classical music
Concert hall repertoire
Classical music is the formal artistic tradition of Western music, encompassing orchestral, chamber, and vocal works from roughly the 17th century onward—Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, and their successors.
The term distinguishes this tradition from popular, folk, or jazz music.
More narrowly, the Classical period (roughly 1750–1820) falls between Baroque and Romantic eras: Mozart was a Classical composer; Brahms was Romantic.
In casual use, classical music means anything with orchestras and concert halls: My parents only listen to classical music.
Extended composition for orchestra
- concertoSolo-and-orchestra composition
- sonataMulti-movement instrumental composition
- fugueContrapuntal musical form
- operaTheatrical art combining song
ballet · cantata · oratorio · requiem · suite · overture · prelude · nocturne
Large instrumental ensemble
- conductorOne who directs musicians
- soloistUnaccompanied performer
- virtuosoSupremely accomplished performer
- maestroDistinguished musical leader
recital · concert hall · philharmonic · ensemble · pianist · violinist · cellist · soprano
German composer surname
- BeethovenGerman classical music giant
- MozartEighteenth-century Austrian composer
- HandelBaroque composer of oratorios
- VivaldiBaroque composer from Venice
Chopin · Schubert · Haydn · Brahms · Tchaikovsky · Wagner · Debussy · Stravinsky
Agreement or musical blend
- counterpointSimultaneous independent melodies
- polyphonySimultaneous independent melodic lines
- homophonySame-sounding different words
- tonalityMusic organized around tonic
modulation · cadence · chord · interval · scale · arpeggio · dynamics · tempo
Ornate artistic period
- RenaissanceEuropean cultural reawakening
- MedievalOf the 5th-15th centuries
- GregorianNamed for a pope
- twentieth-centuryYears 1901-2000
Elegance of manner
- sophisticationCultured elegance and complexity
- grandeurImpressive splendor and scale
- eleganceRefined, graceful quality
- timelessUnaffected by eras
enduring · transcendent · sublime · emotional depth · expressive · majestic · dramatic · lyrical
symphony
Extended composition for orchestra
- concertoSolo-and-orchestra composition
- sonataMulti-movement instrumental composition
- fugueContrapuntal musical form
opera · ballet · cantata · oratorio · requiem · suite · overture · prelude · nocturne · etude
orchestra
Large instrumental ensemble
- conductorOne who directs musicians
- soloistUnaccompanied performer
- virtuosoSupremely accomplished performer
maestro · recital · concert hall · philharmonic · ensemble · pianist · violinist · cellist · soprano · tenor
Bach
German composer surname
- BeethovenGerman classical music giant
- MozartEighteenth-century Austrian composer
- HandelBaroque composer of oratorios
Vivaldi · Chopin · Schubert · Haydn · Brahms · Tchaikovsky · Wagner · Debussy · Stravinsky · Mahler
harmony
Agreement or musical blend
- counterpointSimultaneous independent melodies
- polyphonySimultaneous independent melodic lines
- homophonySame-sounding different words
tonality · modulation · cadence · chord · interval · scale · arpeggio · dynamics · tempo · allegro
Baroque
Ornate artistic period
- RenaissanceEuropean cultural reawakening
- MedievalOf the 5th-15th centuries
- GregorianNamed for a pope
refinement
Elegance of manner
- sophisticationCultured elegance and complexity
- grandeurImpressive splendor and scale
- eleganceRefined, graceful quality
timeless · enduring · transcendent · sublime · emotional depth · expressive · majestic · dramatic · lyrical · contemplative
- musicsong, songs, singing, singer, singers
- old musicold songs, traditional tunes, folk songs, hymns, waltzes
- relaxing musiclullaby, nature sounds, easy listening, smooth jazz, chillout
- Old WorldEurope, Asia, Africa, Mediterranean, Middle East
- Work Musicambient sound, white noise, playlists, productivity, concentration
- Dark AcademiaLatin, Greek, classics, literature, Oxford
classical musicpop music
Catchy, commercial song genre
popular music · punk rock · folk music · rock music · hip-hop
classical musicjazz
Improvisational American music genre
free jazz · noise music · lo-fi · garage rock · ambient music
classical musicclub music
Electronic dance floor sounds
bubblegum pop · dance music · mainstream pop · Top 40 · background music
music, museum, musical, musician, classical, classic, musing, musically, classicist