The late-eighteenth century witnessed the birth of both the classical and Romantic forms of music. Many composers of the time wrote in both styles, or even combined them. During the Classico-Romantic period, the way in which lyrics were written changed significantly.

Up to this point, most lyrics for formal music were written in Italian, French, or Latin. Composers in this period began writing in their native languages, which helped increase the popularity of Classico-Romantic music in England and Germany.

Symphonic Music

The symphony, perhaps the best known of all classical forms, had its immediate predecessor in the work of Johann Stamitz, a mid-eighteenth-century German composer. Basing his work on a form of Baroque opera music called “sinfonia,” Stamitz added dynamic and tempo changes, chords played in unison (as opposed to counterpoint), and notation that was explicitly written out instead of being somewhat open to interpretation. Stamitz's work also contributed greatly to the development of the sonata and string quartet forms.