Characteristics of Classical Music

This article is a collaborative effort, crafted and edited by a team of dedicated professionals.

Contributors: Andranick Tanguiane, Fred Lerdahl,

Classical music is known for its intricate compositions and beautiful melodies. But what are the specific characteristics that make up this genre of music? In this blog post, we explore the key features of classical music.

Defining Classical Music

Classical music is art music produced or rooted in the traditions of Western culture, including both liturgical (religious) and secular music. While a more precise term is also used to refer to the period from 1750 to 1820 (the Classical period), this article is about the broad span of time from before the 6th century AD to the present day, which includes the Classical period and various other periods.

Broadly speaking

Classical music is a genre of music that generally upholds certain expressive, artistic and technical standards. Although there is no single unifying “genre” of classical music, there are broad categories that can be used to describe it. These include but are not limited to:

-Art music: This broad category encompasses all music that is written explicitly for artistic purposes, as opposed to being written for functional purposes such as religious ceremonies or entertainment. This would encompass the majority of Western classical music traditions.
-Experimental classical music: Characterized by its avant-garde and often atonal style, experimental classical music challenges traditional conventions and seeks to push the boundaries of art music.
-Popular classical music: A catchall category for any type of classical music that has managed to find a wide audience outside of the traditional concert hall setting. This could include film scores, popular crossover artists, or “light classics” radio programming.

More specifically

Classical music is generally considered to be the music composed between the end of the Baroque period (c.1700) and the beginning of the Romantic era (c.1830). It falls into two eras which are further sub-divided: The Classical period proper (1750s to early 1800s), and the Early Classical or Viennese Classicism (late 1700s).

The History of Classical Music

Classical music is a broad term that usually refers to music produced in, or rooted in the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 9th century to present times.

Early history

The earliest reference to “classical music” is from about 1836, when a German music critic, Friedrich Ludwigosi wrote that the “symphonie idealle” were works performed by specially trained groups of professional musicians. This was in contrast to the music performed by amateurs, which he called the “musique mauvaise.”

The first professional classical music concerts were given in 1782, in Vienna. These concerts were organized by none other than Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart himself. He hated the fact that people of his time would go tosee operas and other shows, but not appreciate the hard work that went into symphonies and other pieces of classical music. So, he decided to put on these concerts as a way to show off what classical music was really all about.

During the early part of the 19th century, Beethoven’s work started to gain popularity. His Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, Op. 125 (“Choral”), composed in 1824, is perhaps his most famous work and it includes an unprecedented setting of a choral poem for the finale.

The Baroque period

The Baroque period (1600-1750) was a time of great creativity in music, with a wealth of new musical styles and forms. The term ‘Baroque’ comes from the Portuguese word for ‘irregular pearl’, and was first used to describe the elaborate and often excessive style of this period.

Some of the most important composers of the Baroque period include Johann Sebastian Bach, George Frideric Handel, Claudio Monteverdi, Antonio Vivaldi and Henry Purcell. The Baroque style is characterized by its ornate melodies, complex harmonies and expressive emotions. It was a departure from the simpler styles of the Renaissance period, and paved the way for the even more experimental music of the Classical era.

The Classical period

The Classical period was an era of classical music between roughly 1730 and 1820. The Classical period falls between the Baroque and the Romantic periods. Classical music has a lighter, clearer texture than Baroque music and is less complex. It is mainly homophonic, using a clear melody line over a subordinate chordal accompaniment, but counterpoint was by no means forgotten, especially later in the period.

Characteristics of Classicism include:
-a focus on formal structures
-clarity of expression
-balance and contrast
-the use of primary colors
-the use of dynamics to create contrast
-the use of simple, singable melodies
Classical music tends to be tonal and harmonically simple.

The Romantic period

The Romantic period was one of the most important in classical music. It was a time when composers were influenced by very personal feelings and by their emotions. This is why so many well-known classical pieces were written during the Romantic period.

Some of the most popular and well-known composers from the Romantic period include Ludwig van Beethoven, Frederic Chopin, Johannes Brahms, and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. All of these composers wrote music that expressed their own personal emotions, which made their music very popular with audiences.

One of the most important characteristics of Romantic era classical music is the use of expressive chords. These chords are played in a way that makes them sound very emotional. This was a new way of writing music, and it made Romantic era classical music sound very different from the music of other periods.

Another important characteristic of Romantic era classical music is the use of chromaticism. This is when a composer uses notes that are not in the scale that they are supposed to be using. This gives the music a very unique sound, and it was something that was used quite often by Romantic era composers.

The last characteristic of Romantic era classical music that we will discuss is the use of programmatic elements. Programmatic elements are elements that tell a story or give some extra information about the piece that is being performed. This could be anything from telling a story through the use of narration or giving extra information about the piece through the use of pictures or illustrations. Many pieces from the Romantic period used programmatic elements, and this is one of the things that made this type of classical music so popular with audiences at the time.

The Modern period

The term “modernism” is used to describe a period in the history of classical music that began around the turn of the 20th century. It is typically characterized by an emphasis on innovation and experimentation.

