Comparison of Classical and Modern Music Eras

Homophony

Homophony

Musically speaking, homophany is when multiple, and sometimes many different instruments or elements come together to support one melody and share the same rythm.

Vienna, Austria

The heart of Classical Music and the Composers that played there

Joseph Haydn

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Vienna

Ludwig van Beethoven

Christoph Willibald Gluck

JC Bach

New Instruments Invented to Add to Orchestra

New Instruments

Clarinet

Fortepiano (the early piano)

Violin

A Civilized Form of Music

Elgant

Balance was very important

Sought to embody "the drama of life"

Music started to represent "real life" elements like storms and animals

A Civilized Form of Music

Composed and played for aristocrats

Polyphony

Musically speaking, polyphony is when multiple, and sometimes many different instruments or elements come together to support several melodies and pitches.

Polyphony

The United States

The Birthplace of a New Kind of Music

In 1926 the first talking films, the predecessor of the modern movie was produced

The "Roaring 20's" was a time of abundance and prosperity resulting from the industrial revolution of the late 1800's to early 1900's. The Average American was very much a part of the culture, and enjoyed advancements in music and fashion, where prior to this these things were reserved for the aristocrats and royalty.

The United States

Between 1920 and 1933 the US prohibited the productiuon, importation, and sale of alcohol, which lead to most cultural areas of the United States establishing illegal bars and taverns called "Speakeasies" where they were able to drink and enjoy other forms of "underground" entertainment

The United States was a true "melting pot" of nationalities and culture. The blending of African American, Spanish, and French culture in New Oreleans, inspired by ragtime music of the previous era, incorporated different instruments to create a completely unique genre of music known as Jazz.

Old Instruments New Sound

Violin

Clarinet

Old Instruments New Sound

Saxophone

Guitar

Trumpet

Snare Drum

Piano

Music for Everyone

With the advent of film with sound and the record player, music was produced so everyone, from all walks of life, could enjoy it

Creativity and expression was more important than balance

Sought to entertain

Music For Everyone

Bridged cultural gaps between races, nationalities, and classes

Embodied the freedom and democracy that existed and was popular at the time

The Classical Era focuses on balance, thus homophony is used, while in the Modern Era expression is more important so the harmony is polyphonic

Harmony

Geographics

Geographics

The Classical Era was focused mostly on Austria, but was enjoyed in Europe, being that the music was enjoyed mostly by wealthy and powerful people, where the Modern Era was spread across the entire Western World, and the majority of musical development/evolution happened in the United States.

Instruments

Many of the same instruments were used during both eras

Instruments

Big Differences

Where the music of the Classical Era was created to entertain the ruling class, the music of the Modern Era was created to entertain anyone and everyone. Classical Era music was indicative of the class divide of the time, while Modern Era music was indicative of the abundance and freedom that most people of the time experienced.

Where many of the instruments that were played were the same, Modern Era music did not conform to the same rules of balance as the Classical Era, thus the eras have a very different sound to them.

In the Classical Era, composers spent their entire lives writing and playing their works for a select group of people, while in the Modern Era, it took a lot less dedication and commitment to reach a significantly larger population of people.

Big Differences