The Classical Period

The Classical Period excites me because of its’ relation to the Enlightenment. Many historical events occurred within this particular period. The Enlightenment was known for the major shift towards sciences, reason and individual rights. The widespread of advancements contributed to the Industrial Revolution. Furthermore, this leads to rises within the middle class and adjustments in the social-political structures. During this time period, the beginning of political parties was initiated in 1792. From our class discussion, we came to the conclusion that this period was called “classical” after the “classical” architecture of Greece. The music reflects balance and symmetry. It was known as an international style, which also drew from Italian perceptions. Composers depended on divergent melodies and different tonal areas in order to depict formal sections. The composer that stood out to me from the classical period was Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. I remember learning a lot about him in high school. The piece I chose by him is called Requiem, K. 626: Lacrimosa. It was written in 1791, which was left incomplete due to his death. This piece is one of the most popular pieces he’s put together. The sound is exactly what I anticipated for it to be. It sounds very soothing and well put together. When thinking about the classical period, this is the type of music you would expect to hear.