In general, however, the desire to evoke emotional states by appealing to the senses, often in dramatic ways, underlies its manifestations. Some of the qualities most frequently associated with the Baroque are grandeur, sensuous richness, drama, vitality, movement, tension, emotional exuberance, and a tendency to blur distinctions between the various arts. Music in the Eighteenth century was another medium of the arts. Here are the definitions of the periods. There is a breaking away from the severity of Medieval and early Renaissance music with emphasis on the use of great vocal and instrumental color.
Secular music is now as much in evidence as liturgical music.
The compositions of Franz Joseph Haydn and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, in particular, exemplify the concepts of Classicism. This era culminated in the early music of Ludwig van Beethoven. These are the definitions of the arts in the 18th century. This ends our four part series on 18th century society. As you can see, the 18th century is a fascinating subject.