What is Classical Music?

The term “Classical music” is commonly used when referring to formal

Western music, setting it apart from Western popular or Folk music.
Classical music may also refer to non-Western music that exhibits similar
characteristic formality.

Classical music is classified into 7 periods: Early Music, Renaissance,

Baroque, Classical, Romantic, 20th Century, and Modern/Contemporary.

What are the Characteristics of Classical Music?

Since European music encompasses a wide range of styles, it can be hard

to attribute a list of characteristics to all the works of a certain type.
However, Classical music does have a couple of universal characteristics
we can discuss.

First of all, just about every Classical music work written since the late
1200s and up until about 1600 involved the use of a standardized,
precise system called mensural notation in their compositions and
performances. After 1600, this system shifted into modern bar notation.

Another major characteristic of Classical music is the creation of highly

complex works for solo instruments (for example, the fugue). With some
research, you’ll find that the first symphonies produced came about
during the Classical era (more on this later).

Since then, the ensemble of symphonies and the featured compositions

became a staple characteristic of the grand Classical music period.

Complexity
As I mentioned above, works of Classical music are known to exhibit a
high level of complexity, owing to the use of orchestration, phrasing,
harmony, counterpoint, development, texture, rhythm, and form.

Most popular music styles typically adopted song forms, but Classical
music mainly revolves around the use of sophisticated instrumental
forms such as the symphony, concerto, and sonata.

Additionally, Classical music features complex combinations of vocal and

instrumental forms. We can see this in opera works (more about this later)
where singers -soloists and choirs- enact dramatic plots accompanied by
music from a full-blown orchestra.

Instrumentation and vocals

Most of the instruments that are commonly featured in works of Classical

music were invented way before the mid-1800s and systemized
during the 1700s and 1800s. Examples of these instruments include the
ones featured in orchestras (or concert bands) as well as multiple solo
instruments such as the organ, piano, and harpsichord.

Both the symphony orchestra (more on this below) and the concert band
include players of the brass, string, woodwind, and percussion instrument
families. The latter usually features more numbers, and a greater variety
of brass and woodwind instruments compared to the former.

However, the orchestra has a string section whereas the concert band
doesn’t (often include a double bass).

As for the vocal practices of Classical music, they developed

throughout the different periods from single-line monk chants
(monophonic) during the medieval era to complex chorals
(polyphonic) emerging in the Renaissance and following eras. The latter
involved several separate vocal melodies performed simultaneously.

Common Forms of Classical Music

Contrary to what you may think, Classical music is a rich branch of music.
It includes a variety of forms – which means a type of musical work – that
you can see during a concert program. Below are the 10 most common
ones:

1. Aria

Did you ever listen to a certain part in the opera and think “Wow, that
singer is showing off!”? Well, chances are they actually were!

In an opera, there’s a precise moment when one of the lead characters

gets to show off their vocal range to the audience. It’s called an
“aria”.

While the aria may have some sort of a dramatic purpose in the story, it’s
mainly an opportunity for the singer to rile up the crowd and get as much
applause as possible.

Just think about any “hit” opera you’re familiar with, it’s very likely that
it’s an “aria” extracted from a “full” opera and re-introduced in the form of
a symphony concert where multiple singers participate to perform a
different aria from a bunch of operas.

Such concerts usually feature lots of thrilling high notes that get the
audience on their feet afterward.

2. Opera
The opera form includes singers who use their vocal capabilities to
perform dramatic plots via huge melodies (these are the arias we
explained above) or half-sung half-spoken dialogue moments called
recitative.

An opera features sets, costumes, staging, as well as a full-blown

orchestra. There’s a wide range of opera types, ranging from light-hearted
comical short ones to incredibly epic ones that last for hours.

3. Concerto

The “concerto” is a form of Classical music that puts a soloist (typically a

cellist, violinist, or pianist) against all the rest of the orchestra. The
purpose here is to highlight the skills of both the soloist and orchestra,
independently and as a unit.

It’s very rare for a symphony concert not to include a concerto. It’s
common knowledge that symphony presenters go above and beyond to
feature the most proficient soloists for fall’s opening night concerts.

