Exploring “Galant Style” in 18th-Century German, French, and Italian Composers’ Pieces

Abstract

This paper explores the Galant style of music, which emerged in the mid-18th century as a bridge between the Baroque and Classical periods. The characteristics of this style are simplicity and elegance, and it focuses on melody and harmony over complex counterpoint. Most people would classify the Galant style as Rococo, and this paper proves this opinion is wrong. Compared to the Galant style, the Rococo style is associated with visual arts. Comprehensive research of the Galant style illustrates that this style prioritizes clarity and musical structure rather than ornamental and decorative features. In order to demonstrate the Galant style, this paper chose pieces from three renowned composers, Domenico Scarlatti, Francois Couperin, and Georg Philipp Telemann, representing different nationalities; those composers come from Italy, France, and Germany. These pieces, including Scarlatti's piano sonatas (K.29 and K.145), “Le Bavolet Flottant” by Francois Couperin, and Telemann's Fantasia TWV33 no.8 in G minor, above of these pieces illustrate the distinct characteristics and nuances of the Galant style.