What defines the history of Western classical music?

Western classical music is a tradition of art music rooted in European churches and royal courts, characterized by formality, complexity, and a sophisticated notational system. Music historians divide this long repertory into eras such as Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Modernist based on changing stylistic tastes. Since at least the ninth century, it has relied heavily on written notation and theoretical practices.

What we know

• Western classical music is characterized by formality and complexity in its musical form and harmonic organization, particularly through the use of polyphony. [2]
• The earliest extant music manuscripts date from the Carolingian Empire between 800 and 887, around the time plainchant unified into Gregorian chant. [2]
• Music historians divide the Western classical repertory into distinct eras including Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Modernist, and Postmodernist. [3]
• During the 20th century, stylistic unification gradually dissipated as many composers embraced modernism, abandoned tonality, or drew inspiration from folk melodies. [2]

Still open

• Exact dates for the beginning and ending of each musical era are approximate, and even good approximations are difficult to establish.

Where to go next

• how it workedHow did music notation develop in medieval Europe?
• whenWhat are the key eras of Western classical music?
• compared withHow does Indian classical music differ from Western traditions?
• what caused itWhat role did church and court patronage play in early art music?
• the bigger pictureWhat is Western art music?
• an unexpected connectionHow do Indian and Western classical traditions contrast in their use of harmony?While Western classical music emphasizes polyphony, harmony, and written notation, Indian classical music traditionally eschews harmony and chords in favor of improvisation built around raga and tala.

Sources

• [1]classical music (Wikidata Q9730) · CC0 1.0
• [2]Classical music · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [3]Dates of classical music eras · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [4]Western music · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [5]Indian classical music · CC BY-SA 4.0