One of the most important figures in modern classical music was Arnold Schoenberg, who developed a new system of composition called atonality. This involved writing music that did not contain a tonal center, or key, which was a departure from the traditional tonal system that had been in place for centuries.

In addition to atonality, other important innovations of the modern period included serialism (a technique whereby a composer orders musical elements such as pitches, rhythms, and dynamics according to a pre-determined mathematical plan) and electronic music (music that uses electronic devices to generate or manipulate sound).

Other notable composers of the modern period include Igor Stravinsky, Anton Webern, Alban Berg, and Samuel Barber.

The Structure of Classical Music

Classical music is characterized by its use of formal structures, which create a sense of order and stability. These structures include the use of a tonal center, key, and theme. Classical music also generally has a sense of forward momentum, which is created by the use ofphrase, motives, and cadences.

Melodies

Classical music is often known for its beautiful melodies. A melody is a tune that you can sing or whistle, and it’s usually made up of a series of notes that go up and down in pitch. In classical music, melodies are often quite ornate, with lots of different notes being used. This can make them seem quite complex, but if you take the time to listen carefully, you’ll be able to pick out the main tune.

Harmonies

Classical music is often described as harmony-based. This simply means that the music is made up of a series of chords, which are created when two or more notes are played together. These chords create a unique sound, which can be pleasing to the ear.

There are three main types of harmonic progressions:
-Tonic chords: These are the chords that create the overall key of a piece of music. For example, in a piece in the key of C Major, the tonic chords would be C Major, F Major and G Major.
-Subdominant chords: These are the chords that create contrast against the tonic chords. In a piece in the key of C Major, the subdominant chords would be D Minor, E Minor and A Minor.
-Dominant chords: These are the chords that create tension against the tonic chord and drive the music forward. In a piece in the key of C Major, the dominant chord would be G7.

Rhythms

Classical music is generally very rhythmically complex. The inner voices often move in different directions from the melodic line, creating a rich texture. This can make classical music seem complicated to listeners who are used to more straightforward Pop or rock music.

The rhythms in classical music are often based on mathematical concepts such as mathematical ratios. For example, much of Bach’s music is based on the Fibonacci sequence (1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21,…).

Classical music also often uses very long phrases which can give the music a “breathless” quality. This is in contrast to pop music which often has shorter phrases.

Phrases

Classical music is often described in terms of large-scale musical parameters such as form, tonality, and style. However, a more detailed analysis Reveals that classical pieces are also built from a number of small, recurring musical units called phrases. Phrases come in various lengths, and can be combined to create larger musical structures such as sections, themes, and movements.

A phrase is typically two to four bars long, and has a definite sense of “beginning” and “end.” This contrasted with the more open-ended quality of many jazz improvisations, which lack a clear sense of phrase structure. Phrases in classical music are often grouped into larger units called “periods,” which typically contain two or three phrases.

The concept of phrase structure is closely related to the idea of “melodic shape.” Melodic shape refers to the overall contour or direction of a melody. A melody with a lot of ascending pitch motion is said to have a “rising” melodic shape, while a melody with mostly descending pitch motion has a “falling” melodic shape. Phrases can be described in terms of their melodic shape; for example, a phrase that begins on the tonic (home) note and moves up to the dominant (away) note before returning to the tonic is said to have an “up-down” melodic shape.

While phrases can be analyzed independently from the larger context of a piece, they are usually heard as part of a larger whole. In Western art music from the common practice period (roughly 1600-1900), phrases typically follow certain patterns of organization within larger sections and movements. For example, many Classical-era pieces are organized into symmetrical phrases; that is, the first half of a phrase (“A”) is balanced by a second half (“B”) that mirrors its melodic contour. Other common types of phrase structure include antecedent-consequent pairs (A-B), period structures (A-B-A), and sentence structures (A-B-A’).

Sections

A typical piece of classical music is divided into sections, each with a different function in the structure of the piece. These sections are usually separated by changes in tempo, texture, or mood. The number and types of sections will vary depending on the form of the piece.

The introduction is the section that comes at the beginning of the piece. Its purpose is to prepare the listener for the main body of the piece by introducing some of its main themes and ideas. The introduction may also establish the mood or atmosphere of the piece.

The main body of the piece is where most of the action happens. This is where the majority of the musical material is presented and developed. The main body is usually divided into smaller sections, each with a different character. For example, a fast section may be followed by a slow section, or a loud section may be followed by a soft section.

The conclusion is the section that comes at the end of the piece. Its purpose is to bring closure to the piece by summarizing its main ideas and themes. The conclusion may also include a moment of relaxation or release after any tension that has been built up throughout the piece.

Movements

Most Western classical music is written in three movements, fast–slow–fast, although there are also many pieces written in two or four movements. If a piece has more than three movements, it is usually played without a break, or movements are daisy-chained. For example, four-movement works from the baroque and early classical period are often played without a break as follows: fast movement – slow movement – minuet (or scherzo) – fast movement.

