classical music

Term used to distinguish ‘serious’ music from pop music, rock music, jazz, and folk music. It is generally used to refer to Western art music – that is, music for the concert hall or church written in the tradition that originated with European music of the Middle Ages and passed through the Renaissance, baroque, classical, and Romantic styles.

The term is also used (often with a capital C) for music of the classical period of music history, to distinguish it from baroque music and Romantic music. Music of the classical era emphasized elegance and formal logic over personal expression and emotion. The orchestra in this period expanded to include a full complement of woodwind instruments as well as some brass and percussion, and the piano replaced the harpsichord. The main musical form or structure to develop was the sonata form. The classical period lasted from about 1750 to about 1830, and included the music of composers such as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Joseph Haydn, and the earlier works of Ludwig van Beethoven.