Line #55 Main/ClassicalMusic


1	[[quoteright:320:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/classical_music_composers_montage.JPG]]
2	[[caption-width-right:320:Montage of classical music composers. ''Top row:'' [[Music/AntonioVivaldi Vivaldi]], [[Music/JohannSebastianBach Bach]], [[Music/GeorgeFredericHandel Handel]], [[Music/WolfgangAmadeusMozart Mozart]], [[Music/LudwigVanBeethoven Beethoven]]. ''Second row:'' [[Music/GioachinoRossini Rossini]], [[Music/FelixMendelssohn Mendelssohn]], [[Music/FryderykChopin Chopin]], [[Music/RichardWagner Wagner]], [[Music/GiuseppeVerdi Verdi]]. ''Third row:'' J. Strauss II, [[Music/JohannesBrahms Brahms]], Bizet, [[Music/PyotrIlyichTchaikovsky Tchaikovsky]], [[Music/AntoninDvorak Dvorak]]. ''Bottom row:'' Grieg, [[Music/EdwardElgar Elgar]], [[Music/SergeiRachmaninoff Rachmaninoff]], [[Music/GeorgeGershwin Gershwin]], [[Music/AramKhachaturian Khachaturian]].]]
3
4	->'''Hobbes''': It's "The 1812 Overture."\
5	'''Calvin''': I kinda like it. Interesting percussion section.\
6	'''Hobbes''': Those are cannons.\
7	'''Calvin:''' And they '''perform this in crowded concert halls'''?? Gee, I thought classical music was boring!
8	-->-- '''''ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes'''''
9
10	Classical music is the term generally used these days to refer to a particular tradition of music from Western UsefulNotes/{{Europe}}an civilizations, and is often contrasted with the equally vague term [[{{Pop}} Popular music]]. In the current era, much of this body of music has been studied carefully in scholarly manner, and is performed and appreciated as standalone art, even if it wasn't originally conceived as such.
11
12	This music has been in existence since the Medieval Era (as far back as Gregorian Chant and similar MediaNotes/MedievalMusic), the Renaissance Era (complex choral music with interweaving melody lines), the Baroque Era (Bach, Handel, and Vivaldi), the Classical Era (Mozart and Haydn), the Romantic Era (Wagner, Lizst, Chopin, Brahms), and modern era, to the present day. Music history books on the subject are all in agreement on this time frame for the genre.
13
14	-----
15
16	!!!Identifying Features
17
18	Comparing Classical and Popular Music (or Folk Music, for that matter) tends to be confusing when considering the whole spectrum of Western music history. However, to easily understand the divide, "Classical" music is generally used to refer to the tradition of music being written and played from a score, up until the invention of recording technology; "Popular music" refers to the more recent tradition of music which primarily uses recorded technology to achieve the goal of reaching wider audiences.
19
20	In contrast to current popular styles, classical music typically shares some traits and has some differences, such as:
21
22	* More extensive use of rhythmic and melodic forms. The Classical Music tradition is more wide-ranging and lasted for a longer time, which allowed for more numerous and complex forms of rhythm (such as [[UncommonTime unusual time signatures]], like 11/8, 13/16, etc.) and melodies (such as atonality and polytonality) to develop. Popular music, being a comparatively younger tradition, generally uses more basic rhythmic and melodic devices.[[note]]Of course, [[MathRock there]] [[ProgressiveRock are]] [[ProgressiveMetal exceptions]].[[/note]]
23	* Longer duration of pieces. Some forms, such as the symphony and concerto, last anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour; Operas and masses are longer yet. Popular music is produced primarily to reach a wide audience, thus necessitating the principle of brevity to [[ViewersAreMorons sustain the listener's attention]].[[note]]Exceptions again exist with TheSeventies' trend of "album-oriented rock" and the ConceptAlbum, which began to evolve in TheSixties and still exists today. Even today, some rock and pop musicians intend their albums to be listened to as complete works rather than as collections of songs.[[/note]]
24	* A more extensive use of {{instrumental}} music. Whereas popular music is based primarily on song structures, instrumentals share roughly an equal role with vocal compositions in Classical Music. Many of them are named after their form, rather than a unique title, so you'll get lots of things like "Sonata No 4 in E-flat major". [[note]]Music/JohannSebastianBach actually has ''two'' pieces named "Toccata and Fugue in D minor", the famous [[Music/ToccataAndFugueInDMinor BWV 565]] that everyone knows and the virtually unknown BWV 538, nicknamed "Dorian" for the musical mode of its toccata.[[/note]]
25	* Western Classical music -- being both a European and American art tradition -- makes copious use of various Western European languages. Notably, sheet music performance instructions are typically marked in Italian (''Allegro, Moderato, Crescendo, Fortissimo...'') while many analytical terms and concepts tend to be in German (''Lieder, Leitmotif, Klangfarbenmelodie''...). You'll also run into French and Latin and many others. And of course it's traditional for {{Opera}}s and Art Songs to be performed in their original language, rather than English. This is in contrast to Popular music, where English is the main language, as it is mainly an American tradition (with heavy British influence/contribution).
