Eras Of Music

Question 1

Baroque era years

Answer 1

1600-1750

Question 2

Classical era years

Answer 2

1750-1820

Question 3

Romantic era years

Answer 3

1820-1900

Question 4

Baroque music features

Answer 4

Baroque music is characterised by:

• long flowing melodic lines often using ornamentation (decorative notes such as trills and turns)
• contrast between loud and soft, solo and ensemble
• a contrapuntal texture where two or more melodic lines are combined
• terraced dynamics - sudden changes in the volume level, sometimes creating an echo effect
• the use of harpsichord contino

Question 5

Classical music features

Answer 5

Musical characteristics of the Classical period include:

• an emphasis on elegance and balance
• short well-balanced melodies and clear-cut question and answer phrases
• mainly simple diatonic harmony
• mainly homophonic textures (melody plus accompaniment) but with some use of counterpoint (where two or more melodic lines are combined)
• use of contrasting moods

Question 6

Romantic music features

Answer 6

Romantic music can be recognised for:

• larger orchestras
• use of rubato - slight speeding up and slowing down of the music
• adventurous harmonies and modulations

Question 7

Romantic music instruments

Answer 7

• strings - larger string section
• woodwind - flutes and piccolo, oboes and clarinets, bassoon and double bassoons
• brass - trumpets, trombones and French horns (tuba added later in the period)
• percussion - full percussion section
• key - piano