The Baroque style (c.1650–1750)

The Baroque is built on the basso continuo — a bass line plus a chordal instrument (harpsichord or organ, often with cello) realising the harmony from a figured bass.

• Terraced dynamics — sudden shifts between loud and soft, not gradual crescendos.
• Ritornello form in concertos — a recurring tutti idea alternates with solo episodes.
• Functional diatonic harmony driven by the circle of fifths, with frequent sequences and suspensions.
• Continuous contrapuntal textures, fugue, and elaborate ornamentation (trills, mordents, appoggiaturas).

Key genres: trio sonata, solo concerto and concerto grosso, the dance suite, and the da capo aria in opera and oratorio.

Spot the Baroque feature

The Classical style (c.1750–1820)

The Classical period prizes clarity, balance and elegance.

• Periodic phrasing — balanced antecedent and consequent phrases (often 4+4 bars).
• Alberti bass — a broken-chord left-hand accompaniment (low–high–middle–high).
• Largely homophonic (melody-and-accompaniment) textures; the continuo is abandoned.
• The Classical orchestra standardises (strings, pairs of woodwind, horns, trumpets, timpani).
• Sonata form becomes the central structure of first movements.

Sonata form: exposition (first subject in the tonic, transition modulating, second subject in a related key) · development (themes fragmented, modulating, unstable) · recapitulation (both subjects return, now in the tonic).

Order the sonata

Which period?

Tap a style feature, then tap the period it belongs to.

The Romantic style (c.1810–1910)

The Romantic period pushes expression and individuality.

• Chromatic harmony — richer, more dissonant chords, delayed resolutions, distant modulations.
• A hugely expanded orchestra (extra brass, harp, cor anglais, tuba, percussion) and wider dynamic range.
• Programme music — instrumental music depicting a story or scene (the symphonic poem).
• Tempo rubato, extremes of tempo and dynamics, and thematic transformation of ideas.
• The Lied (art song) and piano character piece flourish.

Listen for: long-breathed melodies, wide leaps, lush divisi strings, and harmony that lingers on chromatic chords before resolving.

Name the ideal

Harmony and tonality across the period

Across the whole tradition, harmony is functional and tonal — chords progress towards cadences that define a key.

• Cadences: perfect (V–I), imperfect (ends on V), plagal (IV–I), interrupted (V–vi).
• Modulation to closely related keys (dominant, subdominant, relative) via pivot chords; the circle of fifths maps these journeys.
• Roman numerals label chords (I ii iii IV V vi vii°); figured bass shows inversions.
• Colour chords: secondary dominants, suspensions (4–3, 7–6), pedals, and Romantic chromatic chords (Neapolitan 6th, augmented 6ths, diminished 7ths).

Match each cadence

Tap a description on the left, then its cadence on the right.

Cadence check

Texture and counterpoint

Describe texture precisely:

• Monophonic — a single unaccompanied line.
• Homophonic — melody plus chordal accompaniment (dominant from the Classical period on).
• Polyphonic / contrapuntal — independent melodic lines woven together (Baroque fugue, canon).
• Heterophonic — the same melody decorated differently at the same time.

Contrapuntal devices: imitation, fugue (subject and answer entries), canon, and ground bass (a repeating bass ostinato under varying upper parts).

Name the texture

Appraising and listening skills

Component 1 rewards evidence. To describe an extract well:

• Comment on each element in turn (melody, harmony, tonality, rhythm/metre, texture, dynamics, timbre, structure).
• Use bar references and precise terms rather than vague words.
• Date and place the music from its style features, and justify with evidence.
• In dictation, fix the key and metre first, sketch the rhythm, then pitch the intervals against the tonic.

Exam craft: compare two extracts by choosing two or three elements and tracking how each differs, rather than describing them separately.

Exam strategy

The big ideas to carry into the exam

You now have the style map for AQA Area of Study 1. Press Finish to see your score.