CLASSICAL MUSIC

CLASSICAL MUSIC

Is a term that has two different meanings when it comes to music. In the broadest sense, classical music refers to music of certain forms and genres (symphony, string quartet, sonata, etc.) for certain instrumental combinations (solo violin, symphony orchestra, string quartet, etc) and intended for concert performance.

In a narrower sense "classical" refers to a specific period in music history and a specific set of stylistic traits. The hallmarks of this style are balance, clarity, and proportion. These qualities reflect  the artistic sensibilities of of ancient Greece and Rome, the so-called "Classical" civilizations. Classical music, strictly defined, means music produced in the Western world between 1750 and 1820. This music included opera, chamber music, choral pieces, and music requiring a full orchestra. To most, however, the term refers to all of the above types of music within most time periods before the 20th century.

In its limited definition, classical music includes the works of Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven.

From Mozart alone, there are a huge range of pieces to enjoy, as he wrote symphonies, music for quartets and quintets, chamber orchestra pieces, choral pieces, piano concertos, and entire operas. In total, he wrote over 600 musical pieces.

Classical music would not be quite the same without Beethoven, who is particularly known for his symphonies. Beethoven’s sixth symphony is probably most recognized because of its pastorale, a section of music used in the Disney film Fantasia. The achingly beautiful Moonlight Sonata was also written by him. Beethoven wrote only one opera, Fidelio, and his genius rests in his symphonies and piano concertos.

Haydn, has often been referred to as the “father of classical music,” as his work during this era forms the basis of influence for many others. Ironically, though he is considered the progenitor of the classical era, he is less familiar to most audiences than the composers mentioned above. His Symphony no. 94, The Surprise Symphony, is among his best known works.

"Classical" music may also refer to the native and folk music of any country, although the styles vary greatly, depending upon available instruments.

Characteristics

•          Given the extremely broad variety of forms, styles, genres, and historical periods generally perceived as being described by the term "classical music," it is difficult to list characteristics that can be attributed to all works of that type. Vague descriptions are plentiful, such as describing classical music as anything that "lasts a long time," a statement made rather moot when one considers contemporary composers who are described as classical; or music that has certain instruments like violins, which are also found in other genres. However, there are characteristics that classical music contains that few or no other genres of music contain.

•          Whereas most popular styles lend themselves to the song form, classical music has been noted for its development of highly sophisticated forms of instrumental music: these include the concerto, symphony, sonata, suite, étude, symphonic poem, opera, and others.

Classical composers often aspire to imbue their music with a very complex relationship between its affective (emotional) content and the intellectual means by which it is achieved. Many of the most esteemed works of classical music make use of musical development, the process by which a musical idea or motif is repeated in different contexts or in altered form. The sonata form and fugue employ rigorous forms of musical development.

•          The instruments used in most classical music were largely invented before the mid-19th century, often much earlier, and codified in the 18th and 19th centuries. They consist of the instruments found in an orchestra or concert band, together with several other solo instruments such as the piano, harpsichord, and organ. The symphony orchestra is the most widely known medium for classical music. The orchestra includes members of the string, woodwind, brass, and percussion families.

•          Electric instruments such as the electric guitar and the ondes Martenot appear occasionally in the classical music of the 20th and 21st centuries. Both classical and popular musicians have experimented in recent decades with electronic instruments such as the synthesizer, electric and digital techniques such as the use of sampled or computer-generated sounds, and the sounds of instruments from other cultures such as the gamelan.

•          Professional performance of classical music repertoire demands a significant level of proficiency in sight-reading and ensemble playing, thorough understanding of tonal and harmonic principles, knowledge of performance practice, and a familiarity with the style/musical idiom inherent to a given period, composer or musical work are among the most essential of skills for the classically trained musician.