How did the rise of the symphony and sonata affect the use of fugue?

By the mid-18th century, the rise of the symphony and sonata led to a decline in the popularity of the fugue. As the musical landscape shifted toward Viennese Classicism, composers increasingly favored homophonic textures—characterized by a single melodic line supported by chordal accompaniment—over the systematically maintained contrapuntal textures of the Baroque era.12

During this period, the fugue was largely relegated to sacred music as a model of tradition. However, it did not disappear entirely. Composers like Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Joseph Haydn occasionally integrated fugal techniques into their instrumental works, such as in the finale of Mozart’s Jupiter Symphony or Haydn’s string quartets.12

Ludwig van Beethoven later revitalized the form, using it to create intense musical drama within the structures of the symphony, sonata, and string quartet. By the late Classical period, counterpoint was increasingly used to enhance the harmonic and tonal designs of these forms, effectively tempering the fugue to fit the requirements of the new Classical style.12