Classical vs. Baroque
...vancements in education, abridged the Church’s influence, and sustained the arts, specifically, music and literature. He was also an adherent of freedom of speech so there were hundreds of periodicals being published during his reign. It was a time of great social awareness as people began to veer away from religion as the reckoning force in their lives. The social circumstances in which Baroque has its roots were those of absolutism and science. The extravagance and excessive qualities of Baroque music are attributed to the absolutism of the period while the musical advancements it made in progression from the Renaissance are credited to the many developments in science of that period. There was no great “enlightenment” in terms of social conditions, especially, of the common people as there was in the later Classical period. Classical style is distinct form Baroque in that it was more “flexible” in all musical aspects. Take rhythm for instance, in Mozart’s Symphony No. 40. Although the tempo stayed the same, the changes in rhythm were so prominent that it seemed the tempo had actually changed. The different variations seem to veer away from the theme because there is such difference among the rhythms of each. In Baroque, the rhythm never changed, making longer compositions even more boring. Bach’s Brandenburg is a good example; the rhythm stayed exactly the same through the entire number. Dynamics also became more flexible in the Classical; I lost count of the crescendos and decrescendos in Mozart’s No. 40. It was a long piece with the sound level ranging from very loud to extremely soft. Bach’s Brandenburg’s dynamics did not fluctuate at all; the dynamics of Baroque music were fixed. Musical tone color also changed in the classical period – it became more vivid. This was made possible through the development of the Classical orchestra which “formed the basis of the symphony orchestra of later times.” Many of the same instruments were still used but again, it was flexibility that made the difference. Classical composers gave woodwind and brass instruments more standard, clarified parts and added flutes, clarinets, and French horn. These added to the strings which were all that was heard in the Baroque. These changes created much more colorful tone colors compared to the blandness of Baroque music. Furthermore, I hate the harpsichord which was used all the time during the Baroque period but not so much, if at all, in the Classical. Melody also saw a big change in the Classical period. Again, let’s take Mozart’s Symphony No. 40 for example; although he does so many things with the melodies, they are simple and straightforward, unlike Bach’s Brandenburg in which the melodies were “dressy.” That is, they were too richly festooned. In other words, I find it easier to hum along with Mozart than Bach. Las...