Classical music
Western art music tradition emphasizing formality and polyphony.
Classical music is a tradition of art music in the Western world, distinct from Western folk or popular music. It is often characterized by formality and complexity in musical form and harmonic organization, particularly through the use of polyphony, and has been primarily a written tradition since at least the ninth century.
- field
- Western art music
- known_for
- Formality, complexity, polyphony, written tradition, sophisticated notational system
- origins
- Europe, rooted in patronage of churches and royal courts
Lore & Background
Classical music has its roots in the patronage of churches and royal courts in Europe, with surviving early medieval music being chiefly religious, monophonic, and vocal. Musical centers existed at the Abbey of Saint Gall, the Abbey of Saint Martial, and Saint Emmeram's Abbey, while the 11th century saw the development of staff notation and increasing output from medieval music theorists. By the mid-12th century, France became the major European musical center, with the religious Notre-Dame school exploring organized rhythms and polyphony, and secular music flourishing with the troubadour and trouvère traditions.
Reader's Guide
The fugue technique championed by Johann Sebastian Bach exemplified the Baroque tendency for complexity, while simpler galant music and empfindsamkeit styles developed as a reaction. By the 20th century, stylistic unification dissipated, and many composers embraced modernism, serialism, or new inspirations from folk melodies or impressionist sentiments. After World War II, audiences valued older music over contemporary works, a preference catered to by commercial recordings. Trends from the mid-20th century to the present include New Simplicity, New Complexity, Minimalism, Spectral music, Postmodern music, and Postminimalism, with practitioners from the Americas, Africa, and Asia obtaining crucial roles.
Did You Know?
- The term 'classical' derives from the Latin 'classicus', originally referring to the highest class of Ancient Roman citizens.
- The fugue technique championed by Johann Sebastian Bach exemplified the Baroque tendency for complexity.
- After World War II, for the first time audience members valued older music over contemporary works.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Classical music?
It is the Western art-music tradition, set apart from folk and popular styles by its focus on formal structure and harmonic depth. Polyphony and a rigorous written notational system are its defining traits.
What sets Classical music apart from pop or folk?
Its core identity is built on a sophisticated written notation system that supports complex polyphonic textures and intricate harmonic planning. Rather than being passed down orally, it has been a primarily notated tradition for over a millennium.
Why does Classical music matter?
It laid the structural and harmonic groundwork that still shapes Western composition today. Its emphasis on formality, polyphony, and written notation created a framework that influenced virtually every later genre in the Western canon.
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