26
27	!!!Instruments and Ensembles
28
29	Classical pieces are often more complex musically, especially in terms of pitch and form, than other musical styles. In modern works rhythm can be extremely complex and many strange timbres are used.
30
31	* Classical music usually includes such instruments such as:
32	** (Bowed) strings -- violin, viola, cello, double bass. (While categorized as "bowed strings", they can also be plucked)
33	** Woodwinds -- flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon and others.
34	** Brass -- trumpets, trombones, horns, tubas and others.
35	** Percussion -- glockenspiels, triangles, xylophones, timpani, bass drums, gongs, and others.
36	** Keyboards -- harpsichord, piano, celesta, pipe organ and others.
37
38	They play in such ensembles as:
39
40	** Trio (three players).
41	*** Piano trio -- a violin, a cello and a piano.
42	*** String trio -- a violin, a viola and a cello.
43
44	** Quartet (four players).
45	*** Brass quartet -- two trumpets, a trombone and a tuba.
46	*** String quartet -- two violins, a viola and a cello.
47	*** Wind quartet -- a horn, a flute, an oboe and a bassoon.
48	*** Woodwind quartet -- a flute, an oboe, a clarinet and a bassoon.
49
50	** Quintet (five players).
51	*** Brass quintet -- a brass quartet with a horn.
52	*** Piano quintet -- a string quartet with a piano.
53	*** String quintet -- a string quartet with an extra viola, cello or double bass.
54	*** Woodwind quintet -- a woodwind quartet with an extra horn.
55
56	** Symphony orchestra -- large groups of strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion.
57
58	One misconception is that all orchestral music is classical. Classical music most frequently uses this ensemble, but not all music written for the orchestra is classical music (for example: musicals, film scores, orchestral transcriptions of rock or pop tunes, and easy listening music). The same is true for music that uses violins and cellos.
59
60	A contributing factor to the confusion is no doubt that many orchestras perform popular music, film scores, even game scores; moreover, genre distinctions are often not particularly clear-cut. (For example, is Music/GeorgeGershwin classical? Jazz? Folk? Pop? Broadway? Opera? A film composer? All of the above? A lot of people just say "[[MathematiciansAnswer yes]]" and leave it at that.)
61
62	!!!Identifying the Period
63
64	The size and composition of the performing ensemble is also a good means of identifying which period a piece comes from, although this is not always foolproof.
65
66	* '''Medieval''' -- Voices only, or speculative instrumentation added by modern performers that is based on either written accounts or nebulous evidence like illustrations and song texts. Known instruments include pan flutes, recorders, [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shawm shawms]], bagpipes, [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gemshorn gemshorns]], [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vielle vielles]], lutes, lyres, organ, trumpets, and a variety of simple percussion like drums and tambourines. (In other words, there was in fact a lot of instrumental music being created; it's just that very little of it survives in written form.)
67	* '''Renaissance''' -- While many medieval instruments like the lute, shawm, and recorder were still used, the Renaissance added many new ones, including [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viol viols]], [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crumhorn crumhorns]], [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dulcian dulcians]], [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornett cornetts]], [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serpent_%28instrument%29 serpents]], [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sackbut sackbuts]][[note]]Yes, it's pronounced the way you think it is; [[HehHehYouSaidX commence giggling]][[/note]], and harpsichord. While composers during this time would generally write down at least a basic outline for their instrumental parts if they wanted any (leaving the rest to the musicians' discretion), they usually never wrote down any specific orchestrations, even for nonvocal pieces.
68	* '''Baroque''' -- Flutes, recorders, oboes, bassoons, the first versions of our modern string instruments, valveless trumpets and horns, sackbuts, harpsichord, organ, and timpani. This in fact becomes the first era where we have instrumental ensemble scores with the precision we'd expect from them today; no need for us to guess whether a part was intended to be played with trumpet or recorder.
69	* '''Classical''' -- The above, without recorders but with clarinets added and the harpsichords replaced with pianos.
70	* '''Romantic''' -- The fullest orchestra, with trombones (replacing sackbuts), valved trumpets and horns, tubas and lots of extra percussion.
71	* '''Modernist''' -- Harder to categorise but anything that uses electronic instruments has to fit here. More percussion is used, and extended technique (using an instrument in unusual ways) is common. Less traditional ensembles are likely.
