The Best Classical Royalty Free Music

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

Contributors: Andranick Tanguiane, Fred Lerdahl,

Find the best classical royalty free music for your next project. We’ve gathered some of the best tracks from across the web to help you make your next project shine.

The Different Types of Classical Music

There are many different types of classical music, and each one has its own special features. Some of the most popular types of classical music include Baroque music, Classical music, Romantic music, and Modern music. Each type of classical music has its own unique history and origins.

Baroque Music

Baroque music is a style of Western art music composed from approximately 1600 to 1750. This era follows the Renaissance and is followed by the Classical era. Baroque music forms a major portion of the classical music canon, being widely studied, performed, and listened to. The Baroque period saw the creation of tonality. During the Baroque era, professional musicians were expected to be accomplished improvisers of both solo melodic lines and accompaniment parts. A characteristic Baroque form was the dance suite. While the pieces in a dance suite were inspired by actual dance music, dance suites were designed purely for listening, not for accompanying dancers. During the period, composers and performers used more elaborate musical ornamentation, made changes in musical notation (the addition of figured bass), and developed new instrumental playing techniques. Baroque music expanded the size, range, and complexity of instrumental performance, and also established opera as a musical genre. Many musical terms and concepts from this era are still in use today

The major time divisions of Western art music are as follows:
-Medieval (476–1400)
-Renaissance (1400–1600)
-Baroque (1600–1750)
-Classical (1750–1820)
-Romantic (1820–1910)
-20th century (1910–2000)
-21st century (2000–present)

Classical Music

There are many different types of classical music, but they all share some common features. For instance, classical music is usually quite complex and is written for specific instruments or groups of instruments. It often tells a story or paints a picture, and it is usually performed by professional musicians.

Here are some of the most common types of classical music:
-Opera
-Ballet
-Chamber music
-Orchestral music
-Symphony
-Concerto

Romantic Music

The Romantic period in music lasted from approximately the early 1800s to 1910. While it is easy to identify specific composers who typify the style, defining exactly what makes Romantic music such a departure from previous classical styles is a bit more challenging. That said, there are a few key characteristics that help distinguish Romanticism in music.

One of the most important things to understand about Romantic music is that it was, in large part, a reaction against the formalism of the preceding Classical period. Where Classicism often adhered to rigorous forms and structures, Romantic music was much more expressive and personal. This is evident in the increased use of chromaticism (pitches that are not found in the major or minor scales), innovation in harmony, and greater use of dissonance (when two notes sound discordant or unstable). Composers also frequently employed rubato, or rhythmic flexibility, which gave their melodies a more expressive quality.

Another notable feature of Romanticism was its focus on national identity and folk culture. This was likely a response to both the Napoleonic Wars and the Industrial Revolution, which led to increased feelings of nationalism and nostalgia for a simpler time. As such, many Romantic composers incorporated elements of traditional folk music into their works.

Finally, while Classicism had emphasized balance, symmetry, and clarity, Romantics were more interested in conveying strong emotions—be they joyous or tragic. To this end, they made greater use of programmatic elements (imagery or narratives conveyed through music) andemployed larger orchestras with expanded instrumentation (including new instruments such as the valve trumpet and saxophone).

Some of the most famous Romantic composers include Ludwig van Beethoven, Frédéric Chopin, Franz Schubert, Felix Mendelssohn, Giuseppe Verdi, Johannes Brahms, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky ,and Antonín Dvořák .

The Different Types of Classical Instruments

Orchestra is such a beautiful type of music. The different instruments playing together in harmony is what creates the distinct sound of an orchestra. You have the choice of so many different instruments when you are putting together an orchestra.

The Piano

Pianos come in all shapes and sizes, from the grand piano to the more compact upright piano. There are also different types of pianos, such as the acoustic piano and the digital piano. Pianos are played using a keyboard, which has black and white keys. Each key represents a different note, and when you press a key, a hammer hits the strings inside the piano, which produces a sound.

The Violin

The violin is one of the most popular and well-known classical instruments, and has been around for centuries. Many people think of the violin as a solo instrument, but it can also be part of a string quartet or orchestra. The four strings on the violin are tuned to the following pitches: G, D, A, and E. The strings are played with a bow, and the player presses their fingers down on the strings to change the pitch. Violins come in different sizes, so that children can start learning on a smaller instrument and then move up to a full-size violin when they are older.

