Which feature contributed to the 'Classical style' in J. C. Bach's Sonata in D Major?

Which feature contributed to the 'Classical style' in J. C. Bach's Sonata in D Major?

• A. Long, complex polyphony with dense counterpoint
• B. Short, well-defined phrases in the upper register with Alberti bass
• C. Heavy pedal point on tonic
• D. Modal mixtures and chromatic descents in minor keys

Answer: (B)

In the Classical style, music leans toward clarity and balance, with a clear melody supported by a light, regular accompaniment rather than dense counterpoint. In J. C. Bach’s Sonata in D Major, the melody in the right hand tends to be short and well defined, while the left hand uses an Alberti bass pattern—a simple, repeating broken-chord figure that underpins the harmony without creating heavy texture. This combination creates the transparent, songlike texture that characterizes the Classical era and the galant idiom J. C. Bach helped popularize. Long, intricate polyphony belongs to the Baroque; a heavy pedal point on the tonic suggests a static, drone-like texture not typical of Classical clarity; and modal mixtures with chromatic descents in minor keys point to later Romantic or more experimental tonalities. The Alberti-bass-supported, melody-forward texture is the most representative feature here.

In the Classical style, music leans toward clarity and balance, with a clear melody supported by a light, regular accompaniment rather than dense counterpoint. In J. C. Bach’s Sonata in D Major, the melody in the right hand tends to be short and well defined, while the left hand uses an Alberti bass pattern—a simple, repeating broken-chord figure that underpins the harmony without creating heavy texture. This combination creates the transparent, songlike texture that characterizes the Classical era and the galant idiom J. C. Bach helped popularize. Long, intricate polyphony belongs to the Baroque; a heavy pedal point on the tonic suggests a static, drone-like texture not typical of Classical clarity; and modal mixtures with chromatic descents in minor keys point to later Romantic or more experimental tonalities. The Alberti-bass-supported, melody-forward texture is the most representative feature here.