Introduction to the Classical Era

1754-1763 French & Indian War

1760 Beginning of the Industrial Revolution

1775-1783 American Revolution

1776 American Declaration of Independence

1789 George Washington elected the first U.S. President

1789-1799 French Revolution

1803-1815 Napoleonic Wars

Baroque music: highly decorated, complicated polyphonic textures, emotional extremes

Classical music: very structured, formal balance, homophonic textures with singable melodies, emotion is secondary

French overture ----> Four movement symphony

Trio sonata ----> String quartet

The sonata has a more restrictive meaning that includes a definite 3-movement structure

Orchestra size expands

Orchestral instrumentation becomes standardized

Orchestra now divided into four sections: strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion

The end of basso continuo

Harpsichord becomes obsolete

Development of the piano -- originally called the piano-forte due to its ability to play wide dynamic ranges

Because of this terraced dynamics are phased out for the use of crescendos and decrescendos.