How can I go about telling the difference between these musical periods?
Medieval
Renaissance
Baroque
Classical
Romantic
Medieval is a bit easier, but I love being a violinist who plays and listens to Classical music, but I want to learn more and more, and I don't want to generalize the periods into "Classical".
Any signs that can indicate, besides having to look up the composer?
Best Answered by Judy
Simplest way to look at these:
Medieval:
A. Instruments: rarely use instruments. piccolo is used quite often though
B. Composition: Modal. Based on Modes
Renaissance:
A. Instruments: most time one instrument per type, use a lot of drum if there is any use of it, use a lot of wind instruments
B. Composition: polyphony
Baroque:
A. Instruments: a lot of violins. Basso continuo. Basically most strings. Harpsichord.
B. Composition: cycle of 5th. Contrapuntal compositions (note against note).
Classical:
A. Instruments: start to have full orchestra.
B. Composition: Established Tonal composition and ideas. Established ABA form. Clear cut contrasting ideas between movements.
Romantic:
A. Instruments: expand full orchestra. Started incorporating piano in an orchestra in late Romantic period other than piano concerto.
B. Composition: use chromatic ideas in composition. expend use of classical forms and ideas