72
73	!!!Stylistic Periods
74
75	Classical music is not a single style, but is in fact a bunch of different styles, generally classified into several periods:
76
77	* The '''[[TheMiddleAges Middle Ages]]''' -- c. AD 900 up until the end of the 14th century. Most of what has survived is monophonic vocal music, and much of that religious, the most notable style being [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0Rv5F88WYA Gregorian chant]] . But the most important compositions are the ''polyphonic'' vocal music (where multiple melodic lines are sung at once), which start showing up in writing from about AD 1000 onward; [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMyWnCf2Anc Pérotin]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdol8PviWKw W. de Wycombe]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Qatw5B3vc4 Philippe de Vitry]], and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsWZfPCK6aY Guillaume de Machaut]] are a few of the big names in this style. We also have several surviving examples of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMCA9nYnLWo secular]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYIFlAa5Bow songs]] from the latter part of the period, a good amount of it also polyphonic. By modern standards, it can be pretty weird: the common-practice {{tonality}} shows up long ''after'' the Medieval period.
78
79	* The '''[[UsefulNotes/TheRenaissance Renaissance]]''' (1400s--1600s) -- Characterized by densely polyphonic vocal music (and we do mean ''dense'', like this [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3FJxDsa-5k 40-part motet by Thomas Tallis]]) in styles that we might find hard to relate to today, although most find it more approachable than the medieval stuff. Though a lot of the music was composed for churches, secular forms such as the madrigal and the chanson (much of it composed for wealthy patrons) were also widespread, to the point where the differences between secular and religious music became blurred, much to the consternation of clergymen. Major figures include [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UV8Php5wwcI Guillaume Dufay]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUAgAF4Khmg Josquin des Prez]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FR4YSBDqRyg Nicolas Gombert]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SJlEQi2t40 Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Syb39Ky64Yg Giaches De Wert]], and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dVPu71D8VI Carlo Gesualdo]], among many, many others. This period is also the first to have an appreciable amount of surviving instrumental music, much of it quite complex, for both [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1RVRatBA94 solo]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iAoNkZ_4nc ensemble]].
80
81	* The '''[[TheCavalierYears Baroque Era]]''' (c. 1600 to c. 1760) -- Still a lot of church music, but the patron model became more dominant as wealthy nobles and royalty found even more time and opportunity to indulge in fancy music for the heck of it. For a stereotypical Baroque sound, look for anything by Music/JohannSebastianBach. Famous works include the Music/ToccataAndFugueInDMinor by the aforementioned Bach,[[note]] Or possibly not; many musicologists believe that he didn't compose the piece at all, or at most arranged it from the work of another composer.[[/note]] the Canon in D by [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-zM6YogGkc Johann Pachelbel]] (which uses a much copied [[PachelbelsCanonProgression chord progression]]) and the ''Messiah'' oratorio by Music/GeorgeFredericHandel (which includes the famous "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usfiAsWR4qU Hallelujah Chorus]]"). The concerto (a piece where a solo instrument or small group of instruments alternates passages with a larger orchestra) became a major compositional form during this period, as composers like [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCdNs9qFtic Girolamo Frescobaldi]] began to focus much more of their attention to instrumental writing. This was also the period in which the common-practice tonality came into, well, common practice. Other common features in this era include terraced dynamics (the music is either loud or soft, with few crescendos or diminuendos or so forth), and a reduction in polyphonic density (so that the words and the melodic lines come through much clearer), often to the point of actual homophony (simply having a melody on top of a harmonic accompaniment). Additionally, the early Baroque was when [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9105NkJxjGA Claudio]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qb9nCKAQVyA Monteverdi]], arguably the most important composer (along with [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svtGvmBbIlQ Heinrich]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sqhUsFRdIw Schütz]]) in the transition from the Renaissance to the Baroque, wrote what is widely considered the first great {{opera}}, ''Theatre/LOrfeo''. A few of the many other notable Baroque composers include [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M23Wk25nvqg Johann Jakob Froberger]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sf-LMHrslHw François Couperin]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-gEnF2Ioeo Jan Dismas Zelenka]], [[Music/AntonioVivaldi Antonio]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwGJt0q-kRA Vivaldi]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxzRQ8KbMcY Jean-Philippe Rameau]], and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yhd-dpC_7o Domenico Scarlatti]]. Though the harpsichord predates the Baroque, it is stereotypically associated with this era; if you hear a piece of classical music and there's a harpsichord in it, there's a good chance it's a Baroque piece, though the instrument was still in use during the early Classical period, and some modern era composers, like Elliot Carter, have also used it.
82
83	* The '''Classical Era''' (or '''Classical Period''', not to be confused with Myth/ClassicalMythology) (c. 1730 to c. 1820) -- Think of Music/WolfgangAmadeusMozart and Music/LudwigVanBeethoven. While counterpoint was still respected, this era saw the growth of homophony, or having a melody on top of a chord-based accompaniment. Music/JosephHaydn was very influential in the development of sonata form, which became a dominant type of musical structure in this period and later.[[note]]'Sonata form' doesn't mean that all pieces of music were sonatas. It refers to a structure in which a theme is stated at the outset, with possibly a second theme, and then the theme/s are played around with in what's called the 'development' section, then stated again at the end.[[/note]] The piano replaced the harpsichord as the dominant keyboard instrument, and music became increasingly independent of religious activity. Concertos began sharing the stage with symphonies. Music also began to be written for ensembles such as the traditional string quartet. Again, Haydn was very influential here: he wrote so many good symphonies and quartets that later composers felt that they had to prove themselves by tackling the same forms.