4. Cadenza

During a concerto, the soloist gets an opportunity to show off their skills
alone. This section is called the cadenza. It takes place at the wrap-up of
one or multiple movements, where the orchestra suspends playing and
the stage is figuratively cleared for the soloist to go all out,
creating a distinctly dramatic moment.
After a while, the orchestra joins the soloist once again to finish playing
the current movement. This happens upon a certain musical cue or even
eye contact between the conductor and the musicians.

Oftentimes, composers pre-write cadenzas. However, in the era of Mozart

or Beethoven, soloists used to compose their own pieces.

5. Chamber music

Next up, we have chamber music. This is when a few

instrumentalists (usually 3 or 4 but can be as many as 8) are grouped
with a single performer to a part.

Chamber music doesn’t include a conductor because the musicians work

out the flow on their own. If the group features a pianist, there’s often a
page-turner as well.

Festivals playing chamber music often occur in the summertime. They’re

super-fun for both the visitors and performers, thanks to the relaxed
atmosphere and cozy venues. It’s to the point that renowned soloists
often end up playing together in laidback sessions.

6. Movement

The majority of Classical music works are divided into “movements”. You
can think of movements in a piece of music like a book’s chapters, with
a conventional pace of fast/slow/fast as in a symphony or a sonata.
After the end of each movement, there’s a short break which serves as a
chance for musicians to adjust the tunes of their instruments, as well as
for the audience to get all the throat-clearing and coughing out of the way.

A lot of newbie audience members get nervous at that moment because

they assume it’s a pause for clapping when it’s nothing but. The best
thing to do during that time is to enjoy the silence and embrace your
senses for the next movement.

7. Sonata

When a piece of music is composed for a solo instrument, it’s called a

sonata. Usually, this instrument is a piano, and if the sonata isn’t meant
for a piano alone, then the instrument it’s written for is often accompanied
by the piano.

Typically, a sonata consists of 3 or 4 movements, with so many notes to

memorize.

8. Opus (Op.)

Opus is a system that catalogues works of composers, especially

those who are – or were – highly productive. It’s basically a number that’s
assigned to a composer’s Classical work (or set of works) to put their
musical output into proper chronological order.

9. Overture
Way back in the day, around the 1600s, the overture was commonly found
in lobbies where it served as a gong that produced a sound to signal
people to go to their seats. After a while, the overture became sort of an
introduction to musical events – just a short bit before the main
section starts.

In opera, composers usually postponed writing the overture till after

everything else was written. This way, the overture would give the
audience a taste of most of the themes included in the opera.

In the 1800s, the overture evolved and was written as a separate piece on
its own that could be later incorporated into any concert.

10. Symphony/Orchestra/Philharmonic

Explaining this form of Classical music can get tricky, but to put it simply,
a symphony refers to a group of multiple players including brass,
string, percussion, and wind. When a piece of music is written to be
played by such an ensemble, it’s called a symphony.

The term “symphony orchestra” is mostly used to describe an even larger

group of players. There’s also something called a “back-up orchestra” that
usually accompanies jazz singers and is typically a lot smaller than
Classical orchestras.

The term “philharmonic” is frequently used when multiple large groups

are present in the same city to help people tell them apart. As for the
term “orchestra”, it’s commonly used when talking about the members of
the groups themselves.
Different Periods of Classical Music

Classical music is commonly categorized into 7 eras or periods. Each

period has its own set of unique style characteristics, offshoot
movements, innovations, and famous names.

Granted, there are many crossovers between periods, but the main eras
are indisputable. Below is a summary of the major periods of Classical
music:

Early Music (Medieval) – 500 to 1400

This period is pretty much all Classical music works that occurred
before the Renaissance period when the style came into light.

In the Medieval period, religion heavily affected music as the church was
one of the only places to host public making of music. This is why music
was mostly made for the voice at the time and chants by monks
dominated the scene.

Instruments in this period included early versions of wind (such as the

flute) and percussion. The very first versions of harpsichords were born
around the year 1400.

Famous composers of the period

 Dufay.

 Hildegard von Bingen

 Machaut.
  Pérotin.

Renaissance – 1400 to 1600

The Renaissance period was the true unveiling of classical music as it

started to really take off. It was an era of revival – or even rebirth – for
music as composers looked for inspiration beyond the church walls
in art, science, and mythology.

