The Ultimate Guide to Classical Music

Classical music? Many people are said to be uncomfortable listening to it. Theoretically, there can just be too many "-isms" in the classical style: neoclassicism, romanticism, serialism, minimalism, expressionism in classical music. The list can simply go on for the baffled average music lover. Others complain of the orchestra or the chorus having too many musicians and too many instruments while some complain that classical music - with all its dynamics of loudness, softness - is just to complicated, not to mention too unpredictable, to be truly and practically enjoyed.

However, one must realize that even only a minimal knowledge on the subject that is classical music is only needed for one to enjoy it to its full potential. One need not a library of the history of music from the Ancient times to the Modern, Contemporary period in order for you to understand what you are listening to. One need not be an instrumentalist to follow through a melody played by the string section in order to appreciate the joy that is classical music. Here are some general and basic fundamentals of classical music that you need to know if you are to learn, enjoy and appreciate classical music for its own unique worth.

The Classical Repertoire

Classical music has had its roots in Western Music which developed for over a span of many centuries. When people talk of classical music, they are usually referring to the music played from the four major musical periods, namely: Baroque Period (1450-1600), Classical Period (1750-1820), Romantic Period (1810-1910) and the 20^th Century Musical Period (1900-present). Although more periods of music are identified by music scholars and musicologists, these are the four major periods that any average classical music lover should at least acquaint themselves with.

The four major musical periods also have their own set of important composers. These composers developed their own style of music that was still within the general standards of the genre, or wrote hallmark compositions that has become almost synonymous with the period it was composed in.

For Baroque Period, major composers included Johann Sebastian Bach, Antonio Vivaldi, and George Frideric Handel. Their musical compositions are usually characterized by polyphony or the multi-layered sounds of different instruments playing different but harmonic melodies, and by the preciseness of its beat and rhythm. Examples of best-loved Baroque compositions are Bach's "Brandenburg Concertos," Fugues and Partitas on the organ and violin; Vivaldi's "Four Seasons;" and Handel's "Messiah" and "Water Music."

Classicism in music - which is not to be confused by the genre itself - is the period in music history existing from 1750-1820. Famous classical composers are Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Franz Joseph Haydn, and towards the transition of the period into Romanticism, Ludwig Van Beethoven. Classical music was mostly characterized by the increased use of musical dynamics. Classical music also gravitated towards homophony or the composition of single line melodies with harmonic accompaniments and came in Sonata Allegro form or in multi-movement forms. Important works from this period are the piano sonatas of Mozart and Beethoven.

The Romantic Period in music history which was from 1810-1910 and was dominated by composers such as Franz Liszt, Johannes Brahms, Peter Illych Tschaikovsky, and Frederich Chopin who composed music exclusively for piano. The romantic theme in music, much like romanticism in art and literature, is characterized by intensity of mood. Musical themes are based on story lines that are founded on unrequited love, longing, death, the constant longing for the unattainable and other such romantic pursuits. Passion and emotion as manifested in musical dynamics and imagery pervaded most of romantic music rather than the order and reason as the principle in music of previous periods. Important works from this period include "Romeo and Juliet" by Tschaikovsky, and "Faust Symphony" by Liszt, among others.

What followed after the Romantic period in music history was the 20^th Century Classicism. This period was characterized by the experimentation of the 12-tone scale as compared to the conventional scales used by the previous periods. The twelve-tone scale involves more notes, more colors and can even be dissonant within the standards of tonality for the 20^th century music. Rhythmic patterns, dynamics were seen in different light using the twelve-tone scale as 20^th century composers dabbled with expressionism, minimalism, serialism and neoclassicism, among other 20^th Century musical style. Important composers of this period included Bela Bartok, Claude Debussy, Igor Stravinsky, Sergei Prokofiev, George Gershwin and Sergei Rachmaninoff . Monumental works that marked this period include "Rhapsody in Blue" by Gershwin, "Appalachian Spring" by Copland, "The Planets" by Holst, "Piano Concerto No.1-3" by Rachmaninoff.

Knowing all these history and background of classical music is not enough for anyone to enjoy a night at the classical concert. Getting to know the instruments and the musicians which bring life to the music should be next.

The Classical Orchestra

The orchestra is a group of musicians playing groups or sections of different instruments. These instruments are grouped according to their make or according to how they are played. Each section or group of instruments have their own parts in a classical concert and these sections are pulled together by the conductor who beats, directs the flow, dynamics, and the concert repertoire throughout the entire concert.

The orchestra has four main sections, namely: the string section, the woodwinds, the brass and the percussion instruments. The string section of the orchestra is composed of the violins in violin one and violin two; the violas, the violoncello or the cello and the double bass. The string section is usually played by plucking the string or played with the use of a bow. In a classical piece, the strings - particularly the violins - usually play the melodic theme of the music.

The woodwinds section of the orchestra is made up of instruments that are sounded or played by blowing into a mouthpiece. This group of instruments include the flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, and piccolo among others. Woodwind instruments are usually used for its versatility, and for its colorful tone and timbre, adding another layer of texture into the entire musical piece.

Brass instruments, like woodwinds are also played by blowing into mouthpieces. But while woodwinds use reed mouthpieces, brass instruments use metal mouthpieces. Brass instruments have usually louder, clearer, more bell-like and metallic sound than the woodwind instruments. Brass instruments are also added for color and at times, may also play the melodic passages of musical pieces. Brass instruments often used in the orchestra include trumpets, English horns, French horns, trombones and tubas.

Percussion instruments differ from both string and brass and woodwind instruments. Percussive instruments are usually played by beating on the instruments with the use of padded drum sticks. Percussions carry and dictate the pulse and rhythm of the music played by the orchestra. They also add the element of mood and excitement based on the kind of instruments that they use. Percussion instruments include the timpani, snare drums, cymbals, gongs, tubular bells, marimba, glockenspiel, triangle and the xylophone.

People can oftentimes become intimidated with what is unfamiliar to them. And because classical music is not as commonly played everywhere as much as rock and other forms of pop music are, people do not enjoy classical music and its concerts as much as they actually can. What one must keep in mind is that music is reflective of a particular generation, particular time, particular culture. It is relative. Thus, no genre of music is above and better than others. Music in whatever forms or genres are simply different, and purely exist on different but nonetheless equal musical planes. Music is not meant to be divisive of peoples, tastes and preferences. On the contrary, music in general should be seen as a unifying factor of humanity. Once this perspective is acknowledge, music - whether classical, pop, jazz or rock - will finally be enjoyed and appreciated for its very own unique worth.