Musical Style by Periods Flashcards

Musical Styles by Periods

Middle Ages (476-1450)

• Melody consists of stepwise movement within a narrow range, rarely using chromatic notes.
• Harmony is primarily monophonic, such as Gregorian chant, with emerging polyphony featuring dissonance resolving to consonant chords.
• Rhythm is equal-value notes lacking clearly marked rhythms; often uses triple meter.
• Predominantly monophonic texture; independent lines in polyphony are typically contrapuntal.
• Form includes non-standardized phrases, mostly strophic in troubadour songs and carols.

Renaissance (1450-1600)

• Melody is mainly stepwise with occasional chromaticism found in later madrigals.
• Harmony transitions to triadic chords, indicating careful use of dissonance.
• Rhythm features a balance of duple and triple meter; sacred music is relaxed while secular music is lively.
• Texture is predominantly polyphonic, utilizing imitative counterpoint with occasional homophonic sections.
• Form lacks strict adherence; most compositions are through-composed without repetitive structures.

Early and Middle Baroque (1600-1690)

• Melodic movement incorporates larger leaps and more chromatic elements influenced by virtuosic singing.
• Harmony relies on stable diatonic chords with a rise of established chord progressions.
• Rhythm becomes repetitive with strong articulation, enhancing the music's drive.
• Texture is predominantly chordal and homophonic, with a powerful bass provided by basso continuo.
• Form includes arias and ritornello structure, with binary forms regulating movements in sonatas and dance suites.

Late Baroque (1690-1750)

• Melody develops progressively, marked by longer and more expansive phrases.
• Harmony is characterized by functional progressions guiding movement between chords.
• Rhythm is energized and dynamic, creating a sense of propulsion in the music.
• Texture features a predominance of instrumental sounds, with specific instruments creating unique tone colors.
• Form includes binary formats in dances and da capo aria designs in vocal music.

Classical (1750-1820)

• Melody is tuneful with short, balanced phrases influenced more by vocal tradition.
• Harmony exhibits varying rates of chord changes, creating dynamic flux, supported by "Alberti" bass.
• Rhythm shifts from regular patterns to more varied dynamics, allowing for diverse expressions.
• Texture is light and transparent, with occasional contrapuntal passages for contrast.
• Standard forms regulate compositions, including sonata-allegro, theme and variations, and rondo.

Romantic (1820-1900)

• Melody becomes flexible and expressive, featuring long, climactic lines with chromatic inflections.
• Harmony uses extensive chromaticism to enrich sound, allowing for powerful shifts in intensity.
• Rhythm is free and often obscures meter, allowing for depth of expression.
• Texture is rich and dense due to large orchestras and the use of sustaining pedals in piano.
• Traditional forms are extended in length without introducing new forms, preserving classical forms like sonata-allegro.

Impressionist (1880-1920)

• Melody includes both short sound segments and long, undulating lines, often lacking tunefulness.
• Harmony is static with parallel motion and untraditional scales, creating tonal ambiguity.
• Rhythm is flexible and irregular, utilizing ostinatos for a sense of stasis.
• Texture varies widely, often employing the piano’s sustaining pedal to create a wash of sound.
• Form deviates from strict repetitions, aiming for unique development in each new work.

Modern (1900-Present)

• Melody features disjunct and angular lines, often chromatic and marked by dissonance.
• Harmony is deeply dissonant, introducing new chords and simultaneous tonal centers (polytonality).
• Rhythm employs vigorous and asymmetric qualities, sometimes creating conflicting simultaneous rhythms.
• Texture is markedly individual, reflecting the diverse approaches of contemporary composers.
• Form spans a wide range of styles, influenced by classical, jazz, and pop music, utilizing techniques like twelve-tone procedures.

Postmodern (1945-Present)

• Melody remains undefined in specifics; trends reflect diversity in composition.
• Existing notes may not be available for some aspects within this period.