Discuss the pivotal role Beethoven played
             between the Classical and Romantic genres.
             The term 'Classical' music, for the majority of people, covers all aspects of music which is not popular or folk; it is thought of as 'high brow' and inaccessible. However, to the music historian, it has specific meaning in relation to style and period1. Classical music, dated from approximately 1760 to 1810, succeeded the Baroque genre, which is noted for its very complex and ornate musical texture and precedes the Romantic era. Romanticism, dated approximately from 1810 to 1890, it is a term used in music to describe an extensive range of works2. By necessity, these dates have to be approximated because there will always be an overlap between one genre and the next; obviously there cannot be a clear cut-off point and "in purely musical respects, certain genres and forms are common to both Classicism and Romanticism."3
             During the Classical period, the form of music changed and the world saw the development of the concerto, sonata and symphony, the latter credited as the creation of Haydn, together with the string quartet and the instrumentation patterns within a piece of music. The themes of a piece were recapitulated, that is, repeated close to their original form or developed, whereby preceding themes are expanded and altered to produce new passages, usually involving a key change. The Romantic period, conversely, saw a breakdown in form and the development of harmony and instruments, even though the music remained tonal, it became "more chromatic"4. The instruments are used dramatically and expressively as a means of communicating a story to the listener, this being specifically recognised as Programme music. The composers became preoccupied with freedom of expression and drama and the reoccurring themes include; love, hope, the supernatural, nature and passion. The events which cau!
             sed or allowed these changes to occur will be...