Who broke the rules of counterpoint and the Doctrine of the Affections?

. Handel
Mozart
Beethoven
Bach

To determine who broke the rules of counterpoint and the Doctrine of the Affections, we need to look at the historical context and the composers involved. Counterpoint refers to the technique of combining multiple melodic lines in music, while the Doctrine of the Affections refers to the concept of expressing emotions through music.

Handel, Mozart, Beethoven, and Bach were all prominent composers of different musical eras. Bach, who lived in the Baroque period (late 17th to early 18th century), particularly mastered the art of counterpoint, and his compositions are considered textbook examples of contrapuntal techniques. He adhered closely to the established rules of counterpoint and emotional expression.

On the other hand, Handel, Mozart, and Beethoven belonged to the Classical period (late 18th to early 19th century), which followed the Baroque era. During this time, composers started to break away from strict contrapuntal rules, including those of counterpoint and the Doctrine of the Affections.

Of the given options, Handel, Mozart, and Beethoven did experiment with new musical forms, structures, and expressive techniques, often departing from the strict conventions of counterpoint. However, it is essential to note that breaking the rules does not necessarily mean they completely abandoned counterpoint or the Doctrine of the Affections. They expanded upon these traditions rather than breaking them entirely.

Therefore, Bach can be excluded from the list as he exemplified the adherence to traditional counterpoint and the Doctrine of the Affections. Handel, Mozart, and Beethoven, while pushing the boundaries, didn't break the rules to the same extent as Bach's strict adherence to counterpoint.