Western music began in Christianity, and its development went through the Middle Ages----Renaissance-----Baroque period-----Classicism period-----Romanticism period--- ---The stage after the 20th century. Music in each period has different stylistic characteristics.

Beethoven was in the late period of classicism, and his works had a great influence on the romantic period. A summary of his music in the classical period

The second half of the 18th century to the 1820s This period was the period of classical music. With the development of the "Enlightenment Movement", new changes have taken place in European society, economy, culture, etc., and the entire musical life has also undergone rapid evolution. The music culture of this period has the following characteristics:

1. Citizen music has developed greatly. Opera houses and concert halls are constantly emerging. Music activities in pubs, markets and other public places are frequent. Music score publishing and musical instrument manufacturing are becoming increasingly prosperous.

2. The status of musicians has changed, transitioning from "servants" to "free musicians".

3. The musical works of this period have new contents and forms, which are characterized by: secular factors are the main body in creation, the main theme music is absolutely dominant, the formal structure is rigorous and well-proportioned, and the development of musical ideas is full of logic. , the contradictions and conflicts in music are highlighted. Produced major musical genres such as symphonies.

4. Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven, the three masters of the Viennese classical music school, emerged and exerted an important influence on later generations of music. Integrating humanistic ideas into all areas of his creation, and using this as a basis, he pushed classical music to its peak and pioneered romantic music.

Briefly describe the time division and cultural characteristics of the classical period of Western music:

1. Time scope definition: (1) Time: the 70-year historical stage from 1750 to 1820 Known as the Classical period of Western music. (2) Conceptual distinction: When understanding the meaning of classical music, we should pay attention to two concepts. One is generally referring to the outstanding model works of traditional music before the 19th century that are recognized by later generations; the other is specifically referring to the classicism period from 1750 to 1820. The creative achievements of the Mannheim School, Berlin School and Vienna Classical School. In the history of Western music, classical music mainly refers to the latter.

2. Social and cultural characteristics: emphasizing the liberation of human nature, advocating heroism, and pursuing equality of human rights. It reflects the ideological essence of the "Enlightenment" and "Sturm und Drang" of that period: "liberty, equality, fraternity" and focuses on human nature and emotions.

Briefly describe the overall style characteristics of music in the classical period

1. Music entered the palace from the church, and gradually moved to society and the people.

2. Music creation no longer focuses on the polyphonic techniques of the Baroque period, but adopts the main-key music form. It strengthens the correspondence between melody and harmony and establishes the functional harmony progression of "master-subordinate-subordinate-master".

3. Establish the principle of segmented structure of the music form. The melody no longer adopts the continuous and expanding sound patterns of the Baroque period, but short and symmetrical measures of 2 and 4 (there are also 3, 5, 6 measures) as the basic unit to form a square phrase structure. The music presents beautiful, simple and balanced characteristics.

4. Motivational development of themes, replacing the modular development of a single theme in the Baroque period with contrast between themes.

5. "Continuo bass" is replaced by clear instrument notation, allowing the composer to experience the timbre of the instrument more clearly.

6. The pursuit of objective beauty depicts people in nature breaking away from their attachment to God in the church and the monarch in the court, which broadens the range and expressiveness of music.

7. The focus of music has shifted to new instrumental music genres—symphonies, concertos, sonatas, and quartets.

These changes have had a profound impact on the development of European music.

Beethoven is a great symphony composer. He inherited the classical symphony genre and sonata-style music form laid down by Haydn and Mozart, but he enriched these musical forms and genres with the new spirit of the times. In the Third, Fifth and Ninth Symphonies, he repeatedly pursued the philosophical symphonic formula of "struggle - quiet contemplation - noisy banter - joyful triumph" from different angles, the heroic theme of the times, the struggle between individuals and destiny. , human beings' struggle to achieve the ideal kingdom are all condensed in it.