Characteristics+of+the+Classical+Period+by+Jayden

**When was the classical period?**
==== The years for when the classical music era generally was around for was from 1730-1820. It went for around 90 years and included some of the greatest composers ever. ====

Characteristics in the Classical Period Include:
A classical piece of music includes a change of mood which can change gradually or suddenly. This change will show what mood should be felt. It conflicts moods such as elation and depression.
 * -Contrasts of Mood **

**-Melody**
==== Classical melodies are not only tuneful, but easy to remember. A normal melody will often sound balanced or symmetrical because they are made up of two phrases of the same length. The second phrase will more often than not will begin like the first, but end more conclusively. ====

**-Rhythm**
==== In classical music there is a flexibility of rhythm. It includes unexpected pauses, syncopations and frequent changes of the length of the notes. The change of notes can be both gradual and sudden. ====

**-Texture**
 Classical music is basically homophonic, meaning two or more parts coming together in harmony. However texture is treated flexibly like rhythm. Pieces can shift smoothly or suddenly between different textures. A work may begin with a simple homophonic texture but then change to a more complex polyphonic texture.

**-Dynamics**
==== Classical composers wanted different shades of emotion to be shown through their pieces, which led to the use of dynamics- crescendo (gradually getting louder) and diminuendo (gradually getting softer). This would allow the composers to change the emotions of the audiences with their music. ====