Discover > Classical Music 101

What is Classical Music?

Technically, it's music of the educated European tradition but there's at least 700 years worth of music and many more nationalities represented in that definition There are many, many stylistic subcategories, just as there are in rock and other popular styles of music or visual arts. Each historical time period (from Medieval to 21st Century) has predominant stylistic traits AND each composer has his or her own style. There are different mediums as well. Opera, symphonic music, choral, solo instrumental, small ensemble music for 2-10 players etc. It's safe to say that there's something for everyone to enjoy.

Whatever. I don't like Classical Music.

If you don't think you like Classical Music it's likely because you've always thought of it as one particular sound that you heard and didn't like. You've probably enjoyed it on movies, television and even ringtones without even noticing that it was 'Classical Music'. You may need help finding a "gateway experience" that opens up all of this music for you. It's okay not to like everything; I turn off the radio just as often as I turn it on too. One doesn't have to like the entire menu to enjoy going to a particular restaurant, right? I also listen to non-classical music more often than not, see 'my favorite music' to see what I'm listening to. Think of it like wine or beer; the first time you taste, it might be funky. After that, it's all uphill. You can appreciate and seriously enjoy all of the many taste dimensions of different types of brews/blends and even name a brand blindfolded. The same is true of music. It's a never ending journey that keeps going deeper and getting more and more rewarding.

Okay Christine, I believe you and I'm going to try to listen to Classical music again. What do I listen for since there's no lyrics or lead singer to focus on?

You can tell what the mood of a song from the intro, before the singer and before the lyrical content right? Sometimes you can't even figure out what the singer's saying but you like the song anyway? Music is experienced, the sounds of the instruments alone can be enough for a good time. The musical "message" is received by the listener even more directly since you don't have to process the linguistic content with your conscious mind. Masterfully composed chord changes can suggest different moods, soothe you, scare you, anything is possible, without spelling out literally "I'm so angry!" or "My woman left me!" I can't lie though, the impetus for a lot of classical music is exactly the same as for popular music!
The point is, there isn't anything you're "supposed" to experience or even notice so don't let anyone tell you that you've got a piece wrong. There are things you can learn to enhance your experience but you certainly don't have to.

Classical music does contain a lot of recognizable thematic material. If you're really listening to Mozart Symphony for example, you'll hear a few different melodies that get repeated and variated throughout each movement. There's form just like in a pop song, ABCAB for example but it's less obvious because it takes 20 minutes to get through that sequence instead of 3. Send me email if you have questions about a particular piece or if you'd like to tell me about something you really loved and you want recommendations for more music like it.

What's it like to play?

There's nothing quite like the experience of 100 accomplished musicians recreating the peak moment of a powerful masterwork in beautiful concert hall front of a live audience.

It doesn't always 'go off' but when it does, it's on and I'm very fortunate to have experiences like that. Performing with a smaller group is also a very intense experience. The most common groups for me are piano and violin or string quartet. Ideally, each player reacts to the nuances of the others in a very intricate and dynamic exchange. It's a kind of intimate dance and at it's best, a mindblowing experience. It's different from the experience of following a conductor, though there is plenty of communication between orchestral players as well.

Speaking of the conductor, does he/she really DO anything? Are you even looking?

It depends very much on the conductor. If it's a good one, yes and yes. Remember, someone's got to coordinate the collective effort during the rehearsals just like a big company needs a president to lead. It's not as easy as it looks to get 100 people to play exactly at the same time. The conductor also makes the executive musical decisions and has to transmit them, ideally through body language. Musical decisions have to be made about everything from tempo (how fast or slow), dynamics (degrees of loud and soft) and balance (which instruments are louder than others) just to name a few. If the whole thing sounds great, he/she takes credit even though sometimes we play well DESPITE the conductor. If it sounds terrible, the conductor gets shredded in the review. That's what conductors get paid the big bucks for.

Tell me about the orchestra.

A symphony orchestra is usually 70-100 players. They can be subdivided into the string, brass, woodwind and percussion groups. The actual number of players is determined by the instruments a particular piece was written for. Orchestras have been around since the middle of the 18th century (overgeneralization I know, stop the music history geek hate email!)

I have more questions!

Write to me! I'm happy to answer them.