What Is Classical Music Theory?
Classical music is a term given to a wide variety of musical forms which are predominantly composed either during the period of classical music, or by some contemporary artists influenced by classical music. Classical music is largely art music based or inspired in the works of Western classical composers, usually thought to have started in Europe after the decline of the Western Roman Empire around the 5th century CE and up to the 12th century. Many genres of Western classical music are distinctly different from each other, although similar themes and structures do crop up, especially in early music. Some of these include chamber music, opera, Gothic, Romantic, and choral songs.
In the Western world, classical music has been associated with high art forms, specifically music which employs tonal composition in its creation, or, at least, an abundance of it. Classical music composers include Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Haydn, Vivaldi, and many others. Vivaldi, for example, wrote beautiful works which utilized the tonal quality in his pieces, such as “Water Music”, which was to be performed during the Exposition Music Festival held in Barcelona in 1992. Vivaldi’s work “Four Seasons” is considered one of the greatest compositions ever written by any Western composer.
Today, classical music continues to influence artists and musicians, even those who have very little connection to the art form, due to the complex nature of the form. This type of music theory is best studied through the study of music theory courses offered online, in order to understand the underlying concepts and the structure of the complex music that makes it so appealing. For those interested in studying classical music through more formal means, such as taking a class or degree program, there are numerous universities and colleges that offer such courses that allow students to learn classical music theory through a structured curriculum.