'Masterpiece'- Information on the musical periods through an analysis of this piece

Features of the Renaissance Period

• Mass/Motet + Secular songs
• Lute songs
• Modal
• Polyphonic textures
• Decorated suspensions

Features of the Baroque Period

• Fugal
• Melismatic melodies
• Beginning of diatonic harmony
• Imitation
• Conter-melodies
• Stretto
• Augmentation/diminution
• Pedal notes
• Decorated suspensions
• Fanfares
• Homophonic/polyphonic textures
• Terraced dynamics

Features of the Classical Period

• Appoggiatura
• Alberti bass
• Regular/periodic phrasing
• Conjunct/stepwise melodies
• Melody dominated homophony
• Chromaticism
• Contrasts
• Dotted rhythms
• Tonality
• Emergence of rubato
• Expressive melodies
• Huge dynamic contrasts
• Accents

Features of the Romantic Period

• Cantabile
• Triplet motion
• Hemiola effect
• Greater use of dissonance
• Waltz emerges

Features of the 20th Century

• Wagner- 'total art'- very dramatic, huge orchestra
• Modality returning
• Impressionism
• Use of the whole tone scale
• Parallel harmonies
• Influence of popular music on Classical music - crossover
• Experimental electronic music