From the end of the Baroque and the beginning of the Classical periods there is an artistic bridge called the Rococo. Its music was a reaction against counterpoint and the comparative austere styles of composers like Bach and Handel. Instead this music was lighter, more intimate with extreme elaboration and ornamentation.

Although music in the Classical Period was formal and structured, it was also lighter with more contrasts in tone colour, dynamics, modulations; and melody was all important. It was a period where the orchestra was fully established and the continuo, so important in the Baroque, died out.

The remarkable Haydn (1732-1809) is the first of the three great composers of the Classical period and known as both the “Father of the Symphony’ and the ‘Father of the String Quartet”. He was extremely prolific spending almost 30 years as a court musician for the Esterhazy family in their remote estate.

Formal styles developed in the Classical Period establishing the basis for most compositions; including Sonata and Rondo forms. These helped shaped the movements of larger compositions like the Symphony, Sonata and Concerto whose structures were also formalised in this period.

Much sacred music was written in this period but although it was more conservative than secular music it has often been criticized for being too beautiful, operatic and not serious enough. It has been described as being more for the theatre rather than the church.

In this period, Opera Seria, the dominant form of opera in the Baroque, became less popular. Other more light and comic opera styles like Opera Buffa and Singspiel started taking over. Often no longer in Italian, but in the language of the composer, this was music for the people as well as music for the aristocrat.