<P> In the classical period , the theme is made up of phrases with contrasting melodic figures and rhythms . These phrases are relatively brief , typically four bars in length , and can occasionally seem sparse or terse . The texture is mainly homophonic , with a clear melody above a subordinate chordal accompaniment , for instance an Alberti bass . This contrasts with the practice in Baroque music , where a piece or movement would typically have only one musical subject , which would then be worked out in a number of voices according to the principles of counterpoint , while maintaining a consistent rhythm or metre throughout . As a result , Classical music tends to have a lighter , clearer texture than the Baroque . The classical style draws on the style galant , a musical style which emphasised light elegance in place of the Baroque 's dignified seriousness and impressive grandeur . </P>
<P> In the classical period , the theme is made up of phrases with contrasting melodic figures and rhythms . These phrases are relatively brief , typically four bars in length , and can occasionally seem sparse or terse . The texture is mainly homophonic , with a clear melody above a subordinate chordal accompaniment , for instance an Alberti bass . This contrasts with the practice in Baroque music , where a piece or movement would typically have only one musical subject , which would then be worked out in a number of voices according to the principles of counterpoint , while maintaining a consistent rhythm or metre throughout . As a result , Classical music tends to have a lighter , clearer texture than the Baroque . The classical style draws on the style galant , a musical style which emphasised light elegance in place of the Baroque 's dignified seriousness and impressive grandeur . </P>
the predominant texture in the classical era was
the predominant texture in the classical era was
homophonic
homophonic