The numbering of the movements of a symphony usually goes 1., 2., 3., 4., with the first being fast, the second slow, third either a minuet or scherzo, and fourth again fast. However, numbering is not always given to symphonies; it is more common in concertos (especially baroque concertos), sonatas (especially early sonatas), and string quartets.

In some 20th-century works where more than four movements were composed but none were in traditional tempo order (i.e., all were either slow or all were fast), it became common practice to number them I., II., III., etc., regardless of tempo. This system can cause confusion, since the first series of numbers corresponds to the order of performance while the second series gives the tempo ranking; for example, Symphony No. 2 by Gustav Mahler is in traditional order (slow–fast–slow–fast), while his Symphony No. 9 is not (all slow).

The Instruments of Classical Music

There are many different instruments that can be used to play classical music. Some of the most popular instruments include the piano, violin, cello, and flute. Each instrument has its own unique sound that contributes to the overall experience of listening to classical music.

The orchestra

The orchestra is a group of instruments from different families that play together. The word “orchestra” comes from the Greek word “orchestrein,” which means “to dance.” An orchestra can have any number of players, but must have at least one player from each family of instruments. The four main families of instruments are strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion.

The string family includes the violin, viola, cello, and bass. The woodwind family includes the flute, oboe, clarinet, and bassoon. The brass family includes the trumpet, trombone, and tuba. The percussion family includes the drums, cymbals, xylophone, and triangle.

Orchestras can be divided into two groups: symphony orchestras and chamber orchestras. A symphony orchestra is a large orchestra that usually has between fifty and one hundred players. A chamber orchestra is a small orchestra that usually has between ten and fifty players.

The piano

The piano is a stringed instrument played by pressing the keys on the keyboard. It has a wide range of dynamics, from soft and quiet to loud and powerful, and a large pitch range. The piano is used in solo and ensemble performances, as well as in accompaniment.

The piano is one of the most popular instruments in classical music, and has been used in symphonies, concertos, operas, and other orchestral works. It is also a versatile instrument for soloists and chamber musicians.

The violin

The violin is astring instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola, cello, and double bass. The violin is played by plucking the strings with the fingers or a plectrum (or “pick”) while moving the bow across them. The bow hair is electrically conductive and produces a sound when it vibrates against the strings. The sound of each string can be adjusted by turning a peg at the end of the scroll.

The modern violin has four strings tuned in perfect fifths: G3, D4, A4, and E5. It is most commonly played by plucking the strings with the fingers or a plectrum (or “pick”) while moving the bow across them. The bow hair is electrically conductive and produces a sound when it vibrates against the strings. The sound of each string can be adjusted by turning a peg at the end of the scroll.

The violin is held under the chin with the left hand and supported by the weight of the forearm. The right hand controls the bow. The player’s left foot rests on a pedal that lowers one or more of the strings’ pitch by shortening their length; this facilitates playingissonant harmonics and rapid passages in lower positions on lower-pitched strings that would otherwise be difficult or impossible to produce on an unfretted instrument.

Classical Music Today

Though it is sometimes hard to define what classical music is, we all know it when we hear it. It has been around for a very long time, and has been used in a variety of settings. Classical music is still very popular today, and is enjoyed by people of all ages.

Its popularity

One of the most important things to understand about classical music is its popularity. It’s 2019, and somehow, Mozart, Tchaikovsky, and Bach are still topping the charts. In a recent study, it was revealed that 31% of millennials listen to classical music on a regular basis. This is a huge number, and it’s only increasing.

What’s even more interesting is that the popularity of classical music isn’t just limited to millennials. In fact, it seems like everyone is rediscovering the joys of listening to classical composers. From baby boomers to Gen Z, there is a growing appreciation for the genre.

So, what exactly is it about classical music that makes it so popular? Well, there are a few things…

For one, classical music is incredibly diverse. There are thousands of different pieces of classical music, and each one has its own unique sound and feel. Whether you’re in the mood for something calm and soothing or something lively and upbeat, you’re sure to find a piece of classical music that suits your mood.

Another thing that makes classical music so popular is its ability to evoke strong emotions. A lot of contemporary pop music is designed to be catchy and easy to listen to, but it doesn’t always have a lot of emotional depth. Classical music, on the other hand, can be incredibly moving and emotional. Listen to a piece like “Clair de Lune” by Claude Debussy or “Nimrod” from Edward Elgar’s “Enigma Variations,” and you’ll see what we mean.

Finally, classical music has staying power. Unlike pop songs that come and go within a few months (or even weeks), classical pieces have been around for centuries—and they’ll continue to be appreciated for centuries to come. If you want proof of this, just look at how many contemporary artists are drawing inspiration from classical composers—from Kanye West sampling Chopin on his album “Late Registration” to Justin Timberlake incorporating Tchaikovsky’s “None But The Lonely Heart” into his hit song “Mirrors.”

Classical music is timeless, emotional, and diverse—and these are just a few of the reasons why it continues to be one of the most popular genres today.

Its influence

This article covers the broad span of classical music history from its origins in ancient times until the present day.

Characteristics of Classical Music