84
85	* The '''[[{{Romanticism}} Romantic Era]]''' (or '''Romantic Period''')[[note]]"Romantic" in the original sense of "fiery and passionate" (literally, "in the manner of the Romans"), not the Victorian sense of "soppy and sentimental"[[/note]] (c. 1810 to c. 1910) -- Composers started pushing the limits of their styles and instruments. Sounds became lusher, textures denser, harmonies became more chromatic, orchestras bigger, and music more dramatic than ever before. The sustaining pedal on the piano (the one that holds notes down without having to keep your fingers on the keys) became popular. Famous composers included Music/FryderykChopin (Fantaisie-Impromptu, "Revolutionary" Étude), Music/FranzLiszt (''Dante Sonata''), Music/JohannesBrahms ("Brahms's Lullaby", ''Ein Deutsches Requiem''), Music/RichardWagner ("Music/RideOfTheValkyries" is from one of his operas. His style set the standards for epic film music through today), Music/PyotrIlyichTchaikovsky (''Theatre/TheNutcracker'' {{ballet}}) amongst others. (Beethoven's later work is often considered to be a Romantic; for instance, the Fifth Symphony.) Programme music (telling a story or depicting scenes, as opposed to abstract music) and music reminiscent of particular folk styles became popular. Some people consider Beethoven to be the first Romantic Era composer as he started or inspired many of the trends to come in this period. It's also important to note that the Romantic style never really ''goes away''. Music/SergeiRachmaninoff] and Music/EdwardElgar were essentially romantics, yet wrote most of their music in the 20th century. Creator/AndrewLloydWebber and Music/JohnWilliams are romantic to their very bones, although they aren't always considered true 'Classical Composers' due to their focus on musicals and film music, as well as simpler styles. This is not pretension, like some would say, just a fact of cataloguing.
86
87	* The '''Early Twentieth Century''' (ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin) -- Composers pushed the limits of musical understanding and style even more, resulting in things like atonality (music with no key at all) and neoclassicism (imitating, though with obvious differences in rhythm and tonality, earlier styles). Music/ClaudeDebussy and Music/MauriceRavel, the most famous so-called Impressionist composers, began to discard the common practice tonality of earlier periods. Serialism (a method of composition based on the continuous transformations of a series of musical elements) began to be used heavily, starting with the twelve tone system of Music/ArnoldSchoenberg and his Second Viennese School. Trends were all over the place; some composers became very interested in FolkMusic and Ethnic Music (such as Music/BelaBartok), others channelled the social and political turmoil of the time into their works (Music/SergeiProkofiev, Music/DmitriShostakovich, and Music/IgorStravinsky), while some combined Classical with popular styles (Music/GeorgeGershwin, whose origins were with {{jazz}}, had heavily classical elements in his work). That last category would eventually give rise to the show tunes of Broadway. Picking a representative example out of all this variety is impossible; the defining characteristic of early 20th century classical music is the absence of defining characteristics. But try out the ballets of Stravinsky (''Theatre/TheFirebird'', ''Theatre/TheRiteOfSpring'', ''Theatre/{{Petrushka}}'') for just one of several styles.
88
89	* The '''Later Twentieth Century''' to the '''Present''' -- during which all the tendencies of the earlier part of the twentieth century were pushed even further. During the 1960s, the mainstream classical music world was heavily influenced by the Darmstadt School, whose members, such as Music/KarlheinzStockhausen and Music/PierreBoulez, pushed the serialism of Arnold Schoenberg and his pupils Music/AntonWebern and Music/AlbanBerg to its extreme. Music/EdgardVarese, a major influence on Music/FrankZappa, began to experiment with electronic music while other composers began to use scales different from the traditional twelve tone equal temperament scale. Music/IannisXenakis pioneered the use of mathematical modelling in music. Meanwhile, minimalist composers such as Music/SteveReich and Music/PhilipGlass experimented with music that used very few basic elements, often repeated with variations. In the 1970s and 1980s, composers such as Music/AlfredSchnittke, Music/JohnZorn, and Music/LucianoBerio began to write polystylistic pieces that drew on many prior musical traditions in a {{postmodern}} way. The boundaries between popular and classical music began to blur; for example, Music/JohnCale, violist of Music/TheVelvetUnderground,[[note]]The only reason that Cale had gone to New York (and thus met Music/LouReed) in the first place was to study classical viola[[/note]] was associated with the minimalist La Monte Young, and Music/TheBeatles were influenced by Stockhausen. It should be noted that classically trained musicians playing in other styles does not automatically make what they're playing 'classical'. Lately, the classical music world has seen a resurgence in the popularity of music combining a romantic feel with modern techniques, written by such composers as Music/JohnCorigliano and Music/EinojuhaniRautavaara (though as music by Dmitri Shostakovich and Music/SamuelBarber demonstrates, this approach never disappeared). Other notable composers include Music/JohnCage, Music/MortonFeldman, and Music/GiacintoScelsi. As in the early twentieth century, there isn't any truly representative music, but the ''Sinfonia'' of Luciano Berio might be a good place to start.
