Classical Music Period: Key Features, Forms and Composers

The Classical period in Western music, roughly 1730 to 1820, drew inspiration from the balance, proportion and disciplined expression associated with Ancient Greece and Rome. Compared with Baroque music, its sound was generally lighter, clearer and simpler, often built around a singable melody with chordal accompaniment. Instrumental music became especially important during this era. Forms such as the sonata, concerto and symphony developed further, while chamber ensembles became more standardised. The fortepiano gradually replaced the harpsichord as the leading keyboard instrument, although the organ remained important in sacred music. Public concerts also expanded, reducing composers’ dependence on royal and aristocratic patronage. Major composers of the period include Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, Franz Schubert, Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach and Christoph Willibald Gluck.

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