The Classical period (about 1750 to 1820)

In everyday speech 'classical music' means any orchestral music. But to musicians, the Classical period is a particular time: the age of Haydn, Mozart and the young Beethoven.

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Dates and composers

The Classical period lasted roughly from 1750 to 1820.
ComposerDatesKnown for
Joseph Haydn1732 to 1809Over 100 symphonies, including the 'Surprise' Symphony (No. 94)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart1756 to 1791Operas, symphonies, concertos, Eine kleine Nachtmusik
Ludwig van Beethoven1770 to 18279 symphonies; his music bridges the Classical and Romantic periods

Features

Balanced phrases: melodies are often in regular 4-bar question and answer phrases.
Homophonic texture: a clear melody with chordal accompaniment.
Alberti bass: a broken-chord accompaniment pattern (low, high, middle, high), often in the left hand of the piano.
The piano (fortepiano) replaced the harpsichord. Unlike the harpsichord it could play loud and soft, so crescendos and diminuendos became common.
The orchestra grew: strings, pairs of woodwind (including the new clarinet), horns, trumpets and timpani.

Forms

A symphony is a large piece for orchestra, usually in four movements in the Classical period (fast, slow, minuet and trio, fast).
A concerto is for a soloist and orchestra, usually in three movements.
Sonata form is a structure used in many first movements: exposition (main themes), development (themes changed and moved through keys) and recapitulation (themes return).
Beethoven's Symphony No. 5 opens with a famous short motif: short, short, short, long.
Worked example

Compare Baroque and Classical music in two ways.

  1. Keyboard: Baroque used the harpsichord; the Classical period used the piano.
  2. Dynamics: Baroque had terraced dynamics; Classical music used gradual crescendos and diminuendos.
  3. Texture: Baroque was often polyphonic; Classical was mainly homophonic with balanced phrases.

Answer: Harpsichord became piano, and terraced dynamics gave way to gradual crescendos (also polyphonic to mainly homophonic texture).

Key idea

Classical period: about 1750 to 1820. Haydn, Mozart, early Beethoven. Features: balanced phrases, homophonic texture, Alberti bass, piano, crescendos, a bigger orchestra with clarinets. Forms: symphony, concerto, sonata form.

Key words
Homophonic
A texture of a melody with chordal accompaniment, or parts moving in the same rhythm.
Texture
How many layers of sound there are and how they fit together.
Alberti bass
A broken-chord accompaniment pattern (low, high, middle, high), common in Classical period piano music.
Symphony
A large piece for orchestra, usually in several movements (four in the Classical period).
Concerto
A piece for a soloist (or soloists) and orchestra.
Sonata form
A structure in three main sections: exposition, development and recapitulation.

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Extra practice

2 more questions

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  1. Which composer belongs to the Classical period?

    1. Vivaldi
    2. Wagner
    3. Steve Reich
    4. Haydn
    Show the answer

    Answer: Haydn

    Haydn lived from 1732 to 1809.

  2. In C major, which notes make an Alberti bass pattern on the chord C E G?

    1. C E G C
    2. C G E G
    3. C C C C
    4. G E C E
    Show the answer

    Answer: C G E G

    Low, high, middle, high.

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Sources and references

Last updated 2 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we will fix it.