90
91	Unless you're making a conscious effort, ninety percent of the classical music that you actually hear will come from the Late Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and early 20th Century Periods. The Early Music (Medieval/Renaissance) and late 20th century scenes are pretty disconnected from mainstream classical music and have their own specialised performing ensembles and record labels.
92
93	!!!Common Misconception
94
95	One thing to remember is that Classical Music isn't '[[ForgottenTrope dead]]'. It's alive and kicking with many great living composers and plenty of orchestras ready to perform the old standards. Recording media and the internet have made access to classical music more prevalent than ever before. If anything, classical music is more alive than it's ever been. Just for example, the person who's won the most Grammy awards is orchestral conductor Sir Georg Solti, with thirty-one wins, twenty-four of which were with the [[UsefulNotes/{{Chicago}} Chicago Symphony Orchestra]], which has won ''sixty two''.
96
97	In truth, Classical has never been a popular style, contrary to the myth that classical was pop of its day; it's always been the domain of the well-to-do, or highly educated. The closest it ever got to true "popularity" was in the mid-19th century, when the swelling European middle classes got into it to make themselves look more cultured and the music itself started incorporating popular themes, with especially virtuoso performers gaining fairly broad audiences (the stories about Music/FranzLiszt being treated like a rock star aren't completely made up). Otherwise, it was only accessible to -- and paid any mind by -- the upper crust. That isn't the case any more. Classical Music is easily accessible for anyone who wants to hear it now. So go out and listen to it. If anyone says it's dying, or that it's too 'pretentious', just nod your head -- they're the dying ones, the last of the real pretentiousness who claim pop culture killed classical, or that classical musicians are too stuffy, and hate pop culture. It didn't, it never will, and no, they don't.
98
99	They can co-exist and in amazing ways (Music/GeorgeGershwin, anyone? Steve Reich?). So go on, go listen to some Beethoven, it's awesome. And follow it up with Music/TheBeatles, and Music/JohnColtrane, and John Adams, too. All the classical musicians are. Don't get bogged down in fake pretentiousness that's just a myth. Just listen to the music as music, and you might be surprised you actually like it.
100
101	In addition, classical music has influenced greatly one particular genre: HeavyMetal. Although started blues-based, several metal genres incorporated over the years scales based on classical music, from harmonies to actually incorporating an entire classical orchestra within the band (SymphonicMetal).
102
103	!! Tropes associated with classical music:
104	[[index]]
105	* AtTheOperaTonight: When nobs and snobs attend a classical performance because it makes them look "cultured."
106	* AvantGardeMusic: Music composed in the 20th century and later tends to skew this way, though it's worth noting that many earlier composers were also considered dissonant and edgy in their own time.
107	* BoleroEffect
108	* CartoonConductor
109	* ClassicalMusicIsBoring: HaHaHaNo, mentioning this trope is a great way to annoy classical music lovers. Granted, classical concerts are usually less rowdy affairs than a typical rock or pop show, but that's generally because everyone is ''listening very intently''.
110	* ClassicalMusicIsCool: Any classical music aficionado will be quick to say this.
111	* CommonTime: Codified in the Baroque era; Classical and Romantic composers used almost nothing else.
112	* DramaticTimpani
113	* ElegantClassicalMusician
114	* EtherealChoir
115	* GratuitousForeignLanguage
116	* {{Harmony}}: Classical composers are more or less the {{Trope Codifier}}s for the harmony we know and love today.
117	* InsistentTerminology: There's a difference between "Classical music" as a broad genre term, and music that was composed in the Classical period (roughly 1730-1820). So if for instance you say Music/JohannSebastianBach wrote Classical music, be prepared for some overzealous fan to point out that ''actually'' he wrote BaroqueMusic. That said, in the "Classical" section of your local record store you will indeed find everything from early medieval to modern avant-garde all lumped together.
118	* HarpoDoesSomethingFunny: The cadenza, at the high point of most concertos, is often indicated with a simple pause in the score with the expectation that the performer would make up a suitably impressive solo.
119	* {{Improv}}: How cadenzas were originally meant to be played.
120	* ImpracticalMusicalInstrumentSkills: Lots of compositions, especially concertos, call for some pretty mad performing chops.
