Rococo Style

In music, the period between the Baroque and Classical eras was once commonly referred to as the Rococo period. However, it seems that this term is no longer frequently used in music. I asked ChatGPT about this: "I feel that the term ʼRococo styleʼ was once often used for the period between the Baroque and Classical era after Haydn, but recently I donʼt hear it much. Has music history been rewritten?"

Pursuit of Historical Accuracy: While the term "Rococo style" is appropriate for art and architecture, it has become widely recognized that it does not comprehensively describe music. Music historians and scholars have begun using other terms to more precisely reflect the musical characteristics of each era.

Understanding Regional Differences and Stylistic Diversity: It has become clear that 18th-century music varies greatly by region and composer, making it difficult to categorize the entire period under a single term. For example, terms focusing on specific regions or schools, such as "Late Baroque of Northern Germany" or "Pre-Classical Vienna," have become more commonly used.

Current Terminology in Music History

Today, the following terms are commonly used to describe mid-18th-century music:

Pre-Classical (Pre-Classicism): This term refers to music during the transitional period leading to the Classical era.

Galant Style: This style emphasizes elegance and simplicity, bridging the gap between the late Baroque and early Classical periods.

Empfindsamer Stil (Sensitive Style): A style developed mainly in Germany that focuses on expressive and emotional music.

These terms more accurately and specifically reflect the chronological divisions in music history and are widely used in academic research and education. The decline in the use of "Rococo style" in music history stems from advancements in research and classification. However, the aesthetics and influence of the Rococo style still hold an important place in music history.

[Addendum] Recently, there has been growing skepticism about categorizing composers by historical periods. In the 10th edition of the well-known music history textbook *A History of Western Music* by Grout/Palisca (2019, this edition has not been translated into Japanese, with the latest Japanese version being from 2007), the editors have abandoned historical period divisions and instead organize chapters by century.

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