The development of instrumental music in the 18th century (classical era) came about from the idea and developing of its time. The Age of Reason, or otherwise known as, the Common Era had just reached its commencement; a time for the thinkers and philosophers with a human center universe rather than a God centered, no longer will God be interwoven in their lives, but only intellect and science, and theism were their banner. Voltaire (Francois-Marie Arouet) philosopher, writer and historian was most influential during this time. His ideals of freedom of expression, religion and the separation of church and state changed part of how music was depicted and interpreted. Voltaire derives …show more content…
It was through some of these circumstances that the music began to restructure and change from its original orchestral music to instrumental music, and music was no longer just for the church or its clergy. Music publishing became much easier for printing had advanced to engraving, and commercial public concerts become a custom, and Vienna becomes the musical center of Europe. Entering the 19th century, three major composers advance the development of instrumental music; Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven, and the major sources of employment for musicians were the church, courts, and the towns. The function of harmony, major and minor based on thirds becomes the main theoretical structure, and modulations to closely related keys. The development of sonata form is taken from the Sonata Da Chiesa, J.C. Bach develops new themes in his sonatas rather than its regular development of the main theme. Rondo form derives from the baroque concerto or ritornello, where the ritornello had different keys but unlike the Rondo it occurred in the same key. The Symphony develops from the Italian Opera. The theme and variations become even more important, binary and third-nary forms also become even more important. Dynamic,