121	* {{Leitmotif}}
122	* LohengrinAndMendelssohn: Classical music snippets from Music/RichardWagner's ''Lohengrin'' and Music/FelixMendelssohn's ''A Midsummer Night's Dream'' lends a classy and romantic feel to your wedding. If it's not one of those pieces, it's probably Pachelbel's Canon.
123	* LoudnessWar: Notably {{averted}}; most classical music recordings require a very broad dynamic range [[note]]any symphonic piece, for instance, can easily go from an unaccompanied solo flute passage to the entire orchestra playing full volume[[/note]], so overdoing the compression would completely ruin the sound even for untrained ears. If anything, classical albums are mastered with an even quieter noise floor than other styles.
124	* LonelyPianoPiece
125	* LoveTheme
126	* MelismaticVocals
127	* {{Modulation}}
128	* MoodMotif
129	* OrchestralBombing
130	* OrchestralVersion
131	* OminousLatinChanting: Occurs in some classical compositions set to Latin, like the Requiem Masses by Music/GiuseppeVerdi, Music/AntoninDvorak, and Camille Saint-Saëns.
132	* OminousPipeOrgan
133	* {{Opera}}
134	* {{Oratorio}}
135	* PachelbelsCanonProgression
136	* PlayingTheHeartStrings
137	* PublicDomainSoundtrack: Since a lot of it is well over 100 years old, any copyright on those pieces expired long ago. [[note]]Note that this doesn't necessarily hold true for specific ''recordings'' of the pieces, which are likely more recent, or of newer published editions since the publisher holds the rights to their typesetting and any editorial markings.[[/note]]
138	* RockIsAuthenticPopIsShallow: An older variant to the rivalry between rock and pop is the that between classical music and jazz, particularly their allegations of the genres being snobby and degrading respectively. There have been crossovers for these two genres such as the works of Music/GeorgeGershwin, and both settled their differences once rock came to the scene. Rock music, particularly metal, and pop music have drawn inspiration from classical music from time to time.
139	* RockMeAmadeus: When classical themes show up in music from other genres.
140	* StandardSnippet: Whether or not you've noticed them, you ''have'' heard tunes from the classical repertoire in the soundtracks of cartoons and movies and TV shows.
141	* ThemeAndVariations
142	* TrueArtIsAncient: Yes, you will frequently hear music that is a few centuries old, if not older. Bonus points if you find a "Historically Informed Performance" played on painstakingly restored instruments from the time period (''extra'' bonus points if the performers are in GorgeousPeriodDress). More recently composed music tends to take a while to catch on; ''Theatre/TheRiteOfSpring'' is still sometimes referred to as "contemporary music" although it's over 100 years old!
143	* UncommonTime: Came in vogue in the late romantic era to the present day, but also crops up in medieval and renaissance music, much of which was composed before regular time signatures were codified.
144	* WorkInfoTitle: A tremendous number of Classical works are titled with a simple statement of the genre, the number in which it was composed, and optionally the key, such as "Symphony No. 9" or "String Quartet No. 18 in A major" or "Canon in D" or "Prelude and Fugue in G minor." Occasionally a piece will get a nickname just to differentiate it from the others (such as the "Emperor Concerto" or the "London Symphonies"), but that's the exception to the rule. In the {{Romantic\|ism}} Era and Impressionism this began to shift as composers used more imaginative titles for programmatic works, but the habit persists to the present day with even the likes of Music/PhilipGlass writing numbered string quartets and symphonies.
145	[[/index]]
146
147	!! Examples of classical composers and pieces with their own TV Tropes pages:
148	[[index]]
149	* Music/AdolpheAdam
150	** ''Theatre/{{Giselle}}''
151	* Music/JohnCoolidgeAdams
152	** ''Theatre/DrAtomic''
153	** ''Theatre/NixonInChina''
154	* Music/EduardArtemyev[[note]]Primarily known as a film composer, but has written concert music works[[/note]]
155	* Music/JohannSebastianBach
156	** ''Music/StJohnPassion''
157	** ''Music/SchweigtStillePlaudertNicht''
158	** ''StandardSnippet/ToccataAndFugueInDMinor''
159	** ''Music/WasMirBehagtIstNurDieMuntreJagd''
160	* Music/PDQBach (fictional, music composed by Peter Schickele)
161	* Music/BelaBartok
162	** ''Theatre/DukeBluebeardsCastle''
163	* Music/LudwigVanBeethoven
164	** ''Theatre/{{Fidelio}}''
165	** ''StandardSnippet/OdeToJoy''
166	* Music/HectorBerlioz
167	** ''Music/SymphonieFantastique''
168	* Music/LeonardBernstein
169	** ''Theatre/WestSideStory''
170	* Music/GeorgesBizet
171	** ''Theatre/{{Carmen}}''
172	* Music/JohannesBrahms
173	* Music/BenjaminBritten
174	** ''Theatre/BillyBudd''
175	** ''Literature/DeathInVenice''
176	** ''Theatre/AMidsummerNightsDream''
177	** ''Theatre/PeterGrimes''
178	** ''Literature/TheTurnOfTheScrew''
179	* Music/AntonBruckner
180	* Montserrat Caballé
181	** ''Music/{{Barcelona}}'' (recorded with pop singer Music/FreddieMercury)
182	* Music/JohnCage
183	* The Deep Purple album ''Music/ConcertoForGroupAndOrchestra'', a collaboration between a hard rock band and a classical orchestra.
