The Different Types of Classical Music You Should Know About

A comprehensive guide to the different types of classical music, from Gregorian Chant to Baroque to Romantic to Modern.

Introduction

Classical music is a broad term that usually refers to music produced in, or rooted in the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, ranging from the Medieval era to the present. Classical music is generally considered to be art music, while popular and traditional music are considered to be folk music or commercial music. The classical period is typically said to be from 1750 to 1820, when Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven were the most famous composers. The Romantic period followed the classical period, and is generally said to be from 1815 to 1910, when composers such as Brahms, Wagner and Tchaikovsky were writing some of their best-known work.

The term “classical music” can also refer specifically to the period from 1750 to 1820, which is sometimes called the “classical era.” The classical era was a time of great change in music. The loudest and most important instrument in an orchestra became the piano, composers began using new forms such as the sonata and symphony, and Beethoven wrote some of his best-known works such as his Symphony No. 5 in C minor.

In general, classical music is any type of art music that is performed by orchestras or ensembles. It can be religious or secular in nature. Classical music has been around for centuries, with some of the first recordings dating back to the 9th century.

The Different Types of Classical Music

There are different types of classical music, and each one has its own unique beauty. From the peaceful and calming beauty of Bach’s brand of classical music, to the more upbeat and exciting music of Beethoven, there’s something for everyone. Let’s take a look at the different types of classical music you should know about.

Baroque Music

Baroque music is a genre of classical music that dates back to the 1600s. It is characterized by its ornate, complex melodies and elaborate harmonies. Baroque music was often used in religious ceremonies and courtly settings, and it remains one of the most popular genres of classical music today. Notable composers of Baroque music include Johann Sebastian Bach, George Frederic Handel, and Antonio Vivaldi.

Classical Music

Classical music is often divided into four main periods, with each one having distinct characteristics. The dates of these periods are (roughly) as follows: Baroque (1600-1750), Classical (1750-1820), Romantic (1820-1910), and Contemporary (1910-present). Within each of these periods, there are a number of different styles and movements that can be identified. Here is a brief overview of each period and some of the key styles within it:

Baroque (1600-1750): This was a period of great creativity in music, with composers such as Bach and Vivaldi writing some of their best-known works. The style was characterized by ornate decoration and complex counterpoint.

Classical (1750-1820): This was the era of Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven, who were all major innovators in musical style. The classical period was marked by a focus on balance, clarity, and restraint.

Romantic (1820-1910): The romantic period saw a marked increase in expressive power, with composers such as Brahms and Tchaikovsky writing some of their most emotionally charged works. The style is characterized by sweeping melodies, rich harmonies, and grandiose orchestration.

Contemporary (1910-present): This is the most recent period in classical music, and it has seen a wide variety of styles and approaches. Some composers have continued to write in a traditional vein, while others have explored more avant-garde or experimental idiom

Romantic Music

During the Romantic period, classical music became more emotional and expressive. The Romantics were inspired by nature, mythology, and folklore. They wrote longer and more complex pieces that were designed to evoke certain feelings in the listener. Many famous classical pieces were written during this time, including Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake, Brahms’s Symphony No. 4, and Chopin’s Minute Waltz.

Modern Music

Modern classical music is a term used to describe art music, which is produced by composers who are living in our time. This type of music is still being composed today and can be heard in concert halls and other performance venues around the world. Many modern composers have rejected the traditional tonal system of earlier periods, opting instead for atonal or chromatic harmonic language. However, tonality does still play a role in much of modern classical music. Neoromanticism is one notable example of a compositional style that has been inspired by the tonality of earlier periods.

The Different Classical Music Composers

Classical music is often associated with calm and relaxation. The different types of classical music were created over a period of more than 1000 years. Each type of classical music has its own unique history. In this section, we’ll take a look at the different types of classical music and the Composers who created them.

Johann Sebastian Bach

Johann Sebastian Bach was born in 1685 in Eisenach, Germany, into a family of distinguished musicians. He was educated at the St. Michael’s School in Luneburg and later served as a court musician for the Duke of Weimar. In 1717, he was appointed as Kantor of the Thomasschule in Leipzig, where he would spend the rest of his life composing some of his most celebrated works.

Bach’s compositional style is characterized by its intricate counterpoint and use of musical motifs which are repeated and developed throughout his pieces. His music often makes use of a technique known as fugue, in which a main melody (the “subject”) is introduced and then taken up in turn by different voices (the “counterpoint”). This technique results in complex and highly-structured pieces which are nevertheless highly expressive and emotionally powerful.

Bach is widely considered to be one of the greatest composers of all time, and his music has had a profound influence on Western classical music. Some of his best-known works include The Well-Tempered Clavier, The Brandenburg Concertos, and The Mass in B Minor.

Ludwig van Beethoven

Ludwig van Beethoven is one of the most influential and well-known composers of classical music. He composed nine symphonies, 32 piano sonatas, 16 string quartets, his opera Fidelio, and many other pieces. He was born in Germany in 1770 and died in 1827. Many of his pieces were inspired by his personal life experiences, such as the death of his mother when he was young and his gradual loss of hearing as he grew older.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 1756 – 5 December 1791), baptised as Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart, 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. He gained a reputation as a virtuoso performer on both the violin and keyboard, and composed works in almost every major genre, often combining different styles in a single piece. Unlike many composers of the period, Mozart created grandiose works for public concerts as well as more intimate compositions such as chamber music, solo sonatas and other small-scale pieces.

During his final years in Vienna, Mozart composed some of his best-known works: The Marriage of Figaro (1786), Così fan tutte (1790), Don Giovanni (1791) and The Magic Flute (1791), as well as several great symphonies such as his Symphony No. 40 in G minor (1788) and Symphony No. 41 in C major K.551 “Jupiter” (1788). His Requiem (completed by Franz Xaver Süssmayr) is considered one of the greatest pieces ever composed. A gifted student, Mozart quickly became expert at both sacred and secular musicstyles, and experimented with defines new genres such as the piano concerto and operatic parody mass .

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

One of the most popular classical music composers of all time, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was born in Votkinsk, Russia in 1840. His works include Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker – which are amongst the most well-known ballet scores in the world. Tchaikovsky’s operas include Eugene Onegin and The Queen of Spades, whilst his orchestral works include the much-loved Capriccio Italien and his Symphony No.4 in F minor.

Conclusion

Hope you enjoyed our little tour through the different types of classical music! While this is certainly not an exhaustive list, it should have given you a good starting point for exploring this amazing genre. Classical music has something for everyone, so don’t be afraid to branch out and try something new. Who knows, you might just find your new favorite type of classical music!