An understanding of music history is critical to understanding how to play a piece of music. Bowing styles, tempos, and dynamics all vary from one period to the next. Your ability to play the music with the composer's intent increases by knowing about the stylistic implications of that composer or period.
Baroque (1600-1750)
The Baroque period followed the Renaissance, bringing more elaboration to both art and music. Baroque music is often about contrast: between instruments, solo vs. tutti, dynamics, tempos, and style.
Important Composers: Pachelbel, Vivaldi, J.S. Bach, Handel
Style
- Bowing-In quick tempos, the "running notes" (16ths in 4/4, 8ths in 2/2) should be played detache and "walking notes" (8ths in 4/4, quarters in 2/ 2) should be played martele.
- Dynamics- Since there was not formal notation for a lot of dynamics, they were often improvised by performers. Terraced dynamics (jump from one dynamic level to another) were frequently used since the crescendo and decrescendo were not a formal practice yet.
- Features- Ornamentation, including trills, appoggiaturas, turns, and glissandos, was also often improvised by performers. The purpose of ornamentation is just that: to ornament and elaborate on the notes.
Classical (1750-1820)
Music in the Classical period focused on form. Sonata forms, with an exposition, development and recapitulation, were quite common and featured a contrast between two key centers. Symphonies and string quartets became popular ensembles for compositions.
Important Composers: Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven
Style
- Bowing- A lot of music from this period, particularly in faster tempos, has a light, clean sound. In quick tempos, eighth notes should usually be played spiccato. Quarter notes should be played with a slight separation between each note.
- Dynamics- The crescendo and decrescendo, now notated in music, were often used to get from one dynamic level to another.
- Features- Syncopation is frequently used in music from this period and should be played with separation between all notes and emphasizing the longer ones. Grace notes are generally performed on the beat and slur into the written note.
Romantic (1820-1900)
The Romantic period focused on emotion in art. During this era, expression became more important than form. Many composers used music to express pride in their heritage, to convey images or stories, or to achieve an emotional objective.
Important Composers: Late Beethoven, Schubert, Schumann, Mendelssohn, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Dvorak
Style
- Bowing- Heavier bow strokes and longer phrases became more prominent in this period. Accents should be played with a very heavy, hammered quality.
- Dynamics- Dynamics grew wider in range in this period. Because of larger orchestras and alterations to instruments, bigger dynamic contrasts were possible.
- Features- Vibrato is an important part of music from the Romantic period. It should vary according to the tempo and intensity.
Modern (1900 - present)
The Modern era began to see the limitless exploration of musical possibility. This era began to see deterioration of tonality and regular meter as necessities in music. While some music still had a definite key and regular meter, other pieces explored atonality and irregular meter, as well as abandoning other common musical practices.
Important Composers: Stravinsky, Shostakovich, Schoenberg, Vaughan Williams, Barber, Copland, Holst
Style
- Features- Since so many styles and types of music are possible in this period, composers use precise notation to indicate how they would like their works performed. Extensive composition notes, as well as detailed dynamics, articulation markings, and expression markings are used to specify the style in which a work should be performed. Pay close attention to all markings to emulate the desired musical effect.
Music from different periods is stylistically quite varied. The more you know about who wrote each work and the overall stylistic concerns of the period in which they composed, the more you’ll understand and appreciate the music you play.