An Introduction to Classical Music

What is termed as classical music today covers everything written by the original long haired musicians and composers from the past four hundred years. Any musical style that is older than a few months or does not fit into the musical mainstream in some form today is often referred to as classic.

In fact, the term classical - which comes from the Latin word classicus meaning of the highest social degree - is a period of music ranging from 1750 to sometime in the early to mid eighteen hundreds.

The classical era brought us the symphony and the string quartet. The concerto and opera of the earlier Baroque period saw refinements. Harmonic schemes became much longer and more complicated which guided their ever lengthening musical works. The harmonies were more goal oriented.

The early days of the classical era saw a wide variety of styles but then settled down to the form known to most fans of the music and the era. The music of the classical era was vibrant and diverse. Woodwinds and strings were combined to form new sounds.

Composers of the Baroque period found themselves confined by certain laws because the clergy believed certain chords and chord progressions were works of the devil. The composers of the Classical era were not constrained by these same laws.

While the Baroque era was filled with works written for cathedrals and masses; the classical era is noted for works commissioned by kings, queens, and other royalty. Composers were commissioned to write a certain piece in a specified period of time. They were not rich and there were no music charts and record deals so that the masses would hear their music... that came much much later.

The three most noted composers to come out of the Classical era are Ludvig von Beethoven, Josef Hayden, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.