Classical 101

First things first – we’re calling this page “Classical 101”, but rest assured that there will be no tests, assignments, or final exams! At WHRO, we believe that this music is for everyone, and that there should be no barriers to entry. You don’t have to know the terminology or how to pronounce all the names; you just need to listen with open ears, and trust your own responses to the music. What moves you, what speaks to you, what surprises you, what do you want to hear over and over again?

After listening for a while, you might decide that you’d like to learn a bit more about this thing we call classical music. That’s where this page comes in! One of the things that I love about this music is that no matter how long you’ve been studying it, there is always more to discover. It’s an incredibly rich art form that spans hundreds of years and a myriad of styles, and reflects the full range of the human experience.

That said, it’s always good to start with the basics. Below you will find definitions for some common terms; an overview of the historical and stylistic periods of music that you might hear us mention on the radio; and some resources that our classical hosts recommend for diving deeper.

This is an evolving page and we’ll be continuing to add to it, so if there’s a question you’ve been wondering about, let us know! You can reach me at wayla.chambo@whro.org.

As always, thank you for listening, and for supporting WHRO Public Media.

- Wayla Chambo, Program Director for WHRO Classical

Classical music performances can range from a single musician to a group of a hundred or more! Here are some of the common types you might encounter:

1. Solo Music

Definition: Works written for a single performer—either instrumental or vocal (sometimes with piano accompaniment).

Purpose: To explore the expressive and technical possibilities of one instrument or voice.

Typical Forms: Études, sonatas, preludes, partitas, suites, and art songs.

Examples:

• J.S. Bach: Partita No. 2 in D minor (solo violin)
• Frédéric Chopin: Nocturnes (solo piano)

2. Chamber Music
Definition: Music for a small group of players, traditionally one performer per part, without a conductor.

Purpose: To emphasize dialogue and balance among instruments in an intimate setting.

Typical Ensembles:

• String quartet (two violins, viola, cello)
• Piano trio (piano, violin, cello)
• Wind quintet, piano quintet, and others

Examples:

• Franz Schubert: String Quartet No. 14 “Death and the Maiden”
• Johannes Brahms: Piano Quintet in F minor

3. Orchestral Music (Symphonic)
Definition: Music written for a full symphony orchestra combining strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion.

Purpose: To achieve large-scale expression and dramatic contrast through orchestral color and dynamic range.

Typical Forms: Symphony, overture, concerto (soloist with orchestra), tone poem, and suite.

Examples:

• Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 5
• Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6 “Pathétique”

4. Choral and Vocal Ensemble Music
Definition: Music for multiple voices, often unaccompanied or with minimal instrumental support. Some forms will include a larger instrumental ensemble or full orchestra.

Purpose: To blend human voices in harmony for liturgical, ceremonial, or concert purposes.

Typical Forms: Motet, mass, cantata, madrigal, oratorio, and choral symphony.

Examples:

• Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina: Missa Papae Marcelli
• Gabriel Fauré: Requiem

5. Operatic and Dramatic Music
Definition: Large-scale works that combine music, theater, and sometimes dance.

Purpose: To tell a story through sung dialogue and orchestral accompaniment.

Typical Forms: Opera, operetta, and music drama.

Examples:

• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: The Marriage of Figaro
• Giuseppe Verdi: La Traviata
• Richard Wagner: The Ring Cycle

6. Sacred and Liturgical Music
Definition: Compositions written for worship or religious expression.

Purpose: To accompany liturgical services or communicate faith-based themes.

Typical Forms: Mass, requiem, passion, and oratorio.

Examples:

• J.S. Bach: Mass in B Minor
• George Frideric Handel: Messiah

What are the periods of classical music?

Classical music is traditionally divided into a series of historical periods, each defined by distinct musical styles, forms, and cultural influences. While boundaries overlap, this outline summarizes the generally accepted timeline.

1. Medieval Period (c. 500–1400)
Overview: The earliest written music of Western civilization. Primarily sacred and vocal, later introducing simple instrumental accompaniment.

Key Features:

• Monophonic chant (single melodic line) such as Gregorian Chant
• Early polyphony (multiple independent lines) emerging in the later period
• Modes rather than modern major/minor scales

Representative Composers: Hildegard von Bingen, Guillaume de Machaut

2. Renaissance Period (c. 1400–1600)
Overview: Music becomes more harmonically rich and texturally balanced. Vocal polyphony flourishes alongside early instrumental writing.

Key Features:

• Smooth, imitative counterpoint
• Greater focus on text expression and clarity
• Growth of secular music such as madrigals and chansons

Representative Composers: Josquin des Prez, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, Thomas Tallis, William Byrd

3. Baroque Period (c. 1600–1750)
Overview: The birth of tonality, dramatic contrast, and ornamentation. Instrumental music comes into full maturity.

Key Features:

• Basso continuo (continuous bass line)
• Highly ornamented melodic style
• Rise of opera, concerto, sonata, and oratorio
• Contrast between soloist and ensemble

Representative Composers: Johann Sebastian Bach, George Frideric Handel, Antonio Vivaldi, Henry Purcell

4. Classical Period (c. 1750–1820)
Overview: Clarity, balance, and formal structure define the era. The symphony and string quartet become central forms.

Key Features:

• Simpler textures and clear melodies
• Sonata-allegro form and thematic development
• Strong sense of key and harmonic progression

Representative Composers: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Joseph Haydn, Ludwig van Beethoven (early works)

5. Romantic Period (c. 1820–1900)
Overview: Music becomes deeply expressive, emotional, and personal. Composers expand orchestras and explore new harmonic languages.

Key Features:

• Expansive melodies and dramatic contrasts
• Programmatic music (telling stories without words)
• Rise of the virtuoso performer and national styles

Representative Composers: Franz Schubert, Johannes Brahms, Richard Wagner, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Franz Liszt

6. 20th Century Period (c. 1900–2000)
Overview: A time of experimentation, breaking traditions, and expanding definitions of music itself.

Key Features:

• Atonality, serialism, minimalism, and electronic music
• Fragmentation of styles and global influences
• Jazz, folk, and non-Western elements incorporated

Representative Composers: Igor Stravinsky, Arnold Schoenberg, Aaron Copland, Dmitri Shostakovich, John Cage

7. Contemporary / 21st Century Period (c. 2000–present)
Overview: Eclectic and global, combining classical traditions with digital media, world music, and film scoring.

Key Features:

• Blending of genres and technologies
• Renewed interest in tonality and accessibility
• Focus on collaboration and cross-cultural dialogue

Representative Composers: John Adams, Jennifer Higdon, Caroline Shaw, Thomas Adès

Each period builds upon the innovations of the last, forming a continuous evolution from medieval chant to today’s diverse global classical landscape.

Recommended resources

If you’d like to explore further, here are some resources that our staff members recommend.

• The Listeners’ Club is a classical music appreciation blog by Richmond Symphony violinist Timothy Judd.

• Sticky Notes from conductor Joshua Weilerstein is described as “a classical music podcast for everyone”, from beginners to seasoned musicians and listeners. Episodes dive into a variety of topics, including specific artists and compositions. The “History of Classical Music in 60 Minutes” is a great place to start, and goes into more depth about the historical periods mentioned above.

• The classic “Young People’s Concerts” by the iconic American conductor/composer Leonard Bernstein are fun and educational for listeners of all ages.

• The book Year of Wonder: Classical Music to Enjoy Day by Day, by Clemency Burton-Hill, is a unique celebration of classical music that showcases one inspirational piece each day of the year, written by an award-winning violinist and BBC Radio personality.