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.