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1. Use of the Alberti bass (a repeated broken chord, usually in the bass) with the writing being mainly homophonic, with light, clear textures.
2. Melodies were well balanced and symmetrical (4, 8 and 16 bar phrases were common), flowing with much ornamentation. Melodies tend to be fairly straight forward in 8 or 16 bar phrases.
3. Homophonic textures were frequently used, with contrasting use of dynamics (loud and soft passages placed side by side to create contrast), and lyrical/singable melodies.
4. The music tended to be elegant and aristocratic. It consisted of contrasting keys and moods. Binary and ternary forms were popular.
5. The music combines structure and emotion. In the so-called Romantic era which followed, composers wanted the listeners to become emotionally involved in the music, and the Classical Period saw the first hints of this – but the importance of the structure always seemed to prevent the pieces becoming too absorbing.
6. Classical music placed a greater stress on clarity with regard to melodic expression and instrumental color.
7. Instruments: the orchestra gained more color and flexibility as clarinets, flutes, oboes, and bassoons became permanent members of the orchestra. However, the strings were still the main orchestral force. Timpani were often used to reinforce pedal notes and cadences. The clarinet is first used and there is the emergence of sonata form. The harpsichord was replaced by the piano.
8. Ensembles/Forms: Symphony, Concerto, String quartet, Opera, Overture, Sonata, Mass.
9. Composers: The four major composers of the Classical era were Josef Haydn (Austria) – 1732-1809, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Austria) – 1756-1791, and Ludwig van Beethoven (Germany) – 1770-1827. These composers wrote extensively for vocal and instrumental resources.