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Running Head: MUSIC HISTORY 1

MUSIC HISTORY 5

Music History

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The issues of periods and periodizations during the historical periods dates back to the late 18th century and early 19th century. Periodization has never been justified or denied, but historians argue differently after analysis of the era. The historical moments serve the best interest of those who make and use them. In the book; “Between Enlightenment and Romanticism in Music History: ‘First Viennese Modernism’ and the Delayed Nineteenth Century,” James Webster discusses the music history between 1750 and 1850. The century was divided into two, where the first half (1750-1800) was characterized by a classical period later followed by the romantic period between 1800 and 1850. The logic of the division is not yet reviewed, and that calls for more research. The two halves have interconnected features and almost similar characteristics as argued by James. This essay will, therefore, discuss the continuing usefulness of the Classic-Romantic division.

The Classic-Romantic era led to increased specialization on which way people should go, depending on simplistic and the general characters of what people believed in. The classical period differed from romanticism in history and cultural studies and the historical events affecting each period. Periodization doesn’t depend on music alone but the entire reconstruction where every segment of life is touched. The network of relationships during music history enables people to discuss historical points systematically to give meaning to the writing of James Webster. Music periods are interpreted conceptually because they advanced from one stage to another until the current music was born. Verbal descriptions and visual representations of music were the norms of conveying music information and content until juxtaposition idea and technology emerged afterward.

Human life stages and rhythm of seasons are not instant transitions but construction, and so the music. Both classical and romanticism periods were overlapped by traditional styles such as Baroque and Modernism. The classical period was marked by art and literature where the audience admired the musical heritage of Greece and Rome. Music meant healing and people could ‘treat’ feelings and regain normalcy over time. The classical artistic style from Greece suggested the name of the period. According to James Webster, the classical period demonstrated the prominence of artists, composers, and dancers who keep the history of the era fresh. Among the famous composers of the period include Carl Philipp Bach, Joseph Haydn, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Classical music was invented in the Ancient Egyptian art music and orchestra by the great composer Joseph Haydn in the late 1750s. The classical era ended after the introduction of romanticism. Romanticism was a fresh way of expressing oneself musically to demonstrate love feelings to the audience. Romantics acquired new ways of expression to nature, environment, awesome majesty and the era proved a legacy used up to date. Romanticism era started in the early 19th century and encouraged people to travel and face adventures and new territories, may it be metaphorically or literally. The transition from the classical era to romanticism was characterized by increased interest in the common man and childhood, demonstration of feelings and emotions, the importance of imagination, and the awe of nature.

According to Webster, (2001), “periodizations serve the needs and desires of those who make and use them.” The Classical-Romantic divide marked a special era in the history of music and encouraged historians to do more research and write about the history of music. If it were not for the transition, the history and evolution of music could not be a topic and part of education in history. The idea of James Webster that Classic-Romanticism was significant in musical history should be embraced because it enlightened the learners and made sense of the complex data as stated in his book. Periodization is useful today and a very important training aspect. The system enables learners to study what they can accommodate and spare the rest for the following day or another time. Periodization enables trainers to avoid overtraining learners by taking them through steps. Dividing the classical and romanticism eras portrayed periodization to facilitate the study and help learners to understand the events better.

The classical and romanticism musical periods differed in various aspects. The classical period demonstrated familiar forms such as sonata form, rondo, variation form, and ternary. The period, in turn, was replaced by the old musical forms in the romantic period which included expressing the richest emotions and feelings and prolonging the feelings beyond musical materials of natural possibilities. The classical period emphasized on tone to eventually drive tonality to destruction and harmonically show respect. Romantic period demonstrated harmonic and structural innovations and romanticism beat classical in terms of scale. The classical period curtain raised the romantic era and the two are inseparable (Lalonde, 2017).

The specific music features during the classical era include an emphasis on beauty and elegance. Artists composed songs to praise fellow human beings and nature for the appearance and balance as discussed by James Webster. The classical period marked more variety and contrast in the pieces presented are; dynamics, tempo, timbre, and instruments. Compared to baroque, the melodies, contrast, and variety were fewer, with clear cut-phrases and cadences. Examples of romantic music features included the freedom to form and design and presentation of song-like melodies.

References

Lalonde, A. (2017). Flowers over the Abyss: A Musical Uncanny in Nineteenth-Century Criticism. 19th-Century Music, 41(2), 95-120.

Webster, J. (2001). Between Enlightenment and Romanticism in Music History:" First Viennese Modernism" and the Delayed Nineteenth Century. Nineteenth Century Music, 25(2-3), 108-126.