This doesn’t mean that the church had lost influence, it simply wasn’t the
only player in the game anymore. Choral music was the “top dog”, but
stringed instruments such as the violin, cello, and lute were on the rise.

Organs and harpsichord were also gaining popularity, as well as notated

music due to printing.

Famous composers of the period

 Josquin des Prez.

 John Dowland.

 Thomas Tallis, Gesualdo.

 Monteverdi.

 Byrd.

 Gibbons.

Baroque – 1600 to 1750

Classical music was unveiled and out in the open, so it was time to spice
things up and redecorate. This took place during the Baroque period,
which boils down to two words: excess and ornament.

Music started to have a “dazzle” factor as musicians and composers

began to show off. It’s in this era that Classical music incorporated the
structures, forms, and techniques we’re currently familiar with.

Other changes that occurred in the Baroque periods include:

 The use of major and minor keys, not ‘modes.

 Updating notation systems.

 Creating new forms, such as the Fugue.

 The birth of the orchestra, the opera, and initial hints of the
symphony.

For composers, concertos became a super-popular format. As for

instruments, strings, woodwind, trumpets, valveless horns, and the
timpani shone brightly.

Famous composers of the period

 JS Bach.

 Corelli.

 Handel.

 Monteverdi.
  Vivaldi.

 Couperin

 Scarlatti.

 Telemann.

Classical – 1750 to 1820

Yes, there’s a period in classical music called ‘Classical’ (as if things

weren’t confusing enough, right?). However, it makes sense when you
learn what took place in this period.

The Classical era was when people started being more interested in clean
lines, structures, and forms. Classical music now incorporated clearer
and lighter musical lines with the general motto being “Less is more”.

Instrumental music and piano sonatas were becoming more popular,

along with the orchestra, the symphony, the opera, string quartet, and
choral music.

Generally, instruments were taking the shape we nowadays know, with

brass instruments featuring valves and the fortepiano starting to turn
heads.

Famous composers of the period

 Beethoven.

 Haydn.

 Mozart.
  Paganini.

 Schubert.

 Rossini.

 CPE Bach.

 Boccherini.

Romantic – 1820 to 1910

The Romantic period was an era of passion during which expression,

poetry, drama, and tall tales were all the rave. All the “cleanliness” and
sharpness of the previous era had composers yearning to let loose and
have their music actually “speak” of feelings and connect with the
audience on an emotional level.

Art song, Lieder, and chamber music came into light, while the French
salon music gained a wider fan base among the middle and upper-middle
classes. Additionally, ballet and opera flourished.

In the mid-19th century, Steinway was established and the piano took the
shape we know nowadays.

Famous composers of the period

 Tchaikovsky.

 Wagner.

 Mahler.
  Verdi.

 Brahms.

 Robert Schumann.

 Johann Strauss II.

 Liszt.

 Chopin.

 Berlioz.

 Puccini.

 Felix Mendelssohn.

 Dvořák.

20th Century (Modernist) – 1900 to 2000

As the political scene grew more complicated, the first few decades of this
period inspired many composers and musicians to produce works
that responded to oppression, conflict, and the Atomic Age.

Basically, this was the period of “anything goes”, from abstract sounds
and patterns to Impressionists and Minimalists. With technology
advancing rapidly, new sounds were soon competing with the orchestra
and even joining it.

Famous composers of the period

 Debussy.
  Elgar.

 Fauré.

 Holst.

 Stravinsky.

 Britten.

 Copland.

 John Williams.

 Shostakovich.

 Bernstein.

 Prokofiev.

 Satie.

 Philip Glass.

 Vaughan Williams.

 John Adams.

Modern (Contemporary) – 2000 to present

Modern Classical music includes works of the last two decades or so,
with new boundaries getting broken each passing decade thanks to
technological advancements and stylistic shifts.
Composers nowadays are influenced by the past, inspired by the present,
and playing for the future. There are still operas, concertos, and
symphonies being written, but there are also game scores, film scores,
and art installations’ music.

Famous composers of the period

 Hans Zimmer.

 Ludovico Einaudi.

 Philip Glass.

 Jennifer Higdon.

 Ólafur Arnalds.

 Thomas Adès.

 Max Richter.

 John Williams.

 Caroline Shaw.

 Karl Jenkins.