Music in the Baroque Era
Instrumental Music in the 1600s to 1800s
The Baroque Era started around 1600 and ended around 1750. The Classical Era was paralleled to the Age of Enlightenment. Baroque music was ornate, it had many embellishments and complicated passages, while Classical music style placed emphasis on clarity, simplicity and balance.
Baroque Music
During this Era, although many individual forms and genres were created in individual countries, composers did compose in forms and genres of other countries. This interchange among composers of various countries promoted an international style. Also throughout the Baroque Era, stylistic changes happened. There was a huge demand during the Baroque Era for new music for specific occasios. The main source of entertainment for the aristocracy was music. But, most people were only exposed to music in chirch because there were so few public concerts.
Classical Music
1750 is considered the beginning of the Classical Era and it lasted till around 1820. The composers and other intellectuals attempted to emulate classical Greece and Rome. Composers took the musical forms invented in the Baroque Era and explored them to their fullest extent. Each form became more defined and adhered to what became a strict structure, with clear sections and repetition. In this time period it was homophony. Instead of many melodies it was the opposite so it had one melody supported by harmonies. The Classical style can be described as having unity and variety.