classical music" of the classical period. Hayden wrote over 100. In general when you go on your buying spree I would initially stay away from things like the trios (3 people) as these I feel are alway better suited for playing (which is why they were commissioned...for friends to get together and play some "new" music together than for listening. You should also try getting hold of some DVDs of some of the operas if you want to try something new. The Marriage of Figaro is quite funny (I just saw Puccini's The Barber of Seville, which was awesomely clever and funny as hell). "Classical Music" (that is to say orchestral music) of the Romantic era is much different; it is not so lyrical and light as that of Mozart, but no less beautiful at times. Beethoven wrote 9 symphonies, the 9th being the most famous by far with the choral ending, and the 5th, but for my money the best and most beautiful is the 6th. Bargain CDs can often be found with both the 5 and 6 together, although for something of such monumental power, I would suggest you just trust me on this one and find a major label version like Deutsche Gramophon by the Berlin Philharmonic conducted by someone like Karajan. It will rip your skin off. Don't go too far back for a "famous" version like one conducted by someone like Toscannini; it's fine for the collector, but they are too old to make really good CD copies, so look for something with an original recording date within the last 20 years or so. Beethoven was a ferocious piano player, and he wrote 5 monumental piano concertos; try the #3 for pyrotechnics and the 5 for heartstopping beauty. Again, you can probably find a pair of them on one CD. There are books on this stuff 6 inches thick, so that's all you get from me

Answer 2

The word "classical" is used in two different ways in music.

The first refers to the style of most music written in the time approx 1750 to 1820 (of course, the change was gradual). Notable composers of this time are Mozart, Haydn, early Beethoven and Schubert.

The other sense refers to a much broader style of music.

about 90 years ago, jazz became a distinct style of music, separate from all the music that was around then (which is what we now call classical), and in jazz, all modern popular music has its roots.

So classical music is essentially all music that is not "popular" music. It tends to use acoustic or orchestral instruments (although in the last 50 or so years, this has begun to change).

Answer 3

Opera Seria

Preludes and Fugues

Masses

Cantatas

Violin Concertoes

Concertoes

A few Marian Motets

Oratorios

The hints of symphonies and sonata cycles

These were all mostly absolute music with the few religious works being do the Catholic and Lutheran Church. Vocal music was decreasing in popularity and instrumental music was on the rise.

Answer 4

There are many different types of Classical music, and the different types are often associated with the historical period and geographical location of the Composer. Some different kinds are Baroque,