Comparison of Musical Periods
Feature
\ Period Baroque
General
Regular, not too emotional
Steady, no aceel. & rit.
Tempo & Metre
Slower at the end
Rhythm pattern follows
Rhythm
Pattern of beginning
Homophonic
Texture
Imitative polyphony
Sometimes long phrases
Melody & Phrase
Ornamented
Triads of the key mainly
Harmony
Some suspension
Diatonic
Tonality & Key
Modulated to related key
Form & Structure Binary(AB)
Baroq. suites with dances
Allemande, Gavotte
Country dance
Gigue, Minuet, Polka
f or p for the whole movt.
Dynamics
Seldom cresc. & dim.
Semi-staccato(non legato)
Articulation
Composer
Bach, Handel, Scarlatti
Classical
Use simple music materials
Steady tempo
Little use of rubato
Simple, usual
by Albert Lee 99(revised01)
Romantic
Express different feelings
Change frequently
Use of rubato
More free in rhythm
Use of triplets etc
Homophonic
20th century(Modern)
Use different techniques
Change of metre in a piece
Irregular metre
Unusual, irregular
Use of syncopation
Mainly homophonic
Homophonic &
Some polyphonic writings
Contrapuntal(polyphonic)
Short, balanced phrases
Fairly long, expressive, Wide range of notes
Ornamented, appoggitura Chromatic
Big leaps
Triads of the key mainly Rich, complicated chords Complex & unusual chord
Some use of pedal
Chromatic; use of pedal Always dissonant
Diatonic
Diatonic
Tonal or atonal
Modulated to related key Modulated to ''far'' keys New types of scales
Sonata form is developed Ternary
Varied & complex
Not easy to define
Minuet
Waltz,Mazurka,Polonaise
"Hungarian dance''
Change, but not greatly
Change frequently
Change frequently
Little cresc. & dim
Wider range
Great and dramatic
Staccato, legato, tenuto
Staccato, legato, tenuto Wide range of articulation
Variety in articulation
Along with accents
Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven Chopin, Schumann, Liszt Debussy, Stravinsky
Mendelssohn, Brahms
Bartok, Schoenberg