The Cello

The cello is a string instrument that belongs to the viola family. It is the second biggest string instrument after the double bass. It has four strings which are tuned in perfect fifths, just like the viola, violin and double bass. The composer Antonio Vivaldi wrote a lot of concertos for the cello, which helped to make it a popular solo instrument.

The word ‘cello’ comes from the Italian word ‘violoncello’, which means ‘little violone’. The violone was a large bass violin that was popular in the 17th century. The first ever cello was made in 1538 by Andrea Amati, who was a luthier (a maker of string instruments) from Cremona, Italy. He made his instruments using the same model as the violins he had previously made.

The cello is held between the legs like other members of the violin family, and is played with a bow. The strings are plucked with the fingers; this technique is called pizzicato. The cello can be played solo or in an orchestra. It is used in all genres of music, from classical to pop.

The Different Types of Classical Composers

Johann Sebastian Bach, Antonio Vivaldi, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart are all classical composers that are still famous today. They each have a unique style that was popular in their time. Baroque music, for example, was very popular in the 1700s. It is characterized by its ornate and often complex melodies.

Johann Sebastian Bach

Johann Sebastian Bach was a composer of the Baroque period, born in Eisenach, Germany in 1685. His works include chiefly religious music, such as cantatas, oratorios, and Masses. He also wrote concertos, suites, and other instrumental works. Many of his works are still performed today and are considered some of the greatest pieces of classical music ever written.

Ludwig van Beethoven

Ludwig van Beethoven is one of the most famous and influential of all composers. His works spanned the transition from the classical to the romantic era in Western music. He is best known for his symphonies, concertos, and chamber music. But he also composed opera, piano sonatas and other solo works, masses, and songs. He was a revolutionary figure who expanded the boundaries of what was possible in music.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 – 1791) was a prolific and influential composer of the classical era. Born in Salzburg, Mozart showed prodigious ability from his earliest childhood. Already competent on keyboard and violin, he composed from the age of five and performed before European royalty. At 17, he was engaged as a court musician by the Archbishop of Salzburg, where he spent most of his working life.

Despite the overwhelming popularity of his work, Mozart experienced financial hardship and died at the age of 35. He is buried in a pauper’s grave at Vienna’s St. Marx Cemetery. His estate was valued at 100 florins at the time of his death ($4,600 in 2019).

Mozart composed more than 600 works, many acknowledged as pinnacles of symphonic, concertante, chamber, piano, operatic, and choral music. He is among the most enduringly popular classical composers

The Different Types of Classical Songs

There are different types of classical songs which include Baroque, Classical, and Romantic. Baroque music is characterized by ornate melodies and counterpoint. Classical music is characterized by balance, order, and simplicity. Romantic music is characterized by passion, emotion, andExpression.

“Canon in D Major” by Johann Pachelbel

Canon in D Major is one of the most popular and well-known pieces of classical music. It was composed by Johann Pachelbel in the late 1600s and is part of a collection of works known as “The Noble Canon.” The piece is written for three violins and a cello, with the first violin playing the melody. The other instruments play supporting roles, with the cello providing the bass line and the other violins playing harmony. Canon in D Major is a relatively simple piece, but its beauty lies in its simplicity. It has been used in countless films, TV shows, and commercials, and has been covered by many pop and rock artists.

“Symphony No. 5 in C Minor” by Ludwig van Beethoven

Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 in C Minor is one of the most popular and well-known classical pieces ever written. The symphony was composed in the fall of 1804 and premiered in Vienna on December 22, 1808.

The work consists of four movements:

The first movement, Allegro con brio, is in sonata form and is the most famous of the four movements. The opening motive, four short notes followed by a longer note, is one of the most recognizable themes in all of classical music.

The second movement, Andante con moto, is a gentle and lovely movement in contrast to the first. It is in ternary form (A-B-A) and features a beautiful melody played by the first violins.

The third movement, Scherzo: Allegro molto, is a lively movement that is also in sonata form. The scherzo section features a playful theme that is passed around between the different sections of the orchestra.