184	* Music/WendyCarlos
185	** ''Music/SwitchedOnBach'' (1968)
186	* Music/FryderykChopin
187	* Music/ClaudeDebussy
188	* Léo Delibes
189	** ''Theatre/{{Coppelia}}''
190	* Music/GaetanoDonizetti
191	** ''Theatre/LaFilleDuRegiment''
192	** ''Theatre/LelisirDamore''
193	* Music/AntoninDvorak
194	* Music/EdwardElgar
195	* Music/GeorgeGershwin
196	** ''Theatre/PorgyAndBess''
197	* Creator/GilbertAndSullivan:
198	** ''Theatre/TrialByJury''
199	** ''Theatre/TheSorcerer''
200	** ''Theatre/HMSPinafore''
201	** ''Theatre/ThePiratesOfPenzance''
202	** ''Theatre/{{Patience}}''
203	** ''Theatre/{{Iolanthe}}''
204	** ''Theatre/PrincessIda''
205	** ''Theatre/TheMikado''
206	** ''Theatre/{{Ruddigore}}''
207	** ''Theatre/TheYeomenOfTheGuard''
208	** ''Theatre/UtopiaLimited''
209	** ''Theatre/TheGrandDuke''
210	* Christoph Willibald Gluck
211	** ''Theatre/OrfeoEdEuridice''
212	* Music/MortonGould
213	** ''Theatre/FallRiverLegend''
214	* Music/CharlesGounod
215	** ''Theatre/{{Faust}}''
216	** ''[[Theatre/RomeoAndJuliet Romeo et Juliette]]''
217	* Music/EdvardGrieg
218	** ''Theatre/PeerGynt''
219	* Music/GeorgeFredericHandel
220	* Music/JosephHaydn
221	* Music/GustavHolst
222	** ‘’The Planets’’
223	* Music/AkiraIfukube[[note]]Primarily known as a film composer, but has written concert music works[[/note]]
224	* Music/CharlesIves
225	* Music/RuggeroLeoncavallo
226	** ''Theatre/{{Pagliacci}}''
227	* Music/FranzLiszt
228	* Music/GustavMahler
229	* Music/HeinrichAugustMarschner
230	** ''Theatre/DerVampyr''
231	* Music/JulesMassenet
232	** ''[[Literature/{{Cinderella}} Cendrillon]]''
233	* Music/FelixMendelssohn
234	* Music/GianCarloMenotti
235	** ''Theatre/AmahlAndTheNightVisitors''
236	** ''Theatre/TheConsul''
237	* Music/OlivierMessiaen
238	* Music/ClaudioMonteverdi
239	** ''[[Theatre/LIncoronazioneDiPoppaea L'Incoronazione di Poppea]]''
240	** ''Theatre/LOrfeo''
241	* Music/WolfgangAmadeusMozart
242	** ''Theatre/CosiFanTutte''
243	** ''Theatre/DonGiovanni''
244	** ''Music/EineKleineNachtmusik''
245	** ''Theatre/TheMagicFlute''
246	** ''Theatre/TheMarriageOfFigaro''.
