Classical Era 1730-1810

  • Period: to

    Hasse

    Johann Adolf Hasse was a German composer of Italian opera.
  • Period: to

    Sammartini

    Giovanni Battista Sammartini was a galant Italian composer and innovator of the symphony in Milan.
  • Musical invention

    fortepiano - an early piano
  • Period: to

    Richter

    Franz Xaver Richter was a German composer, teacher, and singer.
  • Period: to

    Benda

    Franz Benda was a Bohemian violinist, teacher, and composer. He was greatly praised by Charles Burney.
  • Period: to

    Bach

    Wilhelm Friedemann Bach was a German composer and son of J. S. Bach. He was a gifted composer.
  • Period: to

    Jommelli

    Niccolo Jommelli was an Italian composer. He was important to opera reforms in the middle of the century.
  • Period: to

    Piccinni

    Italian composer; he was a central figure in Italian and French opera from 1750 to 1800; admired by Burney as one of the four greatest composers in Italy.
  • Period: to

    Hiller

    Johann Adam Hiller was a German composer and writer.
  • Period: to

    Haydn

    Franz Joseph Haydn was a primary Austrian composer who served as innovator and mover within the new classic style.
  • Stylistic trait

    • sharp *simple *calm *elegant *orderly
  • Genre

    Concerto - By the classic period only the solo concerto type remained popular
  • Period: to

    Mozart

    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was an Austrian composer. He was a child prodigy and wrote in all genres.
  • Genre

    Sonata - The common use of the term sonata denotes a genre for a solo instrument and keyboard accompaniment.
  • Historical event

    First edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica
  • Genre

    Fugue - The fugue was the most highly developed type of imitative counterpoint.
  • Historical event

    Electric battery invented by Volta
  • Genre

    Symphony - a symphony was a three or four-movement work for orchestra that was innovated by Sammartini.
  • Historical event

    Steamboat invented by John Fitch
  • Historical event

    Cotton gin - a machine that revolutionized the production of cotton
  • Historical event

    First vaccination
  • Musical invention

    Clarinet - during the 18th century the clarinet was invented and added to the orchestra
  • Stylistic trait

    Harmony - mainly simple diatonic harmony
  • Stylistic trait

    Melody - short well balanced melodies and clear-cut question and answer phrases