Melody in Different Periods of Music
This section looks at melody throughout different periods of history including: the renaissance, baroque, classical, romantic and 20th century periods.
Renaissance Period (c. 1400–1600)
Characteristics: Melodies in this period were often modal, using scales that predate the major and minor system. Renaissance melodies tend to be smooth and conjunct, with an emphasis on vocal music and polyphony (multiple independent melodies played at the same time).
Composers: Josquin des Prez, Palestrina, Thomas Tallis.
Baroque Period (c. 1600–1750)
Characteristics: Melodies became more ornamented, with frequent use of trills, mordents, and other embellishments. Baroque melodies often had a strong sense of direction, usually structured around a key. Sequences (repeated melodic patterns at different pitches) and contrast between conjunct and disjunct movement were common.
Composers: Johann Sebastian Bach, George Frideric Handel, Antonio Vivaldi.
Classical Period (c. 1750–1820)
Characteristics: Melodies in the Classical period became more balanced and symmetrical. Phrases were often of equal length, with clear cadences. Classical melodies tended to be simple and elegant, with less ornamentation than Baroque melodies. Question-and-answer phrasing (antecedent and consequent) became prominent.
Composers: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven (early period), Franz Joseph Haydn.
Romantic Period (c. 1820–1900)
Characteristics: Romantic melodies were often more expressive, with a greater use of chromaticism and wider ranges. There was a focus on emotional intensity, with longer, more lyrical melodies. The melody would often convey drama or passion, using disjunct intervals and unexpected modulations to new keys.
Composers: Franz Schubert, Johannes Brahms, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
Twentieth Century (c. 1900–2000)
Characteristics: The 20th century saw an explosion of new approaches to melody. Atonal melodies (not based on traditional keys) were developed, especially in the works of composers like Arnold Schoenberg. Melodies could be highly dissonant, and composers explored new scales (e.g., whole-tone and pentatonic). Minimalism introduced repetitive and simple melodic patterns.
Composers: Igor Stravinsky, Arnold Schoenberg, Claude Debussy (early 20th century), Steve Reich (minimalism).
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