There are several commonly used definitions of classical music. The narrowest refers to music composed during the so-called Classical Period (approximately 1750 to 1820). The general era designations for Western music are Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Modern.
A more commonly used definition, and the one used in this project, also includes music composed in the Baroque era and in the Romantic tradition. A third, and highly controversial, definition includes so-called contemporary classical music, which has become the dominant form of art music in recent decades.
The Classical Period music differed from the preceding Baroque music in many ways. Among them were the use of distinct melodic_lines along with a greater variety of melodies, rhythms, dynamics and keys within individual pieces. Also, textures became lighter and clearer and had less complexity. Orchestras increased in size, range and power, and the piano replaced the harpsichord as the main keyboard instrument. Among the best-known composers of the Classical period were Haydn (1732-1809), Mozart (1756-1791) and Beethoven (his earlier works).
Romantic era music began in the late 18th or early 19th century and continued into the early 20th century. Technological advances accompanying the Industrial Revolution facilitated major improvements in musical instruments, making them easier to play, more versatile, and more reliable. Orchestras increased both in their dynamic range and in the diversity of instruments used. Music became more expressive and emotional, expanding to encompass literary, artistic, nationalistic and philosophical themes.
Early Romantic era composers included Beethoven (1770-1825), Chopin (1810-1849), and Schubert (1797-1828). They were followed in the second half of the 19th century by Liszt (1811-1886), Verdi (1813-1901), Wagner (1813-1883) Brahms (1833-1897), Tchaikovsky (1840-1893), Dvořák (1841-1904) and Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908). Major trends as the century wore on and into the early 20th century were for compositions to become still more complex, longer, and more nationalistic.
Composition in the Romantic tradition continued, although at a rapidly diminishing pace, into around the middle of the 20th century. Among the last of these great composers were Debussy (1862-1918), Puccini (1858-1924), Ravel (1875-1937), Rachmaninoff (1873-1943), Sibelius (1865-1957), Stravinsky (1882-1971) and Britten (1913-1976).
Critics of the term contemporary classical music emphasize that most — but not all — such music bears little, if any, resemblance to music in the Classical and Romantic traditions with regard to both sound and structure. Most notably, it is typically characterized by having little, if any, easily recognizable melody and an extreme simplicity of structure, and it is generally atonal. Thus they contend that the use of the word classical in the name is misleading and that some other term, such as minimalist music, contemporary art music or post-modern music would be more descriptive.