Beethoven+-+By+Cassidy

Music Of The Classical Period // Ludwig Von Beethoven //

Biography
Ludwig Von Beethoven was born in December, 1770 in Bonn, Germany. He then died on the date of march 26, 1827. Beethoven was a German composer and pianist of the classical era. Beethoven was one of the majorly influential composers of this time. Beethoven, along with Mozart, Haydn, Clementi and Schubert were the major composers of the Classical period. Beethoven's work is still majorly influential in our study of classical music today.

When Was The Classical Period? The classical period of music was from the ears 1750 up until 1820. During this time there were many influential composers, Beethoven being one of them. The classical period was an influential time period has influenced how we see music today and the genre of classical music is still today, commonly liked by many.

Characteristics Of The Classical Period. The composition found during the classical period would usually consist of things such as variety of moods and emotions changing throughout the piece and different tempos and rhythmic patterns.

Within the pieces composed during the classical period, many emotions and moods will be shown through the composition. During the piece a mood may fluctuate or change. The emotions shown within the piece can often vary and change from elation to depression in the same piece. This range of emotions shown creates an interesting piece. The change of moods can often be quite sudden or can be more gradual. Compositions that have this wide range of emotion and change of mood within the piece they are automatically associated with the classical period.
 * Contrast of mood **

Classical music is very flexible with different rhythmic patters and tempos. The tempo will often change in the piece going form long notes to shorter crisp notes. The music may have this as a gradual change or may have it sudden. The sudden changes are what help create the idea of different moods and emotions. The length of the notes and the abruptness or softness of each note will help create the composers desired emotion.
 * Tempo and rhythmic patterns**

Classical music is classed as homophonic, this meaning that the piece will have the rhythm and the beat coming together to form a melody. Although this is used widely throughout, the piece can sometimes change to help support the emotion or mood created. This is usually shown through the piece starting as homophonic and then changing to a polyphonic texture. It is a lot more common to just have a melody formed through the beat and the rhythm.
 * Texture**

The melodies that were created during the classical time period were often very catchy are the classical period is well know for its catchy melodies. Some composers would borrow these catchy tunes off one another but they would more often than not write their own catchy melodies for within their piece. This made these melodies easy to remember.
 * Melody**

The dynamics of classical music was used to help support the emotions they were trying to get through their piece. The composers could have a different dynamics within their piece and this would consist of crescendo which is the changing of the music gradually getting louder, and also diminuendo which is the variation of the music gradually getting softer. By using this the composers would very easily be able to change the emotions felt within their piece of music.
 * Dynamics**

What Is Sonata Form? The classical period of music consisted of very significant, structured music. The most common structure that was used during this time was sonata form. Beethoven along with other composers used sonata form in most of their pieces. Beethoven widely using sonata form for many of his pieces of music. Sonata form is a type of composition that is broken into three section in which two themes are shown. These three sections are exposition, development and recapitulation. The first section of sonata form is usually in the tonic key. The second section, the development, contrasts to the exposition. The third section, the recapitulation goes back to the exposition.

Sacred Music Sacred music is music that is written for religious reasons or to show appreciation to a religion that is used for spiritual use. A type of sacred music is a mass and it is a choral composition. Sacred music is used through religious influences. Beethoven has a sacred piece of music call //'missa solemnis'// and this piece is well known even today it is still liked and known by many. This is the piece //'Missa Solemnis'// media type="custom" key="25483398"

Secular Music Secular music is music that is opposite from sacred music. Secular music is not to praise god or religion and is not used for any spiritual uses. Secular music had developed in the medieval time and continued into the renaissance. One of Beethoven's well known secular pieces is '//Allegro Con Brio'// media type="custom" key="25483560"

Choral Music Choral music is music that is focused on voice and these pieces are sung by choirs. For each particular part in choral music there is usually two or more voices assigned for that particular part. Choral music is performed by choirs and is composed for voice. A choral piece of music written by Beethoven is //'Cantata on the Death of Emperor Joseph II'// media type="custom" key="25483630"

Instrumental Music Instrumental music is composed for a group of instruments and is made to be performed by only instrument. No voice is used is instrumental music and the music is only ever played by instruments, no single voice or choirs are used at all during instrumental music. This music can be performed using the different instruments such as woodwind and brass. Beethoven wrote instrumental music consisting of a piece called //'Moonlight Sonata'// media type="custom" key="25483738"