Between roughly 1750 and the end of the 19th century, Western art music moved into the public concert hall and grew from a court ensemble to the full orchestra.
The Classical period
The Classical period runs from roughly 1750 to 1820. Its music is mainly homophonic: one clear melody over a chordal accompaniment, though counterpoint did not disappear. It is sometimes called Viennese Classicism, after composers working in Vienna such as Joseph Haydn.
The main instrumental forms were the sonata, the trio, the string quartet and quintet, the symphony for orchestra, and the solo concerto for a virtuoso. Songs for voice and piano, notably Schubert's, choral works and opera mattered too.
The piano arrives
The harpsichord, which plucks its strings with quills, gave way to the piano, or fortepiano, which strikes them with leather-covered hammers. The player could now play louder or softer by touch: the original name, fortepiano, means loud-soft. Dynamics became something a keyboard player could perform, not only something an ensemble could arrange.
Romantic music
Romantic music belongs to the 19th century and the wider Romantic movement in literature, art and philosophy. Its composers wanted music that was individual, emotional, dramatic and often programmatic, telling a story or painting a scene.
| Area | Change |
|---|---|
| Orchestra | Large, grand orchestras became common |
| Dynamics | A wider range, from ppp to fff |
| Players | More virtuoso parts written into the orchestra |
| Harmony | More elaborate progressions; Wagner and Liszt are known for experimental ones |
| Content | Programme music became more common |
Why it matters to a producer
Much of what a film composer or orchestral library offers today, from string ensembles to the dramatic swell from ppp to fff, comes from this period's orchestra.
Sources
Every date, name, tempo and origin on this page comes from these pages, read on 2026-10-24.