The fourth and final movement, Allegro ma non troppo, is in sonata form and brings the work to a triumphant conclusion. The famous opening motive from the first movement returns at various points throughout this movement.

“Eine kleine Nachtmusik” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Eine kleine Nachtmusik, Serenade No. 13 for strings in G major, K. 525, is a 1787 composition for a small orchestra by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The German title means “a little serenade”, though it is often rendered more accurately as “a little night music”. The work is written for an ensemble of two violins, viola, and cello with optional double bass, but is often performed by string orchestras with basso continuo.

Eine kleine Nachtmusik was completed on 10 August 1787, while Mozart was in Salzburg. It is not known why it was composed; however, since it was written during the summer months in Salzburg, it is possible that Mozart composed the piece for string instruments as an entertainment for family members and friends who were staying at his house during this time period. It is one of only two works (the other being the Divertimento in D major, K. 136/125a) that he wrote for more than four instruments (the serenade actually uses five).

The piece is in the key of G major and is written in sonata form. It opens with an upbeat Allegro which functions as the exposition of the work. This leads to a second theme in D major which acts as the dominant key for this section. After a repeats of these themes, the music transitions to a third key (E-flat major) before returning to G major for the final section. The work ends with a Rondo: Allegro.

“Eine kleine Nachtmusik” has remained one of Mozart’s most popular works and has been re-imagined in various forms since its original composition. It has been used extensively in popular culture – most notably in the opening scene of Stanley Kubrick’s film A Clockwork Orange – and has been featured prominently in numerous commercials and films.

The Different Types of Classical Music Videos

There are different types of classical music videos. The most popular ones are the symphony, the quartet, and the opera. These videos can be found on many websites, and they are often free to watch.

“The Nutcracker Suite” by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

“The Nutcracker Suite” by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky is one of the most popular and well-known classical pieces of music. The suite is comprised of eight dances, each with a different character. The first dance, “Miniature Overture,” sets the stage for the rest of the suite with its playful introduction. “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” is perhaps the most recognizable dance from the suite, thanks to its use in many films and TV shows. “Russian Dance” is a fast-paced and energetic dance, while “Arabian Dance” is a more sensual and exotic dance. “Chinese Dance” is a delicate and light-hearted dance, while “Dance of the Reed Flutes” is a whimsical and airy dance. The final two dances, “Waltz of the Flowers” and “Final Waltz,” are both elegantly beautiful dances that bring the suite to a perfect conclusion.

“The Four Seasons” by Antonio Vivaldi

“The Four Seasons” (“Le quattro stagioni” in its original Italian) is a set of four violin concertos by Antonio Vivaldi, each of which gives musical expression to a season of the year. They were written around 1716–1717 and published in 1725 in Amsterdam, together with eight additional concerti, as Il cimento dell’armonia e dell’inventione (The Contest Between Harmony and Invention).

The Four Seasons are among Vivaldi’s most popular works. The concerti are famed for their technical difficulty, as well as their rich harmonic and melodic content. A typical performance of the complete work lasts about 40 minutes.

The first concerto, “Spring” (“La primavera”), describes the season with evocative music, including birdsong; the second, “Summer” (“L’estate”), depicts a thunderstorm; the third, “Autumn” (“L’autunno”), is a lively dance; and the fourth, “Winter” (“L’inverno”), describes a cold, windy day.

“The Planets” by Gustav Holst

“The Planets” by Gustav Holst is aseven-movement orchestral suite. The piece was written between 1914 and 1916, and was inspired by the astrological planets. Each movement of the suite is named after a different planet, and is meant to evoke the character of that planet.

The first movement, “Mars, the Bringer of War”, is characterized by a martial atmosphere, with its aggressive opening chords and pounding rhythms. The second movement, “Venus, the Bringer of Peace”, is in sharp contrast, with its softer melodies and pastoral atmosphere. The third movement, “Mercury, the Winged Messenger”, is light and playful, while the fourth movement, “Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity”, is more grandiose and triumphant.

The fifth movement, “Saturn, the Bringer of Old Age”, evokes a more somber mood, with its slow tempo and mournful melodies. The sixth movement, “Uranus, the Magician”, is quirky and unpredictable, while the seventh and final movement, “Neptune, the Mystic”, is ethereal and otherworldly.

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