247	* Music/ModestMussorgsky
248	** ''Music/NightOnBaldMountain''
249	** ''Music/PicturesAtAnExhibition''
250	* Music/KlausNomi (trained as a countertenor, mixes opera with synth pop and new wave)
251	** ''[[Music/KlausNomiAlbum Klaus Nomi]]'' (1981)
252	** ''Music/SimpleMan'' (1982)
253	* Music/MichaelNyman
254	* Music/JacquesOffenbach
255	** ''Theatre/OrpheusInTheUnderworld''
256	** ''Theatre/TheTalesOfHoffmann''
257	* Carl Orff
258	** ''Music/CarminaBurana''
259	* Music/JohannPachelbel
260	* Music/JohannChristophPepusch
261	** ''Theatre/TheBeggarsOpera''
262	* AwesomeMusic/SergeiProkofiev
263	* Music/GiacomoPuccini
264	** ''Theatre/LaBoheme''
265	** ''Theatre/MadameButterfly''
266	** ''Theatre/{{Tosca}}''
267	** ''Theatre/{{Turandot}}''
268	* Henry Purcell
269	** ''Theatre/DidoAndAeneas''
270	* Music/SergeiRachmaninoff
271	* Music/MauriceRavel
272	* Music/GioachinoRossini
273	** ''[[Theatre/TheBarberOfSeville Il barbiere di Siviglia]]''
274	** ''Theatre/LaCenerentola''
275	** ''Theatre/LItalianaInAlgeri''
276	** ''[[Theatre/{{Othello}} Otello]]''
277	* Music/MiklosRozsa[[note]]Primarily known as a film composer, but has written concert music works[[/note]]
278	* Camille Saint-Saëns
279	** Music/CarnivalOfTheAnimals
280	** Music/DanseMacabre
281	* Music/ErikSatie
282	** ''Music/{{Vexations}}''
283	* Music/FranzSchubert
284	** ''Die Schöne Müllerin''
285	* Music/RobertSchumann
286	* Music/DmitriShostakovich
287	* Music/RichardStrauss
288	** ''StandardSnippet/AlsoSprachZarathustra''
289	** ''Theatre/DerRosenkavalier''
290	** ''Theatre/{{Salome}}''
291	* Music/IgorStravinsky
292	** ''Theatre/TheFirebird''
293	** ''Theatre/TheRiteOfSpring''
294	* Music/JodyTalbot
295	** ''Theatre/AlicesAdventuresInWonderland''
296	* Music/PyotrIlyichTchaikovsky
297	** ''Literature/EugeneOnegin''
298	** ''Theatre/TheNutcracker''
299	** ''Theatre/SwanLake''
300	* Music/GeorgPhilippTelemann
301	* Music/YannTiersen[[note]]Primarily known as a film composer, but has written concert music works[[/note]]
302	* Music/ChristopherTin
303	** ''Music/CallingAllDawns''
304	* Music/{{Vangelis}}[[note]]Primarily known as a film and pop music composer, but has written concert music works[[/note]]
305	* Music/EdgardVarese
306	* Music/RalphVaughanWilliams
307	* Music/GiuseppeVerdi
308	** ''Theatre/{{Aida\|Verdi}}''
309	** ''Theatre/{{Attila}}''
310	** ''Theatre/{{Un Ballo In Maschera}}''
311	** ''Theatre/DonCarlo''
312	** ''Theatre/{{La forza del destino}}''
313	** ''Theatre/{{I Lombardi alla prima crociata}}''
314	** ''Theatre/{{Macbeth}}''
315	** ''Theatre/{{Nabucco}}''
316	** ''[[Theatre/{{Othello}} Otello]]''
317	** ''Theatre/{{Rigoletto}}''
318	** ''Theatre/{{Simon Boccanegra}}''
319	** ''Theatre/{{Stiffelio}}''
320	** ''Theatre/LaTraviata''
321	** ''Theatre/IlTrovatore''
322	** ''Theatre/IVespriSiciliani''
323	* Music/LouisVierne
324	* Music/AntonioVivaldi
325	* Music/RichardWagner
326	** ''Theatre/TheFlyingDutchman''
327	** ''Theatre/{{Lohengrin}}''
328	** ''Theatre/TheRingOfTheNibelung''
329	*** ''StandardSnippet/RideOfTheValkyries''
330	** ''Theatre/{{Tannhaeuser}}''
331	** ''Theatre/TristanUndIsolde''
332	* Music/CarlMariaVonWeber
333	** ''Theatre/DerFreischuetz''
334	* Music/KurtWeill
335	** ''Theatre/KnickerbockerHoliday''
336	** ''Theatre/LadyInTheDark''
337	** ''Theatre/LostInTheStars''
338	** ''Theatre/OneTouchOfVenus''
339	** ''Theatre/TheRiseAndFallOfTheCityOfMahagonny''
340	** ''Theatre/TheSevenDeadlySins''
341	** ''Theatre/StreetScene''
342	** ''Theatre/TheThreepennyOpera''
343	** ''Theatre/WhereDoWeGoFromHere''
344	** ''Theatre/YouAndMe''
345	* Music/JohnWilliams[[note]]Primarily known as a film composer, but has written concert music works[[/note]]
346	* Music/JuliaWolfe
347	** ''Music/AnthraciteFields'' (2014)
348	* Music/FrankZappa[[note]]Primarily known as a pop and jazz composer, but has written concert music works[[/note]]
349	** ''Music/OrchestralFavorites'' (1979)
350	** ''Music/LondonSymphonyOrchestra'' (1984)
351	** ''Music/ThePerfectStranger'' (1984)
352	** ''Music/FrancescoZappa'' (1984)
353	** ''Music/TheYellowShark'' (1993)
354	** ''Music/CivilizationPhazeIII'' (1994)
355	* Music/JohnZorn: Highly eclectic and impossible to pigeonhole artist, mostly active in jazz, though his gigantic catalogue has tried out various genres and styles throughout the years.
356	** ''Music/{{Spillane}}'' (1987)
357	** ''Music/{{Radio}}'' (1993)
358	** ''Music/MusicForChildren'' (1998)
359	[[/index]]

Context Main / ClassicalMusic