913. After the 20th Centurys complete liberation from traditional musical styles and methods, including everything from tonality to notation there is no longer a common musical language between composers, although traditional style composers are still quite common as well as the more experimental composers. Elements of Baroque, Classical and 20th Century Music Baroque Classical 20th Century Melody Often spun out into long, flowing lines with many ornaments. Melody often above chordal accompaniment. An emphasis of grace and beauty. The long, winding melodies of the romantic era are abandoned. There is an irregular, open style. Texture At first a switch to lighter homophony but polyphony soon returns and is dominant. At first thin in texture. Lighter, clearer texture, less complicated. Sometimes thick and deep and used in place of harmonies etc. Texture is a fundamental element. Rhythm Energetic, pulsing rhythms drive the music. More variety and contrast. More experimentation with different note lengths. Brought into the foreground of musical elements. Industrial, urban feel. Jagged, staccato rhythms. Style Monody-recitative, basso continuo. Contrapuntal style- stile antico. Importance given to instrumental music- serenades, string quartets, symphonies etc. Serialism and synthesised as well as traditional styles and revivals like neo-classicism. Harmony Beginning to use unexpected harmonies, Mode system is disused in the 17th Century. Balanced, graceful and fairly simple. Homophonic. Use of polytonality, pan-diatonic system and atonality as well as simple pop-music harmonies. Structure Invention of opera, oratorio, fugue, suite, sonata, concerto and concerto grosso. Freer use of form, still formal. Symphony form evolves from concerto form. Innovative. Forms like fugue, rondo and sonata-allegro are popular during first half. Alleatoric. Dynamics Terraced dynamics, echo effects, loud dynamics, contrasted with soft. Use of crescendos and ...
