Harmonic language is an important part of understanding different times in classical music. Let’s break down its role in shaping the sounds from various musical periods.

Baroque Era (1600-1750)

• What it was like: During this time, music had a lot of complicated harmony and used something called figured bass. This helped form the foundation for music based on keys.
• Example: A famous composer from this era, Johann Sebastian Bach, used intricate music patterns but kept things grounded in a clear key. This created rich sounds by mixing melodies with bass lines.

Classical Era (1750-1820)

• What it was like: Harmony became simpler and more straightforward. Composers like Mozart focused on clear melodies with strong harmonic support.
• Example: In Mozart’s symphonies, the move between the main key (tonic) and the next important key (dominant) is usually easy to follow, making the music feel clear.

Romantic Era (1820-1900)

• What it was like: Composers during this time played with harmony even more. They used chromaticism (which means using notes outside the main key) and changed keys often to create deeper feelings in their music.
• Example: Beethoven and composers like Wagner added more tension to their music by using dissonance. This meant they often didn’t resolve the sounds in the traditional way, which created a sense of drama.

20th Century and Beyond

• What it was like: Music from this time took a big turn away from the old styles. Composers started to play around with atonality (which means not following a key) and other new methods, like the twelve-tone technique.
• Example: Arnold Schoenberg’s music showed these changes, pushing the limits and changing how we think about harmony.

In short, harmonic language is not just about chords. It reflects the culture and ideas of each musical time. By looking at how harmony has developed, we can understand how musical thinking and expression have progressed throughout history.