Classical music genres: history and modernity

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

"Classical music" and "musical classics" are two absolutely equivalent formulations, free from the framework of terminology, reflecting a vast layer of musical culture, its historical significance and prospects for further development. Often the term "classical music" is replaced by the phrase "academic music".

History of Appearance

Regardless of the terminology, classical music has a well-defined historical origin associated with the late enlightenment period of the era of classicism. The poetry of that time and dramaturgy were based on the works of ancient authors, and this technique also affected musical culture. The trinity - time, action and place - was observed in the genre of opera and other musical directions associated with literary sources. Oratorios, cantatas bore the stamp of classicism, a kind of standard of the 17th-19th centuries. The opera performances were dominated by the libretto,written based on the period of antiquity.

Becoming

Practically all genres of classical music are somehow connected with the era of classicism. Composer Gluck was one of the most prominent followers of ancient culture in music, he managed to observe all the canons of that time in his works. The era of the past was distinguished by a clear balanced logic, a clear idea, harmony and, most importantly, the completeness of a classical musical work. At the same time, there was a demarcation of genres, when polyphony was gently but persistently rejected, and an almost mathematically verified definition of the genre took its place. Over time, the genres of classical music have become highly academic.

In the opera, the solo parts began to noticeably prevail over the accompanying voices, while previously all those who participated in the performance were equal. The principle of dominance enriched the sound, the libretto took on a completely different form, and the performance became theatrical and operatic. The instrumental ensembles also changed, the solo instruments moved forward, the accompanying ones kept in the background.

Musical genres, directions and styles

During the period of late classicism, new musical "patterns" were created. Classical music genres became widespread in the late 18th century. Orchestral, ensemble, solo vocal and especially symphonic groups followed the new canons in music, while improvisation was kept to a minimum.

WhatWhat are the genres of classical music? Their list is as follows:

• variations;
• symphonies;
• opera;
• instrumental concerts;
• cantatas;
• oratorios;
• preludes and fugues;
• sonatas;
• suites;
• toccata;
• fantasy;
• organ music;
• nocturnes;
• vocal symphonies;
• wind music;
• overtures;
• musical masses;
• psalms;
• elegy;
• etudes;
• chorus as a musical form.

Development

By the middle of the 18th century, orchestras were assembled on a random basis, and their composition determined the composer's work. The author of music had to build his work for specific instruments, most often they were strings and a small number of wind instruments. Later, orchestras appeared on a permanent basis, quite unified, contributing to the development of the genre of symphony and instrumental music. These orchestras already had a name, were constantly improved and toured within the nearest territories.

At the beginning of the 19th century, several new directions were added to the list of musical genres. These were concertos for clarinet and orchestra, organ and orchestra, and other combinations. Also appeared the so-called symphonietta, a short piece of music with the participation of the entire orchestra. Then it became a fashionable requiem.

Composers of the era of classicism, Johann Sebastian Bach with his sons, Christoph Gluck, representatives of the Italian and Mannheim opera formed the Vienneseclassical school, which also included Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven. Classical forms of symphony, sonata, and instrumental pieces appeared in the works of these masters. Later, chamber ensembles, a piano trio, various string quartets and quintets emerged.

Viennese classical music of the end of the Classical era smoothly moved into the next period, the time of Romanticism. Many composers began to compose in a more free manner, their work now and then went beyond the academic canons of the past. Gradually, the innovative aspirations of the masters were recognized as "exemplary".

The test of time

Classical music genres continued to develop, and in the end, to determine them, evaluation criteria appeared, according to which the degree of artistry of a work was derived, its value in the future. Music that has withstood the test of time has been included in the concert repertoire of almost all orchestras. So it was with the works of Dmitry Shostakovich.

In the 19th century there was an attempt to classify certain categories of so-called light music as classical music genres. It was about the operetta, which hastened to be called "semi-classics". However, this genre soon became completely independent, and artificial assimilation was not needed.